Chapter 42: Chapter 42

"So you like her now? After all you've done?" She said in a harsh tone and I looked at the ground and couldn't meet her gaze.

"Yes I do." I said still gazing at the floor. For a moment all was quiet.

"Well if she's forgiven you there's really nothing I can do. But if you hurt her I'll rip your balls off." She said and I heard a warning in her voice.

"April." River said sharply.

I looked up and was met with a set of two smiles. I smiled back and motioned to the door.

"Well I'm going to leave y'all to talk. River when your ready I'll be in the waiting room." I said and slipped out of the room. As soon as the door shut I sighed and felt a smile come to my lips.

I made my way down the hall and to the receptionist desk. I paused and waited until she was done with her phone call. Once she was done she turned and looked at me. Her eyes brightened as she looked at me and she pushed some hair back putting on a smile and batted her lashes.

Was she trying to flirt with me? I shrugged to myself and reached into my pocket and pulled out my wallet. I pulled out my debit card and handed it over. She took it and looked at me expectantly.

"Put that on Mrs. Carter's hospital bill. I'll pay for all her stuff." I said and the woman looked a little annoyed as she put in everything. I don't know how long I was there, but I feel like she was going slow on purpose.

"That's going to add up to nine thousand, three hundred and twenty-nine dollars... Are you sure you want to?" The woman said and I scoffed.

"Yes I'm sure." I said harshly.

"What are you doing?" A voice said and I sighed as a hand brushed against mine. I smiled softly at River.

"Just paying the bill." I said with s shrug. River gave me a shocked look.

"You didn't have to, we could've got the money." She said and I took her hand in mine.

"I wanted to. Plus I want to help..." I paused thinking about my mom. River looked at me with concern creasing her brows a little.

"She'd be so proud of you." River said and I looked at her and smiled. I leaned down and kissed her cheek before whispering in her ear, "Your place or mine?" I smirked as she gave a soft shiver. I wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Hmm on second thought your house is closer." I said and kissed just below her ear. She sighed and nudged my side attempting to push me away. I chuckled and slipped my hand down and squeezed her backside before letting my hand drop to my side. She gasped and elbowed me in the rib. I chuckled at the glare she sent me.

"Here's your card." The woman said and I took it from her not missing the dirty look she gave River. What I didn't know is River noticed it as well.

"What?" River hissed and I blinked. The receptionist looked shocked and looked as if she was looking for something to say.

"Don't look at me like that." Riv said and sent the woman a nasty glare. I raised my eyebrows and felt lust rush through me.

"Come on." I said and wrapped my arm around her and began to lead her out of the building and I noticed the satisfied look on her face.

"Our next topic: Daimen Princeston." The television on the wall of the lobby caught my attention and River came to a halt as I stopped.

"What the hell?" I said staring at the news station.

When I'd first been accused of murder a lot of reporters picked up on it; turning me into a sort of celebrity for some. I didn't really like the limelight and hadn't been apart of it since a few months after the acquittal. It seemed someone thought it would be okay to throw me back in.

"I'm sure you all remember Daimen Princeston, the young man accused of murdering a known radical a few years ago. Well it seems that he's found a love interest." The woman reporter said after she'd set her drink down.

"What?" I said frowning at the television.

River shrugged as we looked on.

"That's right Dona," the camera panned over to another lady and my eyebrows rose.

"I knew she looked familiar." I muttered. It was the mother from the park.

"So Racheal what happened exactly?" Dona asked the woman from the park.

"Well I'd taken my daughter and niece to the park. There was a couple there playing with a dog and the kids wanted to play tag, so I tried to preoccupy them and pointed over to the dog and young couple. They went over and next thing I know all four of them are playing tag. It was quite adorable. So you can imagine my shock when I realized that it was Daimen Princeston who was the young man playing with the children." Racheal said.

"Oh my... and what about this other person, his love interest?"

"Oh she was quite the young lady. Her name is River. I've got some pictures if you'd like to see." The woman said and my heart jumped. River visibly tensed beside me.

I clenched my jaw as they showed pictures of River and I playing with the two little girls before showing one where it'd captured the moment I'd grabbed her from behind and held her to me... they even began discussing that one. Luckily they hadn't gotten the kiss and knew nothing about it.

After a few moments River began walking toward the entrance and I followed her. She was quiet, too quiet, and I didn't like it.

We went outside and she climbed in the car beside me. She looked at me and sighed as we drove toward her house.

"Why?" She asked and I glanced over at her before looking back to the road.

"What?" I questioned and River crossed her arms.

"Why are you doing this?" She asked softly and a frown twitched my brows.

"I don't understand what you mean." I said softly.

River groaned and spat, "Why'd you kiss me? Why did you hold me like that? Why'd you pay the bill? Why are you even here?" Her voice wavered a bit.

"I love you." I said truthfully and River scoffed.

"No you don't." She said sharply and I clenched my jaw. Annoyance ran through me.

"Why else would I be here?" I huffed.

"Ugh, just take me home." Riv said putting her face in her hands.

"Gladly." I growled and stepped on the gas.

Damned TV.

We were there quickly and I parked outside. I looked to her house and grumbled, "We're here." I didn't look at her as she got out and slammed my door, but I watched as she stomped toward the front door.

I could still feel her lips on mine and I wanted to haul her stubborn self into her bedroom, lock the door, and make her regret carrying on so.

She'd just walked away like I wasn't shit. Did she not realize how much I loved her? Of course not, she thought I was lying. Well fuck that.

I jumped out of my car and walked to where she was trying to open the door. She gasped as I grabbed her shoulder and turned her around before backing her into the door. Her breathing picked up and she looked at me with wide eyes. My hands gripped her hips and I swooped in and let my lips capture hers.

