Page 64 of Where the River Meets the Skye

Skye sighed and wrapped his arm around River’s waist, pulling him gently onto his lap. “I’m sorry, angel,” he said. “I guess I just couldn’t sleep.”

“What are you doing?” River asked, gesturing to the computer.

Skye shrugged. “Just stuff.” He pressed a kiss to River’s cheek.

“Skye,” River eyed him, still stroking his fingers through his husband’s hair. “Be honest with me.”

Skye sighed again. “I’m looking at our finances,” he admitted. “I was hoping I could do it without you noticing. I didn’t want to stress you out.”

River frowned. “You were going to have to tell me eventually.”

“I know, but I was hoping to have a plan of action before I brought anything to your attention.”

“How’s it look?”

Skye bit his lip again. “Not good,” he admitted. “Your salary was a big chunk of everything. You made more than I did, and with all the medical bills and the school loans still needing to be paid off…I don’t know.”

River’s frown deepened. “I’m sorry. I feel like this is all my fault.”

Skye shook his head. “River, we’ve been over this.” His voice was gentle but stern. “It’s not your fault. I’m not trying to make you feel guilty. I’m just stating the facts, what’s going through my head, so we can figure it out, okay?” Skye pressed a kiss to River’s shoulder and nuzzled it with his nose.

“I just feel bad, Skye,” River replied, not looking at his husband. “It’s all my medical bills, and my school debt, and you wouldn’t have any of it if you hadn’t married me. And now you’re stuck with trying to figure out how to pay it off on your own.”

“River, stop,” Skye said, in a way that made River turn to him, their eyes locking. “You know what, you’re right. I wouldn’t have any of those things if I hadn’t married you, and I wouldn’t have to deal with it, but you know what else I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t married you? You, River. And I wanted you. And everything that came with you. The day we got married those bills and debt became ours, remember? Ours, not yours. And we’re going to figure this out. Feeling bad isn’t going to help the situation. And I don’t regret marrying you. You damn well better know that.”

River bit his lip. “Yeah,” he said. “If it helps, I think I can apply for disability. And my boss did say that if I start feeling better they’d be happy to take me back, but I don’t think we can count on that.”

Skye nodded.

River stroked his husband’s hair again and kissed the side of his head. “Can we deal with the rest of this in the morning? I’d like to go back to bed, with you. It’s cold and lonely in there by myself.”

Skye grinned. “Okay.”

"I love you, Skye," River said as they snuggled up together under the covers.

Skye pressed a light kiss to River's jaw and then nuzzled his neck with his nose. "I love you, too, angel," he said.

CHAPTER 29

River

Three weeks later, Jenna and Nick, along with Anna and a few members of River’s old Bible study, were helping River and Skye move into their new apartment. As much as they hated leaving their condo, they’d realized they just couldn’t afford it anymore on a single income, and River was taking it the hardest, trying not to beat himself up, trying not to see it as being his fault that they had to leave the home they’d loved, that they’d fallen in love in, and shared for the last six years, that they’d built so many memories in.

Their new place was nice enough. Smaller, with only one bedroom and one bathroom, and a smaller kitchen as well, but a decent sized living area and a nice neighborhood. And their neighbors seemed friendly too, so as hard as it was, they were trying to keep their heads up and focus on the good, and what they had to be thankful for. Even with all the bad, they still had amazing friends who were helping them move, putting their furniture together and hauling away the things they couldn’t bring with them, neighbors who were welcoming them to the building and bringing them brownies, and even a housewarming present from Jaden and Chloe.

Skye opened the large box once everyone else had gone and it was just them, Nick and Jenna left. He grinned when he pulled out two large, very soft blankets. One in rainbow and the other in blue, pink, and purple.

“What’s that?” River asked from his spot on the sofa. He’d been resting on the couch for the majority of the moving, and although he’d longed to help and feel useful, his heart had acted up several times and his lightheadedness and nausea had kept him from doing much of anything, so he’d had to leave it up to the others to handle.

“Our colors, angel,” Skye said, and handed River his.

Jenna sat next to him and petted the large blanket as Nick stood nearby chugging some water. “Oooh, it’s so soft,” she cood.

She was right. It was so plush and warm. River loved it. He had never had anything representing his sexuality before. Except Skye.

“That was really nice of Jaden and Chloe.”

“Yeah, it was,” Skye agreed. “Why don’t I order some pizza and we can watch something on the laptop while we eat dinner. Unpacking can wait til tomorrow. I’m beat.”

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