Melodie wasted no time in getting to their front door. It was late and her jacket was no match for the billowing wind. Meeting Hunter’s friends today was fun but the day was catching up to her. She was shivering nonstop.
River unlocked the house and she trampled inside. Hunter and River watched, amused, as she tore off her shoes and jacket in record time. But before she dashed away to her room, she turned to Hunter and gave him the biggest hug.
“Goodbye,” she muttered into his jacket’s outer shell. Hunter knew it must have felt freezing against her skin. He rubbed her back to warm her up and dropped a kiss to the top of her hair.
“Good night.”
His six-year-old was just out of sight when River laughed. He trudged over to his couch and Hunter followed, confused when the laughter continued.
“What?”
River’s hand dropped to Hunter’s leg and his laughter finally calmed.
“It’s not bad,” he prefaced, mirth-filled eyes meeting Hunter’s. “I thought you guys would get along but I never thought it would be this much.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Hunter asked, watching the older man anxiously.
“No.”
River’s eyes had grown soft, his smile mirrored in his gentle gaze.
“No it’s not.”
River’s words were simple, but Hunter couldn’t help but feel like they meant more. The hand on his leg had resumed its motion. Back and forth. Back and forth. He met River’s eyes. A question. River tugged at Hunter’s shirt. Silently, Hunter shifted closer. Their legs were entangled, mirroring the fingers they’d threaded together. River was resting his head on the couch inches from Hunter’s face, gazing into the younger man’s eyes. Hunter wished River could read his mind only so the man could see what Hunter saw in that moment.
Hunter remembered those first few times at the bar, days when speaking to River felt like climbing an endless tower. How did he get here? Able to enjoy a quiet moment in the older man’s home? Communicating without any words being said?
It’s as if, once he let Hunter into Melodie’s life, he let Hunter into his heart.
The train of Hunter’s thoughts surprised him. Just because he was in love with him doesn’t mean River felt the same way. Suddenly, being there with River, feeling the warmth from his skin, was too much. Hunter untangled himself from the older man and began to stand.
“It’s late. I should go.”
Hunter’s feet hit the carpet and he lifted off of the couch. Then, a hand shot out and held his wrist.
“Stay.”
River’s eyes held a promise and want Hunter had never seen before. River pulled again.
When he led the younger man into his room, Hunter followed.
Because he’d always follow.
Because he loved him.
—————
Hunter’s sheets were warmer than he remembered. He inhaled deeply, taking in crisp air, and stretched out his legs. But his foot stopped, hitting something warm. That’s when his eyes flew open. The sheets were warm because Hunter had shared the bed with another human. River’s bed. The human was River.
Hunter’s face went beet red.
In seconds, his brain had dug up all the things he’d done to River the night before. Or all the things River had done to him. Hunter’s body stung pleasurably and his burning cheeks got worse.
Conveniently, that’s when the body behind him groaned, rousing to consciousness. River’s dark brown hair was pushed to one side like a lopsided mohawk. His face might have been swollen and there was definitely crust in his eyes. But when he looked at Hunter, the younger man’s heart stopped. It only resumed its beating when River smiled.
“It’s nice to sleep in,” he hummed, stretching his long, flexed limbs. “Melodie should just go to school at twelve from now on.”
Hunter reached out a hand, combing it through River’s stiff hair. River let him try to get his fingers through the mess with a laugh. Holding one strand in particular, Hunter’s expression grew thoughtful.
“Hey, if I’m ever here in the morning, I’d be happy to drop her off,” he offered, glancing nervously at River’s face. “It’s no problem. I like helping.”
Hunter was too scared to say it but River knew the “you” at the end was implied. Hunter looked so genuine, and nervous, to ask if he could help. Sometimes, River didn’t understand why. Why did he look so happy to take care of his daughter and stay by his side?
People didn’t want responsibility. They didn’t want to be tied down to kids and commitments. The last time he asked someone to do that . . .
River’s eyes strayed to a photo on the dresser of a young woman and a baby girl.