The kiss quickly deepened and I lifted her up and pressed her harder against the door. She moaned and her nails scraped my shoulders and back. I sighed before kissing her aggressively and my thoughts melted away as she let out small moans and gasps. We kissed for awhile before we finally stopped.

"Riv, I love you so much. Please believe me." I groaned softly.

I set River back down and her shaking hands gripped my shirt as we stood there collecting ourselves. Her lips were swelled a little and her eyes were glazed as she looked at me.

River pushed against my chest and took in a trembling breath, "Stop it." She whined and hit my chest weakly, "Don't kiss me."

"What's so bad about me, huh?" I huffed gripping her hips.

"Just go." She said attempting to pull away.

I frowned and leaned back in for a small kiss. The kiss was lasting longer than intended. It was beginning to get heated again when River broke away, moaning, "Stop."

My jaw set stubbornly and I kissed her again. Her body shook and I groaned as her lips fought against mine. She wanted it, so why was she denying?

"Stop." She cried out pulling away from me and beating on my chest. I looked at her and went to wrap my arms around her, but she swatted my hands away.

"Don't touch me." She spat. Her eyes were angry yet sad.

"Ri--"

"Leave." She snapped and after fumbling with the lock managed to get the door open. She didn't say anything else, didn't look at me, just slammed the door and locked it. I stared at the door for a moment before shoving my hands in my pockets and trudging to my car.

River

I sighed as I grabbed another gallon of milk and put it in my grocery cart. I really needed to calm down on drinking it so much. Water wasn't that bad I don't know why I hardly drank it, instead of running myself out of milk.

I was walking down the cereal aisle when I got the shock of a lifetime.

"Hey Sweetheart." I tensed as I heard his voice. No. It couldn't be.

I turned slowly and was met with those familiar eyes. I looked at his choppy blonde hair.

I wish I could say that it was one of those moments where you see your ex after years and you can laugh because they turned into this ugly, pathetic human, but it wasn't. He looked good. I frowned in realization.

"Hey Christen." I said softly and he smiled.

"Haven't seen you in forever." He said and I raised an eyebrow. Why was he talking like we were friends?

"You look good." He remarked and eyed me up and down.

"I know." I said nonchalantly and walked away from him.

"Hey wait, can't we just talk?" He said catching up to me and blocking my way, forcing me to stop. I looked up at him and scowled.

"Talk about what?" I asked.

"Us." He said I looked at him in annoyed bewilderment.

"Us? There's no us." I snapped.

"C'mon Sweetheart. I'm sorry." Christen said and gave me a soft smile.

"Okay Christen, well I've gotta go." I said turning and starting down the aisle away from him. "Wait up." He said coming to walk beside me.

He followed me through the store talking to me but in reality he was talking to himself because I wasn't listening to a word he was saying.

"Can you quit following me?" I hissed to him as I got my bags from the self-checkout. Christen huffed.

"Sweetheart I just haven't got to see you in forever. I missed you." Christen said as I walked out of the store him beside me. I rolled my eyes and ignored the abrupt wave of sadness, stopping at me car.

"No you didn't. I'm not stupid." I huffed as I put the groceries into my car.

When I finished putting everything away Christen leaned close to me and I backed up into the car door.

"I still love you." Christen said leaning closer and I pressed my hands to his chest and held him away from me.

"You're not doing this to me again. I'm done with you." I said looking away from his eyes. His hands gripped my waist and pulled me against him, my arms giving out in the process and my body smushed to his.

"Done with me?" He said holding me tight. "We can start over. We can be happy again." He said and I tried to pull away.

"You were engaged. You used me and I hate you. You made me scared of ever loving anyone else. We were together for years! I messed up so many times because of you. Let me go!" I snapped wrenching out of his grasp.

Christen looked at me and squinted his eyes, "Damn you're really fucked up... but you can't blame that all on me Sweetheart." He said and I gave a bitter laugh.

"Screw you." I spat.

"Wouldn't hurt to do it again. You know you loved it when I'd fuck you." He said with a cocky smirk.

"I've had better." I said glaring at him. His smirk widened.

"Really now?" He said and I scowled.

Yes, Daimen's a sex god. Not to mention he loves me...

"Hey, it'd do you some good to back away from my girl." A deep, familiar voice said and I was somewhat relieved to see those amber eyes.

He'd showed up just in time.

Speak of the Devil and he shall appear... well in this instance think.

"You." Christen spat as he saw Daimen.

"Hey Chris." The man said casually. Daimen walked around him and to my side before crossing his arms over his broad chest.

"You okay?" Daimen asked and I nodded softly.

"Wait. Wait... You're with her?" Christen said pointing to Daimen then me.

"Yeah." Daimen huffed.

"Really?" Christen said looking at me as if I'd lost my mind.

"Why does it matter to you?" I shot back and my ex blinked.

"He's a playboy. He's just using you." Christen said with a glare toward Daimen.

Like you did?

"You don't know me." Daimen growled in a threatening, say-it-again tone.

"How'd this happen?" Christen asked motioning at the two of us.

"What's it to you?" Daimen retorted.

"I'm just wondering why you're always taking my used goods." Christen said roughly and I tensed up. Did he just...?

"Who are you calling used goods?" I shot back.

"Come on babe don't give me that look." Christen said and waved me off.

"Asshole." I grumbled.

"So why're you with him?" Christen asked me and Daimen scoffed.

"Because I know how to treat her right and please her." Daimen huffed.

"Yeah, only because you've pleased every girl in this town." Christen spat glaring at Daimen.

"That's a lie... I haven't gone anywhere near your mom." Daimen said making a disgusted face and Christen turned red.

"Daimen." I said softly and he chucked.

"You son of a bitch, I don't see how the fuck she's with you." Christen said sharply before giving me an incredulous look.