Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Standing in the open doorway, he tossed an easy look back in my direction. As if the worry from five seconds ago had been eradicated. “Nah, I’ve got this, darlin’. You go meet your delivery guy and continue on with your day. Business as usual. Just like you said.”
Gratitude flooded my spirit. “You’re too good to me, Otto.”
Reaching out, he hooked his pinky finger with mine. “My favorite person, remember?”
Every element in my being fluttered.
Body and soul and mind.
My favorite person.
I only wished that meant what I really wanted it to.
“Okay,” I relented.
“Good. Now get to work. No more slacking.”
Levity pulled between us, that easiness we normally wore. “Fine, but if you need help, let me know.”
“Got it covered,” he said as he let the door drop behind him.
I wandered deeper back into the store, though I slowed, peeking over my shoulder to watch as Otto leaned down to dip the sponge into the water then started scrubbing off the offensive words.
Like maybe in doing it, he could erase some of my scars.
“The fuck happened?”
Oh, here we go.
From where I sat on the high stool behind the counter, I scowled at my brother who stormed in through Moonflower’s door.
“Whatever are you talking about, dear brother?”
I was going to make him work for this one a little bit.
He scowled right back. “Don’t act like you don’t know exactly what I’m talking about. You think I wasn’t goin’ to hear about it?”
“What, that someone got super clever with their spray paint on my window?” I injected as much sarcasm into the words as I could muster.
“Someone fuckin’ with my baby sister, that’s what. Motherfucker is dead.”
I rolled my eyes. “Do you and Otto share scripts?”
“Otto loves you like a sister, too, so yeah, can assure you he and I are on the same page.”
I tried to ignore the jab of discomfort his statement elicited. “Both of you are ridiculous, the way you worry.”
River’s sharp brow arched. “Says the girl who thinks I’m dead in a ditch somewhere any time I’m runnin’ five minutes late.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “There are creepers out there.”
“Exactly my point.”
Crap. I walked right into that.
“Well…you have enemies. I’m just as innocent as can be over here. No one has any reason to take issue with me.”
“Plenty of sick bastards hurt people for no reason at all or because they think they’re justified in some way. Worried this is some asshole who got his feelings hurt when you realized he wasn’t good enough for you.”
“You don’t think anyone is good enough for me.”
“Pretty much, yeah,” River said. “Half the time, all it takes to drive a man out of his mind is for him to get some twisted notion that he’s been wronged.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think I’ve been driving any man out of his mind lately.”
“Except for me.” He mumbled his exasperation.
I narrowed my eyes. “You don’t count. Besides, you’re the one who’s on trial here.”
There. Change the subject. But it really wasn’t a subject I wanted to tackle all that much. But it was going to have to be someday, so it might as well be right now.
Rip the Band-Aid off while the wound was still stinging.
River flinched, and he dropped his gaze as he roughed a tattooed hand over the top of his head. “Sorry about that. Thought you were gonna text, and Nolan was at the park with the neighbor kid, so…” He trailed off in discomfort.
I couldn’t even keep up the affront. “It’s fine, River. I’m not mad. You should be able to do whatever you want in your own house.”
“Your house, too.”
And there goes that Band-Aid.
Rip. Rip. Rip.
“It’s not anymore.”
The snarl that tore out of River was no less than terrifying. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m moving out. Getting my own place.”
“Are you fuckin—”
I put out my hand. “I know what you’re going to say, but I’ve already decided.”
“You’ve already decided?”
I inhaled a steeling breath. “Yes, I have.”
“Raven—”
“It’s already done, River. I’m going to stay with Otto until I find a place to rent.”
Hurt carved his brow, and I slipped off my stool and rounded the counter. Slowly, I approached him, my voice soft. “I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you’ve ever done for me. I know your sacrifice, and I will never pretend as if it didn’t come at the greatest cost. I will never forget the way you cared for me when I was young. The way you nurtured me. You were only a kid yourself, and you took on this terrified little girl and protected her. Raised her and showed her what family really meant. I could never express how much that means to me.”
I inhaled a shaky breath and pushed on. “But it’s time, River. It’s time for me to live my life as an adult, and not one who’s barely figuring out who she is under your roof.”