Page 66 of River Wild

Carrie

“She likes you,” I say to River as he pulls upside my house and turns the engine off.

“Who?” He climbs out of the truck, not waiting for my response.

I climb out my side and meet him at the back of the truck, which he’s opening to get my tree and decorations out.

I got some real nice tree ornaments at a great price. Not the glass ornaments. But still, really lovely. And a set of Christmas lights on discount.

“Macy,” I tell him. The word feels a little sticky in my throat. I’m not sure why.

It’s not because I’m interested in River. Of course I think River’s handsome. His body is out of this world, as are other parts of his anatomy. But I have no interest in him in that way. I have zero interest in men in general. My focus is on my baby and Buddy and building us a great home and life. River is just a friend. If he’s even that. I think, if you asked him, he’d say we weren’t friends.

And Macy wasn’t the friendliest of girls. But I think maybe she saw me with River and got the wrong idea about us. She was probably a little jealous. And River isn’t the friendliest of guys. They’d be a perfect fit.

“She doesn’t know me,” he grunts as he drags the tree out of the back of the truck and hauls it onto his big shoulder.

I grab hold of the tree stand and box of ornaments, and I quickly follow after him to my front door.

“I don’t mean she likes your personality,” I tell him as I balance the box on the arm holding the tree stand while getting my keys out of my purse. I somehow manage it and unlock the front door, pushing it open. Buddy’s there in an instant, jumping around with excitement at my arrival home. “Hey, Buddy boy. We’ll have a fuss in a minute, just watch out while River carries the tree in,” I tell Buddy as River navigates the tree through my front door and into my living room.

“You do realize that dog doesn’t understand a fucking word you just said.”

He called Buddy a dog. Definite upgrade from mutt.

I follow River in and put the box and stand down on the floor. I kneel on the floor, and Buddy climbs into my lap and starts licking my face.

“Yes, he does … don’t you, you handsome boy?” I scratch Buddy behind his ears, the way I know he likes it.

River leans the tree against the wall and watches me with Buddy. He shakes his head.

“What?”

“Odd as fuck,” he says.

“Grumpy as the Grinch,” I tell him.

His eyes flash with humor.

I really do enjoy trading barbs with him. I have no idea what that says about our relationship. Not that we have a relationship. I’m not actually sure what we are, to be honest.

Then, I remember what I was saying about Macy. “Oh, so, yeah, as I was saying.” I put Buddy to the floor and get to my feet. “Macy … I didn’t mean she likes your personality. I meant that she likes this.” I wave my hand up and down, gesturing to his body and face.

“Wow, Red. An insult and compliment in one. I’m impressed. And you do realize this tree is way too fucking big for this living room.”

I stop and look at it leaning up against my wall. The top is bent over against the ceiling. Hmm … it looks quite big now that it’s in here. I might’ve gotten a bit carried away when I was buying it. Maybe overestimated the height of the ceiling.

“Yeah.” I sigh. “But it’s only for a few weeks.”

“Sure, a few weeks of not being able to sit in your living room because your big-ass Christmas tree has taken it over.”

“Don’t be dramatic. I can trim the top down, so it doesn’t bend over against the ceiling.”

He huffs out a laugh. “The top isn’t your problem, Red. The problem will happen when I cut the rope off this tree, and it spreads right out and over your living room.”

Oh. “Really?”

“Yes. Really.”