Page 8 of Played

The tears came harder when he said, “I’m damn proud of you, and so is Cypress.”

Chapter Four

It was the beep of the machines that kept River up. It had been four weeks and Riot hadn’t opened his eyes except once—the blank expression still haunted her when she closed her eyes. So much had happened that she wasn’t even sure what end was up right now. Court was tomorrow, and the thought of facing Laurel to fight over the will she magically produced two weeks ago had River pissed. She still could see Laurel’s smug face as she walked into the lawyer’s office, telling them Cypress had changed his will. The lawyer who had signed it wasn’t someone his usual lawyer or River knew. There was no way that Cypress would have cut her out of his will.My brother’s dead. My boyfriend’s in a coma. I may lose the house I live in. What else is going to happen to me? Don’t jinx yourself.

The sound of her phone buzzing made River cringe. So tired, she was damn tired of answering questions about Cypress and Riot. She wanted to crawl under a rock. Tomorrow the doctors were taking Riot back into surgery. Everyone was worried he won’t make it out of surgery, River included.

She has read him every article about her winning moment. She told him about the services for Cypress and how so many people came. It took two whole days for the wake, and the funeral procession had shut down the highway—which in California was quite a feat. She told him about Fisher’s services as well. Fisher’s younger brother, Archer, had slapped her, which River shrugged off. People acted out in different ways when they grieved. Mr. Morgan had hauled the kid out to the parking lot. Later, Archer had begrudgingly apologized to her.

Stacks of magazines, books, and newspapers were piled up on the window ledge. River couldn’t help but wonder how many more would be added to the pile. The sound of the door opening reminded her that they were never alone. She heard the nurse as she shuffled into the room. It was time for vitals again. “Can’t you read the fucking vitals off your damn monitors? Why can’t y’all just stay out for more than a few damn hours!”

“River, honey.”

Shit. It wasn’t the nurse.Sorry Mrs. Meniere.”

“It’s Rachel.”

“Sorry, it’s my upbringing.”

“Well, I think due to the circumstances you can call me Rachel. Okay?”

“Yes ma… yes.”

“Good. Now, how’s our boy doing today?”

There should be more to tell her than “no change.” He was just not responding to anything. Leaning on her elbows, she pressed her thumbs into her eyes, trying to stem the tears before they fall. River heard Rachel walking up to her and all she could think was,please don’t touch me—because if she did, River couldn’t deal with it. At the thought River, rested her face on Riot’s outstretched hand. She was trying to find some strength in his nonresponsive touch when she felt Rachel’s hand rub her back.

It was the thing that broke the dam. For the first time since her parents’ death, River leaned up, turning into Rachel’s neatly pressed suit, and sobbed. Through the sobs, she apologized for her behavior, which got her more rubbing, which in turn caused her to cry harder. “I can’t lose him, he’s all I have left.”

“Look at me, River.”

Moving from the comfort of Riot’s mother’s body, she looked up into furious eyes. Rachel had never liked the fact that her son chose River to date. She didn’t like the age difference, and never missed the opportunity to express how she felt. River watched as she moved away from her, smoothing her hand down her jacket as if River had damaged it.

“You need to pull yourself together, young lady. My son cannot be your everything in this life. When he gets better, he may move on from you at some point, and what will you do then— die? I think not. You’re young and immature, so maybe it’s time for you to go home.”

She had thought they had turned a corner. How stupid had she been? “Rachel, I don’t give a damn if you don’t like the fact that Riot is with me. I don’t care if he leaves me for someone else down the road. But at this precise moment, he is all I have in my life. If you don’t remember, I lost my brother in that fucking wreck. I will leave when I am ready to. If you don’t like me here, maybe you should leave.”

“Well said.”

Whipping around, River locked eyes with Stanley, Riot’s father. He’s a big man. Most would never think he was a softy, but he was. “Rachel, what the hell are you doing?”

“She was falling apart, I had to do something fast. Riot always said she had a short fuse.”

She dropped into a chair, frantically wiping tears from her face, and remembered it wasn’t just her who was scared of losing him. He had a family that was trying hard to keep the faith. “I know I keep saying sorry, but sorry. You are right, though.”

“About what?”

“I do need to go home. I have court tomorrow.”To fight for my home. I need to pack my things just in case it goes badly.

“Cypress would not have taken you out of his will,” Stanley states flatly.

“Thank you, but if the judge believes Laurel’s paperwork, I’m on the streets. I also have to call the team owner; they have been calling me and I need the sponsorship. It means I get paid.”

“You can stay at Riot’s. We have no issue with that.” Stanley pulled River into a hug, letting her know whatever she needed, they would help her. Thanking him, she moved out of his grip, sending a small smile to Rachel—although River had believed every word Rachel had spoken. Gathering up her things, River placed a kiss on Riot’s cheek before she headed out the door. As the door started to close behind her, River heard Rachel say something about how River needed to stop going up there so much. Did his mother not realize she hadn’t left that room other than meetings with the lawyer? She knew Rachel hadn’t been by except once a week since he was moved from the ICU.

Smiling to the nurse, River sent the young woman a wave and headed to the elevators. God, she hated leaving. It was a constant worry Riot would wake up again and no one would be with him. Looking at her phone as it starts to ring again, River knew she needs to answer it. What should she say? “Hello?”

“River, this is Lewis. We need you to come into the office to sign paperwork. If you don’t, we will be forced to give away your spot on the team.”

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