For that reason alone, I like the guy.
That same transporter and Tate help me into the passenger seat of River’s SUV before she takes off, guiding us home.
She says nothing, her hands poised at ten and two as if she’s a new driver taking to the open road for the first time. She follows every speed limit and even refrains from tearing down the dirt portion of my drive the way she often does.
“Don’t move,” she orders before climbing out of the driver’s seat and coming around to open my door. “Put your arm around me.”
“River, baby, I can do it myself.”
Her head drops, an arm still around my back. “Gray, please just for one damn day can you not do this!” There’s something so broken in her voice. A plea intertwined with the watery quality of her words. I’ve watched her cry so much since my injury, and it’s breaking my heart.
“Okay, baby. Just stay there, and I will lean on you.”
She nods but doesn’t say anything more. Swinging my legs out of the car only makes my head pound more, but I push to standing, bracing my hand against the seat so I’m not leaning my weight on her.
I’ll let her pretend she’s carrying me, but I’ll be damned if I let her carry us both through this. My injuries aren’t a burden she should feel like she has to carry all on her own.
“Nice and slow,” she coaches as we take the five steps one at a time. I admit it’s harder than it should be, but we make it, her breaths leaving in panting huffs as she reaches for the front door.
Quickly unlocking the door, I wait for our dogs to rush us, but I don’t so much as hear them.
“Where are Bronc and Bull?”
“Out back. I didn’t want them to tackle you when we came in.”
I only nod. It wasn’t a thought that occurred to me. Not once have I not come home since rescuing them and they weren’t there to greet me.
River is quick to park me on the couch before disappearing outside to get my bag and then stepping out onto the back patio, calling the boys in. Theclick clackof nails on the hardwood ricochets through my head, my wince barely hidden before River is in front of me again.
Both charge me, climbing up onto the sofa and licking my face, then the bandage still wrapped around my head. River insisted on it until my staples come out in about a week.
Staples, she volunteered to remove herself because I refused to go to the office for that sort of torture.
“I missed you guys, too. Your mommy said you were good boys, though,” I make a baby voice as I talk to them. “Come sit down, baby.”
But River doesn’t sit, instead, I hear her jogging up the stairs before slamming our bedroom door.
I sit there in silence, hoping to hear what’s going on upstairs. There’s not a single sound.
Pushing up from the couch, I shuffle my way up to our shared space. It takes longer than it should, my breaths coming in heavy pants by the time I reach our door. But they’re not loud enough to drown out her sobs.
Knocking lightly, she sniffles loudly before calling out. “Just a minute. I’m just—”
I don’t give her a chance to answer before twisting the doorknob and stepping inside. I close the door behind me, effectively keeping the dogs out. Something tells me we’ll need this moment alone.
“Gray, you’re not supposed to be doing the stairs,” she angrily wipes beneath her red, puffy eyes.
“I’m fine.”
“Stop saying that!” she shouts. “I knew you were going to do this. You were going to act all big and tough because that’s what you do, but you didn’t see it. You didn’t watch your body slam into the gate, then the dirt. You weren’t waiting there hyperventilating, wondering how the surgery went and then still not able to see you until your brother lied and said I was your wife.” My brow quirks high. “So, Gray, no, you’re not fine and neither am I. Will you be? Yeah, I think so, but not if you keep living life by your own rules.”
Sitting beside her, my palm drops to her thigh. “River, I—”
“Please don’t. I just need a minute, and then I’ll make us something for lunch.”
“Listen to me. I know my body. Maybe this injury is a new one for me, but it’s going to be okay. I’m not going to lie to you and promise I will obey orders because I won’t. But baby, please stop crying over me.” My arms wrap around her, only for her to shove out of my hold.
“Gray, it’s not just you this time.”
