But I can’t worry about that yet. Eventually, though, my demising future will have to be dealt with, one way or another.
CHAPTER 20
FINN
I checkon Maddy while River makes the call to Lily. I’m unsure what I expect to find, but it’s way worse than I could have imagined.
When I knock on the door, the feeble voice that replies doesn’t sound like Maddy.
“Come in.” She sounds hollow.
I open the door, and my heart breaks at the sight of her sitting on the edge of the bed, her hair matted with dry mud, her clothes torn, her skin pale.
I’m not a violent man, but right now, I feel a storm burst through me. And when Maddy's and mine’s gazes lock, that storm morphs into something so unfamiliar that I can’t even think of a word for it.
“Maddy,” I manage to get out.
I can tell she’s fighting back tears, always wanting to be tough. But in the end, she breaks the fuck down, her shoulders quivering as tears stream down her cheeks.
I hurry, crouch in front of her, and wrap my arms around her. She collapses into me and cries on my shoulder.
“I promise whoever did this to you will pay,” I say, my voice cracking. “I’ll make sure of that.”
It’s the most genuine promise I’ve ever made, and to be honest, I’m fucking terrified. Because I barely know this girl, and I’m willing to beat the hell out of someone for her.
It makes me wonder what would happen if I fell for her more.
But I can’t do that.
Not when it’s pretty clear River has fallen for her, too.
If I let myself fall for Maddy, both he and I will end up breaking.
CHAPTER 21
MADDISON
Clumps of mudfall from my hair as I run my fingers through the matted strands. The shower water is overly hot as it cascades across my skin. But I like the burn. I like how it washes away the cold that chilled my body when I sat out in the rain, wondering if River would find me.
I’ve never felt so helpless in my entire life as when I sat in the woods with hardly any recollection of how I got there.
A lump wells in my throat as tears pool in my eyes. But I suck them back. I’m tougher than this.
I’ve been through worse.
Well, kind of.
To be honest, what happened is definitely on the top of my Shittiest Things That Have Ever Happened to Me List.
I breathe in and out as emotions overwhelm me.
“Stop it,” I whisper as I press my palms against the tile of River’s shower.
I’m frustrated with myself for being this weak. I’m stronger than this.
I dig my knuckles into the tile, scrapping the flesh as I struggle to remain calm. In the end, I lose the battle, and achoking sob escapes my lips. I bite down on my lip, stifling the scream wanting to burst from my mouth.
Eventually, I manage to mentally shove a wave of calmness through me. Although it could very well be a wave of shock. Then I finish washing, climb out of the shower, dry off, and put on River’s shirt that he left me along with a pair of his boxers. I head out to his bedroom, making my way straight for his bed. I want to check in on how things are going with Noah, but my eyelids start to lower the instant my body greets the mattress.
