Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
River freezes beside me.
“I don’t think that’s any of my business or yours.” God knows how I manage to keep my voice steady.
“That’s where you’re wrong, sugar, because that man his mama murdered was my uncle. An honest, good, law-abiding man who deserved better than to be shot dead by some cheap whore who’d tricked him into marriage and taking on her fucked up kid.”
I can feel River practically vibrating with rage next to me.
Brad is smirking like he’s happy with the bomb he just dropped.
“Are you done?” I say quietly to Brad.
“I’ve not even started, sugar.”
River turns so abruptly; his arm knocks into mine.
“River!” I call to him as I watch him stride away from us, heading for the mass of trees that leads into the woods at the back of our houses.
I look back at Brad with unconcealed disgust.
He stares back at me. “You’re a fool if you’re spending time with him,” he says in a repugnant tone. “It won’t be long before he snaps, just like his mama did, and whoever is in his way will end up like my uncle did.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
But I’m already turning on my heel to go after River.
And it’s him who’s wrong. River isn’t evil.
I know evil, and it’s not in him. He’s just a human being who’s seen way too much in his lifetime, and he still carries all of that pain and hurt around with him.
River could’ve easily hit Brad just then, but he didn’t.
He walked away.
“River!” I call out, rushing after him.
The man can sure move. I finally catch up with him just inside the first line of trees.
“River, will you just wait?” I gasp, out of breath.
He stops and turns to face me. His face a mask of anger and shame.
I hate that he feels that way. He has nothing to be ashamed about.
“River … what Brad said, it doesn’t matter.”
His lips curl with disdain. “Of course it fucking matters! What the hell is wrong with you? Wait … did you already know about my mom?” Accusing, defensive eyes stare down at me.
Crap.
I swallow, feeling like I’ve done something wrong. “Yes,” I admit. “But I only found out tonight. Before our walk. Guy told me.”
“Of course he did.” He lets out a hollow laugh.
“River, your past is yours. It’s none of my business.”
“You don’t even know what you’re talking about,” he says like he’s not even listening to me. He stares down at the ground. “None of you do.”
“River—”
“I fucking knew I shouldn’t have come tonight.” His eyes snap up to mine, wide and furious. “I knew something like this would happen. You shouldn’t have pushed me about coming tonight, and I shouldn’t have let you.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, feeling helpless.
“If you hadn’t been talking to Brad, then I wouldn’t have had to go over and deal with his crap. This is why I stay away from people, Red. To avoid shit like this!”
“I … I …” I hold out my hands. “Brad came over to me. What do you want me to do? Ignore him?”
His look is unwavering. “Yes.”
“Why were you talking to him, Annie?”
“H-he started talking to me. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to be rude.”
He grabbed hold of my chin, and furious eyes stared into mine. I started to shake.
“You know you’re not supposed to talk to other men.”
“I-I know. I-I’m s-sorry.”
“What were you talking to him about, Annie? Telling him what a bad husband I am to you? How you want to leave me?”
“N-no! I wasn’t talking about you, Neil, I swear.”
“Liar.” Spittle hit my face. His other hand grabbed hold of my hair, yanking it tight, making my eyes water. “You were arranging to meet him, weren’t you? You want to fuck him, don’t you?”
“N-no. P-please, Neil.”
“You’re a lying, dirty whore! Well, if you want to be a fucking whore, then I’ll treat you like one!”
I step back, shaking off the memory. My hands are trembling. I wrap my arms around myself, forcing strength into my spine. “I won’t do that.”
“Then, you’re a fucking idiot. Brad is not someone you want to spend your time with.”
“Funny. Because he just said the same thing about you,” I say the words and immediately regret them when I see hurt flicker over his countenance. So brief that, if I hadn’t been looking right at him, I would’ve missed it.
“He’s right. I’m not someone you want to be around.” His voice is filled with self-loathing, and that makes me sadder than I can explain.
“So, what are you telling me?” Melancholy starts to creep in around my heart because I already know what he’s saying.
Hard, emotionless, defiant eyes stare back at me. “I’m telling you what you already know. We’re not friends. We’ll never be friends. So, stop fucking trying to push something that will never happen. I barely like you on a good day. I just fucking tolerate you because of the way you wander around, looking like a lost, lonely sheep. You just don’t seem to get that you’re not wanted.”