Chapter 32
River shows up at my door the morning of my family’s barbeque with a black velvet box in his hand.
I stare him down for a second. He glances down and kicks the cement step
he”s standing on.
”I”m sorry, Pearl.”
Folding my arms across my chest, I level him with a look.
“You are not coming in this house so easily, River. What exactly are you apologizing for?”
There is tension in the lines of his face. “For fucking things up. For being an ass. I honestly didn”t mean to upset you. I hope that you realize that I always want you to be happy.”
Pursing my lips, I step back and make room for him to enter the trailer. He steps into the kitchen and then offers the velvet box to me.
”What is this?” I ask. I take the box and look at him. It’s impossible just to embrace him the way I normally would.
A teeny, tiny, almost unseen crack has formed in the icy pond we’re walking on. And it remains to be seen whether that crack will widen into a dangerous fissure or eventually knit together and refreeze.
He looks like a kicked cat, his expression watchful, his eyes just a little bit guilty.
”An ‘I”m sorry’ gift.” River sucks air in between his teeth. ”I bought them because I think you”ll look beautiful in them.”
I sigh silently and then open the box. When I see what’s inside, I gasp.
Nestled in folds of silk is a diamond pendant necklace and a matching pair of diamond earrings. My mouth opens and I touch the necklace disbelievingly. ”Oh, River,” I breathe. I glance up at him. ”You really shouldn”t have. This is pretty extravagant for an apology gift.”
He arches a brow. ”Well, that depends on whether or not you accept the gift and my apology, or not. I hate the idea that you”re mad at me.”
I press my lips into a thin line. ”Do you understand why I reacted the way that I did?”
He scrunches up his face, ”After I left, I felt bad for what I said. Maybe you were a little fast to kick me out. But you have every right to your feelings. There”s no denying that.”
That”s what I wanted to hear. But his words don”t ease the tension in my chest. Still, I have to suck it up and act like an adult.
My family is having a barbecue about now. Showing up to the party without my supposed fiancé is a no-go. I have to make a decision to forgive River.
”I don”t like being mad at you either,” I finally say. ”In fact, it is really stressful. I would much rather go back to the way things were.”
He looks at the box I”m holding and cants his head. ”Am I forgiven, then?”
I can”t help the small smile that sprouts on my lips. ”Yes, River. You”re forgiven.”
He slides around to take the necklace from the box. Then he moves my hair out of the way and fastens it around my neck. It”s heavier than I expected, the diamond pendant sparkling as it finds its home just above my cleavage.
I set the box on the kitchen counter and change my earrings out for the diamond ones. With the necklace and my huge engagement ring, I am certainly dressed like a wealthy fiancée that looks right hanging on River”s arm.
He looks at me, his lips twitching with humor. ”You”re going to be the envy of every woman at the barbecue.”
“Like I want that,” I say.
He kisses me lightly on the mouth, a peck. I dig my fingers into his shirt and pull him forward, seeking a more substantial kiss. He responds by pressing my body against the kitchen counter. The breath catches in my throat as he kisses me deeply, passionately.
River and I may not see eye to eye on many things. But sharing passionate kisses and caresses has never been a problem for us.
Eventually, I break the kiss and look up at him. ”We should get to the party. Everyone will already be there by the time we walk over.”
River sighs. ”I know you have seen the cabin. But I’d just like to point out that it has a fantastic bed... which I”m excited to test out. We could decide to be a little late...”
I smooth a hand over his muscular chest. ”Yeah, I”m not going to explain to Aunt Delta how we decided that fucking each other”s brains out means that we could be late to her event. You don”t know Delta that well, but I can”t imagine that you want to be in the doghouse with her so soon.”
His eyes sparkle. ”I would gladly do it for you.”
Shaking my head, I glance down at the diamond necklace that I am wearing. ”We will have to spend time at the new cabin after this barbecue. I have seen it, but I haven’t explored yet. I’m dying of curiosity. That”s a promise.”
River steps back with a sigh. ”Your wish is my command, darlin’.”
”We should probably go to the barbecue now before Anitta and Bishop start a rumor that we broke up.”