“I know you are,” She gives a sad smile, “But it doesn’t change what happened.”
“How do I fix this?”
“There is nothing to fix.” I watch a single tear run down her cheek, “Please stop contacting me.”
“You love me, Marly.” I growl, “I know you still do.”
She looks away from me, reaching for the handle.
“I am going to fix this,” I call to her before she can disappear into her car, “We belong together princess, and I was an ass to ever think we didn’t.”
“Bye, River.”
She backs away quickly, and I watch as she drives away. I can fix us, I fucking can and I know exactly who can help me.
I dial Zara’s number as I walk back into the garage, “I need Marly’s address.” I demand the moment she answers. Not sure we’ll ever be friends but for Marly and Jake’s sake, I will try.
“Well hello to you too, River,” Zara sighs impatiently, “And no.”
“What do you mean, no!?” I snap.
“It’s a whole sentence, River.” It’s like I can hear her eyes rolling.
“I need to fix this, Zara, please, I’m begging you. Please give me her new address.”
“So, you can harass her!?” Zara snaps, “I don’t think so, lover boy. If she wanted you to have it she would have given it to you.”
“She’s hurting,” I hear my own voice crack, “I can fix this, please, I just need help.”
“River,” She sighs my name.
“Zara, please, she’s your best friend, I know you know her and she’s fucking hurting and it’s my fault. It’s my fucking fault and I have to fix it. If she doesn’t want me after this then I’ll disappear but I have to try!”
“Fuck,” She hisses. “She’s going to kill me for this.”
Hope blooms in my chest as I hear her long nails tapping on the screen and then my phone vibrates with a new text message.
“I’m telling you now, River, if she tells you to go, you go, you hear me?”
“Understood.”
“And if you hurt her again,” She warns, her tone broaching no argument, “I will actually kill you this time.”
“I’m not going to hurt her again.”
“I know people who can make you disappear, River,” She says seriously, “I will do it for her.”
“I know, Zara.”
“Well okay then,” She huffs, “Then go get your girl.”
“Already on my way.”
Chapter Forty-seven
Ihave no energy to do anything. Seeing River sucked every bit of energy from me, pretending to be strong and okay is exhausting. I cried the whole way home and I can’t get this awful pain to stop.
He looked so good, with his disheveled hair and oil-stained clothes, those overalls tied around his waist. His eyes never left mine and I felt them to my very soul, he sees everything all at once and I don’t know what to do with it.
