Page 29 of Where the River Meets the Skye

“I thought this might make it easier for you to recline in bed,” Skye said, hefting it over.

River moved aside as Skye set it down behind him. He waited for Skye to lay his pillow on top of it, and then he rested back against it to try it out. Skye’s chest expanded and his heart leapt when River smiled. Then more tears slid down River’s cheeks.

“Are those good tears or bad tears?” Skye let out a breath when River smiled again.

“Good,” he said. “It’s helping. I can actually sit for the first time in months without being in horrible pain. This is amazing, thank you. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it.” He could sense the relief, appreciation and gratitude in his friend’s voice and the way he was looking at Skye with those beautiful blue eyes. “How did you find out about this?”

Skye shrugged and flushed. “I researched.”

“You did all of this just for me? On your own time, without me asking or anything?” River was looking at him in the way that made his heart beat faster and his stomach fill with butterflies, his eyes so warm and tender.

“I, uh,” he stumbled over his words, blushing. “Yeah, I guess.” He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, gaze darting to the floor. “You want some dinner?” he asked, “I can bring it in here.”

“That would be nice. Thank you.” There was that smile again. The one that made him weak in the knees. The one that sucked the air right out of his lungs until he felt like he couldn't breathe.

He might just as well chuck the tank he had in front of the ice wall now, too, ‘cause that whole damn wall was melting right in front of him.

CHAPTER 11

River

River lay on his side on the couch, hands tucked under his head. Anna sat at the other end of the couch with his feet in her lap. She’d been asking about River for a while, wanting to see him, telling him she missed him, letting him know she was thinking of him. She’d been around at least twice a week in the evenings since he’d had his accident and they’d watched movies and had dinner together on the sofa as he iced his ankle and ribs, but ever since his tailbone injury he’d been more hesitant to have her around.

He didn’t know how to tell her that he couldn’t go out because his butt hurt. And he was humiliated at the idea of having her over to his house and having to take up the entire couch to watch a movie because it hurt too much to sit. It sounded absolutely ridiculous. What if she didn’t believe him? What if she just thought it was some lame excuse for not spending time with her? But Skye had once again convinced him to be honest with her, and he had been, and she’d been just as gracious and understanding as Nick and Jenna had been. He still felt like a complete idiot but at least she was here, and they were spending time together. Even if she wasn’t sitting next to him like she normally would be, holding his hand or cuddling close.

He felt her small fingers starting to massage his feet and he let out a soft moan. “You don’t have to do that.”

She smiled at him. “I don’t mind. You’ve had it rough lately. You could use some pampering.”

“It feels good,” he said, and wiggled his toes. “I won’t stop you.” The movie continued to play and she continued to massage his feet. And God, it felt so good. Her hands were small, but they were warm, and soft, applying just the right amount of pressure. “You’re good at that,” he said, after a while, his voice relaxed and a bit rougher than normal. She smiled and planted a kiss on his foot, making him flush.

“I used to give my mom massages. She has fibromyalgia and it really helped her. I’m pretty familiar with chronic health issues.”

He nodded, then reached over and squeezed her arm. “Thank you. For being so patient with me. I know these last several weeks I’ve been kind of MIA. I just, I didn’t know how to tell you what was going on. I was scared you wouldn’t understand. It’s kind of weird, you know? And I’m not sure how much longer it’s going to be an issue even, and I hate that I have to be laying here, taking up the entire sofa. I want to be better, and I want to be the boyfriend who’s taking you out and going to church with you.”

Anna scooted out from under his feet and leaned over, planting a kiss on his lips. He drank her in, placing a hand on her cheek and kissing her back. “God, I missed this.” He looked into her green eyes as she pulled back and smiled.

“Me, too. I get it, though, us not spending as much time together with everything that’s been going on.” She took his hand and squeezed it. “But I don’t mind being here, if this is where you have to be, River. As long as we’re together. I know you’re struggling right now, but please don’t push me away. And please don’t ignore me.”

He nodded, so thankful that she understood, that she was so quick to forgive him. That she was trying to make this work. She moved back to her spot by his feet. “More?” she asked, grinning at him.

“Please?” He smiled back.

A moment later Skye came in the front door carrying bags of groceries. He unloaded them and then made his way into his bedroom before coming back out in his pajamas a while later.

“You guys having fun?”

“Yeah, we’re just finishing up our movie,” River replied.

“Okay, well, I’m gonna hang out in my room for a bit and then head to bed.” Skye bent over and placed a chaste kiss on River’s head. “Night, angel.”

“Night, Skye,” River replied, unable to keep the smile from splitting his face.

“Night, Anna,” Skye said, waving at her. She waved back, but River saw her biting her lip as Skye exited the room.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, of course.” She gave him a small smile. “I’m fine.”

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