Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Parrish
After my nap, Riven had gotten up and made me dinner, then helped me into the small shower, where he washed me, my torso aching with each small movement or touch. I could see the pain in his eyes when he looked at me, how much it was killing him to know what happened. It was worse than any physical pain. Mine would fade and heal. Riv’s wouldn’t, and there was no doubt in my mind he blamed himself.
“This isn’t your fault,” I told him while he slid a pair of underwear on me.
“Who the fuck else’s fault would it be? They did this to you because you stuck up for me.”
“No, they did this to me because they are both pieces of shit. This is their issue and no one else’s.” He grunted in response. “Hey.” When he stood, I took his chin in my hand and held his head so he looked at me. “This is on them. I’ll be fine. But I like that you love me so much.”
His pupils flared wide, but he didn’t argue with me. Riven just leaned forward and pressed his mouth to mine in a swift but solidifying kiss. Sometimes actions spoke louder than words, and this was one of those times.
“Come on, Parrish. Let’s get you back to bed and drugged up again.” He led me there and helped me climb in. Despite the window AC working, it was still a little hot, but Riven put a fan on the nightstand, blowing our way. He got into bed with me, though I knew it was too early for him to try to go to sleep.
“I do, ya know?” I said softly, brushing my fingers over his pec.
“Do what?”
“Love you. I’m in love with you.”
His chest sank beneath my hand with the deep breath he took. Riven McKenna didn’t believe he was worth loving, but he was. He really fucking was. “Why?”
“Because you’re a good man even though you don’t see it. Because you have a big heart even though you don’t see that either. It’s ripping you apart to see me hurt. There’s nothing you wouldn’t do for Betsy. You might not have always done the right thing, but there is honor in why you’ve done a lot of it. I don’t give a shit if anyone agrees with me on that or not. And there’s not a damn thing in this world I wouldn’t do for you.” He breathed a few times and didn’t respond, so I added, “Plus, you’re really hot and have a great cock.”
A loud laugh jumped out of his mouth, soothing my soul. “I love you too,” he said softly a few moments later.
“I know.” Making a big deal out of it would make it harder on him, but damn, did I want to burst out of my skin. I loved hearing it so much.
“Go to sleep.”
“Then stop talking to me,” I teased. “And promise me you won’t do anything stupid, Riv.” I was scared as hell of him retaliating and getting in trouble or hurt.
“I won’t do anything stupid,” he said as my eyes drifted closed. My body healing was a whole lot of work, and it exhausted me.
The next morning Riven whispered in my ear that he was going to work. “There’s food for you in the fridge and bottled water, and the painkillers are beside you.”
“Come straight home after work,” I slurred sleepily.
“I will.” He leaned forward and kissed my temple, and then he was gone.
I woke up again a few hours later with a full bladder and an aching face and body. I took some pills first, then got up to relieve myself.
Just in case Betsy showed up, I managed to get some shorts on so I wasn’t half naked in her grandson’s apartment. I made coffee and ate the sandwich Riven had made for me, while the words I love you too, in Riven’s deep, scratchy voice, played over and over in my head.
I couldn’t help smiling. It didn’t matter how fucked up things were, Riven loved me and I loved him. We’d sort out the rest of it.
I lay down for a little while, trying to rest while scrolling through my phone. Getting ahold of Bec was high on my priority list, but I didn’t know what to say to her. She’d likely seen Rex and how beaten up he was. He would blame it on me, of course, because that’s the shit he did. I wanted to think she wouldn’t believe him, but there was one truth I couldn’t deny, and that truth would cloud her judgment on everything else—me and Riven.
Rex hadn’t told her we were close, which I figured was because he didn’t want to talk to her about Riven at all. He wasn’t dumb and knew how she felt about him, but he would use it to his advantage now.