Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 86199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
It takes a moment to realize how silent the bar has grown. A pin drop could be heard as the crowd that rings us swells in size.
I hate that everyone is standing around listening to our personal business being hashed out.
She straightens to her full height as emotion floods her eyes. “Is that what this is? Were you only trying to settle an old score with River?” Her gaze studies mine, attempting to pick through my private thoughts. “Just be honest.” She gulps. “Please.”
Even though she lied to me, I find that I’m unable to be anything less than truthful with her.
“Maybe in the beginning—”
“See!” River pounces on the admittance. “It was all a fucking game!” he snarls before stabbing a finger in my direction. “Stay the fuck away from Willow. She’s not like other girls. She’s…” He pauses, almost as if searching for the right word to use. “Vulnerable and doesn’t need you playing head games with her.”
My brows jerk together. “Vulnerable?”
What the hell does that mean?
River opens his mouth only to snap it shut a second later. The ruddy color filling his face drains as he shoots an uncertain look at Willow.
Just when I think he’ll refuse to answer, his voice dips, turning husky. “She had cancer.”
Air gets knocked from my lungs, making it impossible to breathe.
My attention shifts to Willow as the bomb River just dropped reverberates throughout my entire being.
Cancer?
My brain cartwheels, making it difficult to hold on to a single thought.
Before I can come up with a response, River beats me to the punch. “You come near her again and I’ll finish what I started tonight, understand?”
Then he’s gone, disappearing with his sister through the exit and into the night.
And still…
The only thing I can do is stare at the last place I saw her standing.
Willow had cancer?
33
Willow
I stare sightlessly out the windshield as River stabs the ignition button and the SUV roars to life. A heavy silence blankets us as he squeals out of the parking lot and onto the main road that leads back to campus.
In less than five minutes, my life has been turned upside down.
My head spins as shock reverberates throughout my entire being.
It takes effort to force the words through stiff lips. “Why did you do that?”
River’s angry gaze slices in my direction before glaring back at the ribbon of road stretched out in front of us. “Do what? Protect you from the asshole who was only using you to get back at me?”
His words are like a punch to the gut, robbing the air from my lungs.
Everything that happened between Maverick and me flashes through my brain like a slow-motion picture show.
No.
It wasn’t like that.
At least…I don’t think it was.
He shoots another glare at me as his voice rises. “He fucking admitted it.” There’s a pause before another outburst. “You heard him!”
Tears sting the backs of my eyes as I wrap my arms around my middle and stare sightlessly out the passenger side window.
My brother isn’t wrong.
Maverick did admit that he wanted to steal me from River because of what happened in high school.
Even though that acknowledgment hurts, it’s not nearly as painful as what River did. Whether my brother realizes it or not, there are bigger issues at play.
“You have to stop outing my cancer diagnosis.” Before he can respond, I snap, “I’m not a fucking disease. Not every person I meet needs to know my medical history, and you do it all the time!”
His intake of breath is sharp and audible as his expression twists, turning pained. “I never meant—”
“Bullshit. You always pull out the cancer card anytime a guy shows interest, and I’m tired of it.” There’s a pause before I tack on, “It needs to stop!”
His wide eyes fasten on mine in the darkness. “I… I’m sorry. All I’ve ever wanted to do is protect you, Willow. You’re my twin. A piece of me.” He swallows as his eyes turn shiny in the darkness. “There were times when I thought we’d lose you.” He shakes his head. “How the fuck could I go on if the most important piece of me was gone?”
Some of my anger melts away at the thick emotion that clogs his deep voice.
Unable to help myself, I wrap my hand around his before giving it a squeeze, wanting to draw him out of those painful memories.
All the love that fills my heart is silently conveyed in that one touch.
It only takes one shared look, a brush of hands, or even a thought popping into one of our heads, to understand what the other is thinking or feeling.
It’s the kind of bond that can never be severed.
Even though it would be far easier to drop the topic and move on to something else less painful, I can’t. I despise arguing or being at odds with River, because it feels as though I’m not right with myself.