“And,” Emerson added, “I was going to ask how you’d feel about going into town with me later.”
River lowered the covers just enough to glare at him. “What is this really about? Is he gone? Did he finally take off with his ex?”
Emerson’s expression softened.
River shot upright. “Shoot. That’s what happened, isn’t it?”
No, no, no, no.
A pulse of panic hit hard and fast. Maybe she should’ve let Mathew talk. Maybe she should’ve given him one chance before shutting him out completely.
“No, nothing like that,” Emerson said quickly, moving closer as if he could physically calm her down. “That’s not what I meant.”
River pressed a hand to her chest, willing her heartbeat to slow.
“But it’s been over a week,” he said more gently. “And you can’t stay holed up forever.”
“I don’t want to see him, Emerson. You know why.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I do. And I get why this hit you the way it did.” He paused. “You were hurt in the past. But the truth remains that those people aren’t Mathew.”
River’s mouth dropped open. “You switched sides.” She shoved at him with her foot, not hard enough to mean it but hard enough to make her point. “Traitor.”
He huffed a laugh. “I haven’t switched sides.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“I’m serious.” He leaned back slightly, giving her space. “I’ve just been thinking.”
River rolled her eyes, flopped onto her pillow and pulled her covers over her head. “There’s your first mistake.”
“The thing is…” He hesitated, like he knew he was stepping onto thin ice. “Maybe all of this isn’t exactly what it looks like.”
She didn’t bother coming out from under the covers. She just let out a skeptical sound.
“I mean it,” Emerson said. “I overheard him arguing with Rose.”
That piqued her interest, but she still wasn’t willing to let Emerson see.
At her silence, Emerson continued with a sigh. “Maybe this has as much to do with old wounds as it does with what Mathew did.”
River threw the covers off and glared at him.
“Okay, yes.” He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “What he did wasn’t good. He should’ve told you. I’m not defending that. I’m just saying… maybe this hit harder because it touched a raw nerve that was already there.”
River’s jaw tightened. “You think I’m overreacting.”
“No.” His answer came fast. “I think you’re hurt. There’s a difference.”
That took a little of the heat out of her anger, though not much.
Emerson kept going, more carefully now. “And maybe talking to someone would help. Not because you’re broken. Not because your feelings aren’t valid. Just because carrying all this by yourself clearly isn’t working.”
“No,” she said immediately.
He held up both hands. “Fine. I’m not pushing.” Then he exhaled. “But listen to me—what Mathew did was thoughtless. I’m not saying otherwise. I’m only saying I’ve seen couples survive worse.”
River narrowed her eyes. “That’s not exactly comforting.”
