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His reply makes sense, but I’m still hesitant, and not all of it stems from what lines I did or did not cross.
“Why make me a bodyguard? I’m not exactly qualified for the role.”
Knox’s answer is the worst one he could give. “Who better to protect my girl than the man who’ll stand at my side when we make it official?” After folding his coat over his arm, he twists to face me. “The limo leaves in ten. I hope I find you in it.” He locks eyes with River. “Both of you.” He squeezes his shoulder, silently farewelling him, before exiting the suite without so much as a backward glance.
His failure to look back reveals he’s disappointed in me.
He isn’t the only one.
“Are you fucking crazy?” River shouts a second after we’re alone, his anger delivered with an excessive amount of spit.
“Language—”
“Oh, fuck off.” His chest deflates as he lets out a heavy sigh. “Your double standards are so outrageous anyone would swear you got lumped with the extra chromosome.”
“Hey—”
He doesn’t give me the chance to reprimand him for picking on his disability. “I want to do this, Laken. I’ve been a part of it from the start and want to see it through. Nicole is…” I don’t mean to groan but can’t hold it back, and it gives away my hesitation in an instant. “Is that who this is about?” His brows furrow as he takes a moment to deliberate. “I thought maybe it was because you didn’t like how Knox stepped up to the plate to take care of me when you left.”
“I didn’t leave, River. I went to jail.”For you, I went to jail for you.But since I promised never to share that, I wet my lips before saying, “And I’m not angry about Knox taking care of you.”How can I be when that was our agreement?
“Then what’s your problem? You skipped into our room this morning, and now you’re walking around like a bear with a sore head.” He suddenly stiffens. “Did you hang with the road crew? They’re not a good representation of the industry.” Even with his voice not altering, I know he is mimicking something he’s heard previously. His eyes rolled partway through his statement, and his hands are balled at his side, telltale signs his beliefs aren’t on par with what he’s saying. “And hanging with them will only get you fired.”
“I didn’t hang with anyone.” Liar. Liar.Liar.“I just need a minute to wrap my head around everything. Alothas changed.” Hating that the tension between us is already stale, I try to lighten the mood. “Like whoever thought you’d be excited about having your name on a business shirt?”
“I have to wear a tie, too.” When I arch a shocked brow, he chuckles. “I almost told him to shove it, but I really like working for Knox Records. It’s so much better than my last job.” For the first time in years, vulnerability echoes in his tone when he glances at the people who greeted him with happy cheers and fist bumps. “They don’t treat me differently. I’m one of the team. These guys are like family to me.”
Conscious I have no right to strip his family from him for the second time in his short life, and that the matter of his guardianship is still up in the air, I give in to peer pressure far too quickly. “Then I guess we better pack.”
River’s eyes are on me in a second, hot and heavy. “Really?”
I nod before grunting through the strength of his hug when he crash-tackles me on the sofa. I was already seated, but you wouldn’t know that for how far back he knocks me when he dives for me. “Thank you, Laken. I promise I won’t let you down.”
“You never have,” I reply, returning his hug. “You just need to go a little easy on me, okay? This is all new to me.”
He assumes I mean my position. I was more referencing the fact I chased my best friend’s girl.
Knox hinted at marriage. That isn’t something he jokes about. He only ever mentions commitment when he’s giving excuses for his latest relationship’s downfall.
“I’ll teach you everything you need to know.” I grant my lungs permission to breathe again when River stands. “We can start now.” He mimics the stance of a bodyguard with his head tilted back and his arms folded in front of his inflated chest. “No more questions.” I attempt to speak, but he beats me to it. “I saidno more questions!”
“I—”
River’s death stare would have any man freezing in their place.
Any man except me. “Knox said we had ten minutes.”
His eyes bulge before they drop to my watch. “That was almost five minutes ago. We need to move fast.” He grabs a pre-packed duffle bag from outside the room and tosses it into my chest. “Everything in the bathroom is mine.”
“This is your room?” I ask, my tone more hopeful than surprised.
“No.” He stops raiding the minibar before finalizing his reply. “But Knox organizes for new hair products to be delivered at each hotel he stays at, so he won’t care if I take them.”
I wonder if he feels the same way about his woman?
When I remain frozen, shocked by my snarky inner monologue, River forces me into a space that smells like a mix of my best friend's cologne and the body wash I licked off his girl last night.
10
