My hands squeezed his, and it was supposed to be a comfort thing for River, but I think it was more for me.
“My dad’s been in a coma for almost two years.”
I think I gasped audibly, stunned as River freed my death grip on his hands. Hands now free, he ran his fingers through my hair, playing in it and scratching at my scalp. It was like he knew how hard I’d take it, but I should have been the one calming him. Not the other way around.
Mr. Moore had heart disease when we were kids, and there was a period where he was in and out of the hospital because of it. In the months before River stopped talking to me and moved away, he said his dad’s condition was getting better. I expected him to fully recover; he was the strongest person I’d ever met.
“Why?” I whispered.
A heavy sigh. “An accident.”
River struggled to find the words, but his eyes said it all.His accident.
“I was being dumb. There was a fire, and my dad got the worst of it.” His eyes squeezed shut. “And he’s been in it so long that my mom wants to… y’know.”
My words fell short. River had been carrying this burden for so long, and I wished I could take it off of him. I wanted to say the right thing, but what was there to say?
So, I promised him the one thing I could.
“Riv.” My palm cupped his cheek. “Know that every time you look into the crowd at a game, I’ll be there. I won’t miss a single one for the rest of the season, I pinky promise.”
The corner of his lip tugged upward. “Pinky promise? You really mean it?”
“More than anything.”
His eyes shot upward as the wheels in his head began turning. His sad smile, while still present, had a slight smirk behind it. “Then I know my wish.”
The wish. I was beginning to think he’d never cash that in.
“What is it?”
“You have to wear my jersey at every game.”
Chapter Eighteen
ALEX
River set the overflowing popcorn bowl on the coffee table, causing some to spill. “So, what are we watching?”
“I thought you were deciding,” Carson said.
“No. You always complain about what I choose.” River made eye contact with me before tossing the remote my way. “Alex can choose.”
Picking up the remote and handing it to Carson, I said, “Pass.”
It was one of the rare nights I didn’t have my niece, so I was spending the night at River’s. It was something I did most nights I was free, and it started to become our routine. The difference this time was that it was Carson and River’s dedicated movie night of the month, and instead of moving it, they invited me to join.
I felt like I was interrupting their time, yet they both urged me to stay. River's main reasoning was that Carson and I hadn't really clicked, and he wanted us to be close. In reality, we just hadn't had the chance to really chat with each other.
Now they wanted me to pick a movie, but I refused to have everyone bored by my choice. Millie always said I was bad at picking what to watch.
River’s lips quivered into a grin. “We can let Lola decide.”
Carson’s eyes widened. “Lola?”
I perked up when I heard her name. I hadn't seen Lola in ages, and even though we only knew each other for a little while, I was excited to get to see her again. “You invited Lola?”
“Sure did. I figured if we’re doing a movie night with three, why not four?”
