I sink onto the small bench in the corner, burying my face in my hands.
“So,” River muses, casual but pointed. “Liam told me some very interesting things while you were getting dressed.”
I freeze. “What things?”
“Oh, you know. How he cooked you breakfast. Cleaned your apartment. Handcuffed you to the bed.” She pauses, and the mischief practically radiates from beyond the wall. “And something about bending you over a table and spanking you with a book?”
My face goes nuclear. “River!”
“You hit the jackpot, you know that, Lex?”
I don’t answer. I just sit there, staring at the floor, kneading my forehead.
The silence stretches.
“Oh no, you don’t, babes,” River scolds, her voice sharpening. She bangs on the wall, and I jump. “Do not start overthinkingthis like you always do. You’re not crawling back into your safe little hermit crab Cancer shell. Not this time.”
“River—”
“When will you learn that taking risks isn’t a bad thing?”
I fiddle with the ends of my braid. “Maybe since Brett. And my dad. And…maybe I’ve had enough of the universe shitting on me. I can’t deal with more damage.”
The heavy words hang in the air.
My dad left when my mom got sick. Just…up and left. Took a transfer. Walked out the door one day and never came back. I stayed. I dropped out of nursing school, moved back home, and took care of her. Watched her waste away. The world took everything from her—and from me.
And then Brett happened. Sweet and charming, at first, then manipulative, then controlling, then narcissistic.
The restraining order was supposed to make me feel safe, but it just made me feel… small. Scared. Broken.
So I retreated into my flower shop and my books. A safe, predictable world where no one could hurt me.
“Lex.” She’s gentler now. “You’ve lived vicariously through your books for too long. Now, you have a living, breathing, hot Irish danger heartthrob who cooksandcleans for you and leaves all the right marks on your ass.”
I smile to myself.
Something sharp jabs my leg. “OW!” I jump to my feet. “Did you just kick me with your heel?!”
“You listen, and you listen good, Lex.”
“It’swell,” I correct, rubbing my ankle.
“Shut up before I do that panties thing I once did in the Bloomingdale’s bathroom stall,” River threatens. “If you don’t claim that Gaelic thirst trap, I will.”
My stomach drops. “You wouldn’t dare,” I snap.
“Wanna watch me?”
“NO!”
“Ha!” River thrills, and her heels do a little spin through the gap. “Gotcha, doodle bug.”
“Ugh!” I groan, slumping back against the wall. She got me. She knows I’m jealous. She knows I want him.
“Promise?”
I heave a sigh. “I promise.”
