“Seizures. Plural.” I corrected, lifting my head to meet his. “I had another.”
His eyes grew bigger with worry. Then, he sighed. “I want to come with you, but your parents are my biggest haters.”
I drew shapes on his bare chest. “Who cares? I invited you, not them.”
“Alex…” he drawled.
I cupped his face with both hands and leaned in to touch foreheads with him. “I’m not letting them keep us apart any longer. If they have a problem with you being there, then they can leave.”
He hesitated. In his eyes, it was clear he wanted to, but the fear of my parents held him back. It was then that I realized part of me would never forgive my parents for how they made my best friend feel.
River placed a delicate kiss on my forehead. “I’ll be there.”
I think I got my best friend back.
And maybe something more.
Chapter Sixteen
ALEX
“Alex!” Mom jogged to me, ecstatic and with her arms open wide.
She hugged me so hard I grunted, and yet she just held on even closer, like we were reuniting after years of separation. I patted her on the back in rigid motions. “Hey, Mom.”
From over Mom’s shoulder, I saw Dad, who was just a few feet behind us, sitting in the waiting area as he read a magazine. Being the punctual people they were, the two arrived thirty minutes early. Yes, I was twenty years old, and my mommy and daddy still came with me to the doctor. In my defense, I didn’t really have a choice.
She cupped her hands on my cheeks, her eyes filled with affection and a sense of relief. She was paying so much attention to me that she didn’t notice the man beside me, and trust me, River was impossible to overlook.
Her lips parted in shock. “Oh. Hello.”
River remained motionless next to me. “Nice to see you again, Mrs. Pierce.”
My mother’s lip quirked, but it wasn’t in an attempt at a smile. It was an attempt to conceal the grimace fighting to surface. I was all too familiar with it. Clearly, the doctor’s appointment wasn’t going to be the most uncomfortable part of the day.
Dad gave me a silent nod as we went towards him, too focused on my companion to give his son a real greeting. Mom took a seat beside him, and they shared one of their infamous looks. It was similar to the look they used to exchange when Anna and I acted up in public, a silent agreement that we’d be disciplined later at home.
“You remember River, right?” I flashed a sugary, fake smile, flashing my pearls like the good boy I was. “My best friend from school that you always had a problem with.”
The uneven rise and fall of River’s chest pulled my attention. He stood like a statue before my parents, which wasn’t the most unusual thing in the world. Mom and Dad had an intimidating aura that put off everyone who met them, and River was never an exception. Though, he was neverthisafraid.
I squeezed my fists tightly, thinking about how much my parents had put River through, something I hadn’t even realized. Unfortunately, that wasn’t a battle I had come to fight today. At least not that second.
My mom mustered up a weak, unenthusiastic wave. “What’s he doing here?”
My arm brushed against his. “Emotional support.”
As my father opened his mouth to talk, I held my breath, only to be cut off by a nurse who called my name.Thank goodness.
I quickly followed the woman to the office, attempting to calm the sudden rise of heat in my chest. My parents lagged behind us, having their own whispered conversation while River stayed glued to my side. Our arms brushed again, and when he looked at me, I offered a comforting smile, hoping it would settle the nerves for both of us.
My arm hair prickled at the coolness in the office. The room lacked the typical hospital’s sterile feel, yet it was just as bad. Possibly worse. It was as though the lights, with their brilliance, were scrutinizing me, just like when I was a kid. The only difference now was that I was older and seeing a new doctor because my old one had retired.
Only three chairs were available in the office, and my parents quickly claimed theirs. That left one seat, and River gestured for me to take it, the gentleman. I shot peeved glances at my parents, about to take the chair, when I had an idea.
In a moment of impulse, I tugged River’s arm, putting him in the chair. Ignoring my parents’ disapproving looks and the doctor’s shocked expression, I sat on his lap.
What else was I supposed to do? Let River stand?
