Chapter 30
River
He only lets me pay for the things we need. Food, water. Those types of things. It took some convincing, but I talked them into staying at a hotel with a small pool at least for a few days. I said everyone needed a good rest and to regain some strength.
We’ve been doing okay for the most part, but Royal has been going in every direction.
There’s an investigation as to what happened to Brent and Jim, but they aren’t looking at us.
Royal has done everything from steal to selling drugs to keep money coming in.
It’s not what he made fighting, but he refuses to take up any fights with the mafia.
He said there was no way in hell that he would ever get out of that alive.
Jeremy has taken on a few odd and end jobs here and there, but nothing permanent yet.
I started working at the front desk of the hotel we stayed at for a few days.
I worked it out with my boss that I got a room to stay in while I work here, but I’m always on call in case someone doesn’t show up for work.
It’s a job and a place to stay, so that doesn’t really bother me.
Right now, though? We’re relaxing in the pool. Royal looks uncomfortable, as always. He doesn’t think we should be in a hotel that’s this nice. It’s not nice, but nicer than the one with the rats. Plus, this shithole even has free breakfast, so that’s a plus for us.
“Could you at least look like you’re having a little fun?” I ask Royal. He glances over at me and smiles the fakest smile I’ve ever seen.
“That better?”
“Seriously, Royal. Have fun with me,” I tell him. He sighs and then moves toward me, wrapping me in his arms.
“What do you want to do?”
“Anything. Just smile.”
“I could fuck you in this pool. Or I could take you up on the roof like the first time,” he suggests.
“You would do it again, wouldn’t you?”
“Fuck you on the roof until your palms bled? Yeah, I would.”
“I don’t know how much I like rooftops after nearly falling off one.”
“That was an accident.”
“I know, but still.”
“You know I love you,” he tells me, and my heart leaps in my chest. Hearing the words leave his mouth never gets old. I love hearing them coming from him.
“I love you too.”
“And one day I’m going to get you a better ring,” he says as he pulls back and fingers the string still wrapped on my finger.
“I don’t mind this one.”
“I know you don’t, but I mean it. You deserve more,” he says.
“Don’t do this right now, Royal. I have everything I want.”
“Oh yeah? What is it you want?”
“Just you. I just want you.”
“You have me. Forever, River.”
“I don’t know if that’s long enough.”
“Then you have me for however long you want,” he says with a smile that melts me inside. This man has been everything to me. He’s given me everything he possibly can and then some. All I really ever needed was his heart, and now that’s mine too.
“What do you want one day? A big house? Small house?” he asks.
“Small house. Nothing fancy. A big yard for the kids,” I tell him, daydreaming.
“Kids? You want kids?”
“One day. Don’t you?”
“A bunch of little River’s running around with that mouth?” he laughs as I splash at him.
“I’m not that bad.”
“You’re not?” he teases me.
“No!”
“You’re right. One day I wouldn’t mind that either.”
“Really?”
“I’d give you whatever you wanted, River. You should know that already,” he tells me.
“I do know that. And I don’t need anything fancy. Just … simple.”
“I’m going to give you that one day. I promise.”