Page 17 of Close to Falling

“Okay,” I respond, slightly breathless.

As I make my way up the stairs, I look up to see River standing at the top. He saw Mikey and me, and that makes me smile bigger.

***

I sit in the back with a passed-out Cali while River drives and Landon talks about the brunette he was making out with. Landon is just as much a playboy as River, except he is nicer about it. River doesn’t do repeats, and he doesn’t call any of these girls back. He’s a dick, but he says they know before anything happens so they shouldn’t expect anything more. River turns and Cali rolls over, placing her head on my lap. I run my hands through her baby blue hair and watch the trees pass us by. We turn onto Cali’s road, and I tell her we are here, but she doesn’t move.

“Landon, she’s out cold.”

“I’ll carry her inside,” he tells me. Landon has always had a soft spot for Cali, and sometimes I think he loves the girl who has no limits. He lifts her out of the car, and I get out behind them to help him with the door. Once they are inside, I tell him to be as quiet as possible so he doesn’t wake her parents. “I’ve got it from here,” he says. I make my way back to the car and get inside.

“I’m sorry about earlier, B,” River says a moment later.

“Me, too,” I respond, even though I’m not sure why I’m apologizing, but that’s just the way it is between us. One says sorry, while the other does, too, and it’s over.

Chapter Eight

I slide out of bed and walk to the front of my closet. Bending down and hooking my finger into the small hole in the wood board, I lift it up and pull out a small baggie. I pour a few pills out onto the palm of my hand and toss them into my mouth before putting everything back in place. I open my bedroom door and make my way to the hall bathroom. My bathroom doesn’t have a tub, and I want to soak. It's early, and I have to be quiet because Frankie doesn’t like to be woken up on his day off. The door is cracked, and the light is on so I strum my fingers on it.

“Yeah?” River says.

“Can I come in?” I ask.

“Open the door.” I push it open and see River standing at the sink. Towel wrapped around his slim waist, he makes a clean swipe down his face with the razor in his hand. When did this boy start shaving?

“I want to take a bath,” I say.

“So take one.” He shrugs, running the razor down his left cheek.

“I need you to get out.”

“It's nothing I haven’t seen before,” he says, looking at me in the mirror.

“Um, yes, it is,” I say.He smirks and keeps shaving, so I move past him and sit on the toilet seat. I chew on my fingernail and watch him shave. He looks really good with his shirt off.“Can I do it?” I ask. He lifts the razor away from his face and looks down at me.

“If you want,” he says.I get up and tell him to sit. He does with a bemused look on his face. Shower wet hair and boy shampoo, he smells and looks delicious. I’m starting to crave this bad boy. I hold my hand out for the razor, and he gives it to me.

“Stay still,” I say, darting my eyes to his before I lightly put the razor to his face. He watches me closely, and I feel it to my toes. I run it down his face carefully, slowly until I reach the middle of his neck. I reach over and rinse the razor and put it back to his face, running it down again over and over. I repeat this action, concentrating and praying I don’t cut him.

It’s when I rinse the razor for the last time that I notice his hands are resting on my hips. I wet my bottom lip and swallow, instantly becoming aware of my breathing. The heat from his hands seeps through my pajamas, and I look at his face. Spots of shaving cream are left over, and I grab the towel and gently remove them. With his hands still on my hips, he asks, “All done?”

“Yep,” I say, a little out of breath.

“Okay,” he says. “Let me look.” His hands fall to his towel-covered legs like he didn’t even know he was touching me, like it was just a reaction. I move out of the way, and he stands.“You did good, B.” He turns his face, looking over my job well done. He runs his hands over his smooth face, and I wish I could. I lean back against the wall with my needy hands behind my back, watching him. He fills his palms with water and rinses his face off. When he leans back up,our eyes meet in the mirror.“You okay?”

“Yeah,” I say quietly.

“Oh, you want a bath. I’ll get out then.” He winks before he walks out the door, and I melt. Good grief, what the hell is going on with me? I shut the door and strip my pajamas off, and as I lean down to turn the water on, the door opens again, and I turn around. It’s River, and I am in my underwear. I grab the towel off the hook and put it around me.

“Geez, knock much?” I ask, feeling the heat of my embarrassment crawl up my chest.

“Um, sorry,” he mumbles. He looks stunned and keeps staring.

“River!” I say. “What do you need?”

“Oh, I forgot my...” He looks confused, and I look over at his ball shorts.

“These?” I ask, picking them up and tossing them to him.

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