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River chuckled. “I hope I’m around to see you lose that fight.”
“I hope so too.”
Our eyes fell on each other’s lips longer than socially appropriate. The devil on my shoulder purred, urging me to lean in just a few inches.
“I still haven’t gotten my picnic with the most perfect person in the world,” River said softly. “What if our third date is for three?”
“Third?”
“You have to forgive me if I want you all to myself for another night. It’s the bad boy in me.”
Our flirting was raising the temperature throughout the park. The chemistry between us had always been off the charts, but if this kept up, there would be a bad boy in me before the night ended.
“The third date for three sounds perfect. Laurel will love you,” I said. “I mean, she really will. She’s going to grab hold of your hair and never let go.”
“I can pull off a baby necklace.”
We cracked up. River was funny. Why didn’t I know he was funny, smart, sexy, and sweet? It was too easy to miss that while I was perpetually pissed at him.
“My mom would like you too, by the way. I hope one day you can meet her. I want Mom to see that I’m... happy.”
“Am I the reason?”
A smile tugged at my lips. “Do you want me to say it?”
“Absolutely.”
“You, River Delaney, irritate me like no one else can.”
He inclined his head. “Not where I thought that was going.”
“But,” I pushed on, “you also make me laugh. When I’m with you, I’m safe. After Luca, I’d see snakes in every man I came across, then you came in and proved me wrong. I’ve always known you have my back, and that means more to me than anything. You make me crazy happy, Delaney, and you know it. Didn’t even need to be—”
My bowl flew out of my hand. River snapped me to his chest, claiming my lips under the lanterns. The man was a bad boy. He sailed right past sweet and chaste, and kissed the crap out of me.
Before dozens of people, River bent me back, making me hook my leg around him instinctively. Our tongues battled in a fight for dominance that I lost quickly. River sent my head spinning—he sent the world spinning. I clung to him, moaning as we gave in to months of smoldering attraction and aggravation. It was now so obvious to me that we kept digging at each other because what we really wanted was to be on each other.
River was the guy who put me back together after Luca smashed me apart. He was the one who made me laugh when I believed I’d never smile again. He kept me safe. He protected me. And when I needed him, he dropped everything to save me.
It was always going to be River.
Always.
“THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.”
River and I strolled through the city, clasped hands swinging between us. The bike trailed next to us instead of under us. Why ride back and let the night end?
“I have to come back with Sienna.”
“Tonight’s the last night of the festival,” River said. “Next year, we’ll all go.”
It made me stupidly happy that he knew we’d still be together in a year. “I can’t believe I never asked this— Oh, wait. I can believe it because you were as open to questions as a barbwire fence.”
River tossed his head back guffawing. “Let’s see if I changed. What do you want to ask?”
“Is your family from the Caribbean?”
“My mom’s parents were. Jamaica,” he said. “I’ve never been, but Mom made sure I knew my culture.”
“That’s great.” I snuck a glance at him. “What was your mom like?”
The corner of his mouth curved up. “I wondered when we’d get to this.”
“It doesn’t have to be tonight if you’re not comfortable.” I held his arm to my chest, resting my head on his shoulder. “I dropped by for a visit and you gave me one of the best nights of my life. I don’t want to ruin it by pushing you.”
“Shit. You say things like that and I feel like the world’s biggest asshole. How could I not be comfortable telling you everything? You’re more understanding than I deserve.”
“I... haven’t been completely honest either,” I confessed. “There are things in my past that I held back. If anyone can be understanding, it should be me.”
We didn’t speak for a spell.
“Mackenzie.”
“Yes, River?”
“If I tell you this, will you just listen? Don’t make excuses for them. Don’t argue their side. Don’t say maybe we can all kiss and make up now,” he said, lightness draining from his tone. “Just listen.”
I didn’t have to ask who “them” was. “I promise.”
He nodded, but didn’t continue. Patiently, I waited him out. The first person who heard the story of what happened between my parents from my own lips was Bane Alexander, and that took about a decade. River could do this at his own pace too.
