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It’s a win-win situation for us both, and as Luc said, maybe this could be how I redeem myself from the past in some small way.
I just can’t touch her.
ChapterSixteen
River
Eden stares back at me with a vacant expression tainting the soft hazel color of her eyes. I don’t know if I would have preferred for her to be mad at me. I’ve never really lied to her before.
We’re in the living room at Gina’s house. Eden arrived about half an hour ago to check on me and make dinner. That’s when I told her the truth.
The truth about everything and my offer to be Jericho’s wife.
The latter is not information I probably should have shared, but Eden isn’t any old person who will go bragging to the first tabloid or gossip magazine. My friendship with her means more.
I just wish I knew what she was thinking.
Telling her the truth might not have been the best idea with all that’s going on, but I was going crazy keeping it to myself. I felt she had to know the truth so she could understand my hopes if things work out with Jericho.
I can’t believe I’ve put my trust in the same ex who I vowed never to trust again, or that I broke down the way I did in his office.
The mere talk of Sasha did that to me. The people in my circle know how he treated me, but speaking to Jericho—for what little I said—really got to me.
In the same breath, I was basically begging for an opportunity to be his wife.
God knows what Dad would do if he found out what his daughter did. Going to a Grayson for help, much lessthat Grayson boyhe forbid her to see.
I’ve been a mess for the last few days, but knowing my father will lose his shit if all goes to plan actually made me feel sick.
We spent most of today at the hospital with Gina. I know it’s unfair to say this, but I didn’t hear Dad coming up with any grand plans to save her.
And poor Gina…she isn’t doing good at all. She seemed to be getting worse.
She’s been able to talk to us since she’s been in the hospital, but today wasn’t like that. She barely spoke and had a glassy, fragile look about her, as if looking at her too hard would shatter her body into a million pieces.
I don’t know if that’s the effects of the extra medication or if she’s just getting worse. Then again, if she weren’t getting worse, she wouldn’t need extra medication.
I’m so worried and shit scared. I also haven’t been at work since Monday, so I’m losing more money, but there’s no way I can work in this frame of mind.
I’m deeply distressed and so anxious the tension in my body could dissolve my organs.
Eden makes her way over to me on the sofa, sits, and blows out a ragged breath.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth,” I say quietly, pushing my palms down on the sofa. “Please don’t hate me.”
She shakes her head. “I could never hate you, River.” She sighs, bringing her hand to her cheek. “I suppose I also couldn’t be mad at you even if I wanted to be. I feel like I would have done the same things if it were me.”
“Would you?”
She nods slowly. “It’s complicated, right?”
“Yeah, and strange to talk about.”
“I guess I was right. You and Jericho seem unfinished.” She bites the inside of her lip.
“Something seems to keep one of us hooked in, one way or another.” I raise my shoulders into a short shrug. “Maybe I should have stayed in Russia.”
“What would that have achieved? The situation would have still been the same.”