—————
He hears her scream first.
She’s cooking. She was cooking. She’s screaming. She’s holding her hand. River runs up to her. A drop of blood is on the corner of the cutting board. A line of blood covers her dark skin and manicured fingers. Full lips are muttering at her hands. Perfectly plucked brows are drawn together in pain.
“What happened?”
River reaches for her hands but his wife pulls back.
“Get the fuck away from me!”
Melodie cries. Nia’s bleeding. River is torn. Nia continues to glare at him and Melodie hasn’t stopped crying.
“Shhh, it’s okay. Daddy’s got you.”
River places Melodie in her crib. It’s quiet. The baby’s alright. River thinks he’s alright.
River creeps back into the kitchen and Nia is running water over the cut. He wants to be relieved, but his wife is sobbing. Thick streams fall down her cheeks and take meticulously applied makeup with it. Gorgeous white teeth peek through with each sob.
“Nia.”
Large brown eyes meet his. The same eyes she gave his daughter. The same eyes he fell in love with.
“What’s wrong?”
The light in her eyes crack. Nia sobs. River’s right hand begins to shake. He covers the reaction. He needs to be strong. Melodie needs one of them to be strong.
There’s no water. No tears. No blood. River looks around. The taps off. Where’s Nia?
Nia’s tugging her shoes on with a finger wrapped in a paper towel. She loses her balance and falls to the ground. She’s still sobbing and can’t see past her tears. The first shoe slides on.
River races towards her. He’s on the ground. He’s hugging her. Nia cries into his shoulder.
“It’s too much.”
Nia’s wheezing and crying but she’s talking. She’s finally talking.
“I can’t do this anymore.”
She grabs his back. Nails dig into his skin. River can’t feel them. He’s panicking.
“I’m making the contracts. I’m leading the team. The team is five years younger than me!”
The silky strands of her wig hit River’s cheek. He can’t remember the last time he saw her natural hair. The hair she gave Melodie.
“I’m staying calm. I’m smiling. I’m performing. I’m watching the baby. I’m being a mom.”
The last word is said through a gag. His right hand shakes. He lifts it off her body so she doesn’t notice. Nia can’t notice.
“It’s too much.”
River needs to breathe. He needs to think. He needs to fix this.
“Okay, okay,” River whispers, stroking her head. Nia leans into his body with a sigh. “I’m sorry.”
She’s always loved when he did this. A meeting went bad. Her mom stressed her out. Whatever it was, River would hold her head like this and Nia would feel better. River hopes it’s enough to make her stay.
“I-I’ll do more. I’ll do better. I’m sorry for putting so much on you.”
This has to be enough.
Nia nods and River feels the motion against his body. She starts to pull away but River holds her shoulders. Her eyes are clearer but not here. Not fully.
“We’re going to be okay, right?” he asks her. River can’t be strong. He’s scared. He needs her. He can’t raise this baby without her. Nia’s eyes drop to the floor.
” . . . yeah.”
She reaches for River again and he hugs her. The paper covering her finger is soaked in blood. River’s hand is still shaking. Melodie continues to sleep.
—————
The creak of his bed made River gasp. The memory had assaulted him without warning. Why did he remember that?
“Do you want some breakfast?”
Hunter stood at his bedroom doorway. A T-shirt from a college River never attended and sweatpants cover his toned body. A stream of light hit the side of his face, illuminating calm eyes and a warm smile. Hunter looked so comfortable, so at home, in River’s home. River’s right hand started to shake. He covered it with a blanket.
“Yeah, I do,” River smiled, trying to forget the blood and the tears. “Thank you, Hunter.”
———————————
Okay, a lot of things happened. Sorry for any whiplash experienced.
I wanted the last chapter to end with them being cute so you guys could get good vibes for the week. But the last chapter was too long and this one was too short.
Also, thoughts about the mystery ex-wife???
Anywhere,
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Vote, Comment, Share, Follow, or anything else you can do with this book and I will see you next Friday! Bye!!!
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