I can see his regret and I know he’s sorry, but I don’t know how to forget it. If I give him another chance and he hurts me again, I don’t think I’d survive it.
I finish pouring my iced tea and head toward the porch where a cute rocking chair sits, looking out onto the front yard. I have my book, my drinks and hours of isolation ahead of me. But as I go to sit, I hear the buzzer for the gate and remember I ordered some food since I hadn’t eaten today. I hit the button to let them through and then go back to my seat, curling my legs under myself as I open my book and take a sip of my drink.
Goose bumps rise across my skin when I hear the familiar purr of the engine, eyes snapping up to see the neon green Plymouth slowly working its way up the drive.
Frozen, mouth hanging open, I watch River advance, coming to a stop next to my grandmother’s old Mini Cooper.
“What the…” I stand and lean over the railing, “What are you doing here!?”
River grins at me, still dressed in his garage clothes, oil all over him. The sun gives his skin a golden glow, highlighting the paler areas where his scars are.
“Your car is kicking out smoke, princess,” He shrugs, “Thought I’d come give it a service.”
“I – is it?”
“Mm,” He nods, “Think it may be the oil. Don’t want you breaking down again.”
He doesn’t come up onto the porch, just heads straight for the Mini that’s a fair few years older than I expected it to be. I never saw my grandmother use it, but it had been well loved, she’d even left me a little note I’d found in the glove box.
Her name is Cindy and she’s been reliable for me all these years. She gets a little wobbly over seventy, but she’s never failed me and she’ll never fail you either. Treat her well. Grams.
It had made me laugh that she’d given the car a name and a personality and I knew immediately I wanted to drive it over the Mercedes which I plan to sell at some point.
“Right,” I nod, still confused, “How did you find me?”
“I have my ways, princess,” He shrugs, “Mind unlocking the car so I can get inside?”
Maybe my brain has stopped working because I head inside and grab the key for him, tossing it over the railing for him to catch.
“Thanks, princess,” He carries on like nothing is amiss while I stay standing and staring at him. “Don’t mind me, Marly, sit down, read, I’ll be here a couple hours.”
Shaking my head, I head back to the chair and take a seat, unable to take my eyes off him. He pulls a bunch of tools from the Plymouth and starts working on the car, his focus on that and not me.
There’s only one way he got my address. Zara.
Ditching the book, I head inside and grab my cell, dialing her immediately.
“I am going to kill you.” I snap the moment she answers.
“Woah,” She gasps, “What happened?”
“River is here!” I hiss, “You gave him my address!”
“I – well he – you see–” She stammers, “You’re really sad, Marly! He makes you happy!”
“Zara!” I chastise.
“I love you, I really do,” She goes on, “But maybe you should give him another chance and stop being so stubborn. You’re miserable, he’s miserable and as much as I hate to admit it, you were cute together. I’m not saying forgive him immediately, make him work a little but that boy is obsessed, and I know you well enough that you’ll stay miserable unless someone stepped in.”
I groan, “I didn’t want you to do that.”
“Yes, you did,” I hear her moving around and then the sound of a little girl’s voice fills the background, “You’ve had your whole life dictated to you, you’re scared now so I helped a little but you’refree now, Marly, make your own choices and your first one? It should be to let him back in because you deserve to be happy.”
Silence stretches between us for a second.
“I’ve got to run; me and Jake are taking Amy to the park but call me later. Love you!”
“Love you too,” I grumble and hang up.
