The Revenge Pact (Kings of Football, #1)(97)

Then it all comes out. “My mom said this thing about a flower, and keeping it watered, and I know that’s confusing, you’ll have to meet her to get it, but I’m wilting without him. I miss him, love him, we only had one night, and I thought I could live on that for a few months, just wait and see, but I can’t, and even then, who the heck knows where he’ll be, and I don’t care where he is really, any city will do. I always wanted a home, but home is him and wherever he is. I’m not going back to Braxton…” I stop and wipe the tears I can’t stop from coming.

She laughs under her breath. “Two college dropouts? Insane. Do you have a plan?”

“I don’t even have luggage.”

“Hotel?”

“No. Do you have some nearby?”

She laughs. “You must stay with us, dear. I insist. What about law school? River says you got into Emory. I don’t know much about law, but that’s one of the top universities in the country—”

“It’s nice to meet you in person, Mrs. Tate—”

“Call me Nina. Please.”

“…but you won’t talk me out of leaving school and neither will he. I met with my advisor and he agreed to let me wrap up my last few classes online. I can go to any law school. I don’t care where it is. Not one iota. I might take a gap year, do some volunteer stuff to beef up my application. He left a note for me, his three things, and it was good, so good, but you know what I need? I need his face.” My heart clenches.

She smiles. “He makes the world right.”

I nod and wipe the tears from my face. “I need him next to me. So much. I need him not missing the little things. I need him telling me in person my three things. I told him the day of the sunrise that I needed someone to look into my eyes and tell me those, but I don’t think he really got that I would give up anything for him. Emory is just a school. River is him. He’s the kind of guy who wouldn’t ask me to because he’s about this waiting, and he has waited—for over a year.” I give her a pleading look.

She lets out a soft laugh. “Wow, you can talk.”

“You should see me stoned.” My voice hitches as I clench my purse tight, my need rising higher and higher. “Do you think I’m crazy?”

“No, dear. I would have done the same thing for my husband. I never liked being away from him. You must love River very much.”

My lashes flutter. “So much. Where is he?”

“You mean Uncle River?” asks Callie. She’s taken my hand and looks up at me. “He’s right there.” She points and my eyes follow, finding him to the right standing in the hallway. He’s breathing hard, his hair wet from a shower, a towel around his waist.

“Underwear, son,” Nina murmurs. “Tsk, tsk. You’d lose your head if it wasn’t screwed on.”

“Anastasia?” he asks in a low voice, his eyes wide. His throat bobs. “What are you doing…you had class today?”

A strangled sound comes from me as I run for him, straight into his open arms.





“I need to make mac and cheese for Callie. I promised,” River murmurs to me later. We’ve been holed up in his bedroom for the past few minutes. Kissing. Making out. He’s put on joggers and a workout shirt and we lie in his bed. He leans up on his elbow and twists a strand of my hair around his finger. “You like mac and cheese?”

I gaze up at him, my eyes drinking him in. “I’m starving. Honestly just looking forward to seeing you cook and dote on Callie and your mom.”

He dips his head and takes my lips, slanting to reach farther, to go deep. His nose runs up my neck. “Seeing you at my door, hearing those words… I can’t explain how much it means to me…” He holds my eyes. “What about Emory?”

“Law school can be anywhere, as long as it’s where you are. You once said I was too much, too soon…” I exhale. “Are you scared of this? I mean, I’m basically showing up at your door uninvited…”

“Baby. You are always welcome here, but you’re giving up Emory for me—”

“There are other places. Are you still waiting, River, because me? I’m not. I know this is sudden, but I need you in my life. I need your mom. Your sister. Callie. People leave me, they do, and I let them go. I wave at my parents and they do their thing, but you, you are mine, my flower, like Mom said, and we can’t be apart. We just can’t,” I say earnestly.

His head dips, then he looks up at me, an anguished look on his face. “Walking away from you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and, Jesus, I’ve missed you so much. You’re always in my head. Every second of the day. I’ve been telling myself everything would be fine, but I was terrified you’d move on without me…”

A tremulous smile comes from me. “I’m here. And I’m not leaving.”

Wonder flashes over his face as his arms tighten, and I guess it’s finally sinking in. “I can’t believe this! Baby, baby, I got you, I got you, you’re here in my arms and I can’t let you leave. I never would have asked you to give up Emory, I wouldn’t, but fuck, thank you for coming, thank you, baby…” He stops, a misty look in his eyes.

Emotion slams into me, seeing the love in his gaze.