Page 108 of River & Crown
"Hey, missed you in bed last night," she spoke softly.
"Yeah, my bad. I ate and ended up knocking out on the couch."
"Oh, okay. Are you hungry? I know it's a little late for breakfast, but I'm craving a McGriddle sandwich. You want one?"
Four was rambling and doing her best to shield her face from my view. Her curls were clipped in the back, pushing them upward and framing her face. Four hated her curls being in her face, so that shit was a dead giveaway.
"Four," I called out.
"Yes," she answered, peering over her shoulder.
"Look at me right quick."
"Crown, I'm hungry and?—"
"River." I didn't raise my voice, I didn't have to. Four knew how far to take her bullshit.
She turned around slowly with her chin buried in her chest. I filled the space between us, then reached for her chin. Pinching it between my fingers, I lifted her head.
"Please don't make a big deal about this.” She sighed.
For a second, I froze, my brain refusing to believe what my eyes showed me.
"Crown, say something."
Ignoring her, I took her glasses and put them on, thinking maybe Four wasn't the only one who needed an extra set of eyes.
"Crown, what are you doing? Wearing my glasses will probably give you a headache. My prescription is strong."
She wasn't lying. With her glasses, my vision was warped, but the bruises on her face were still visible.
"The bruises are real. Can I please have my glasses back?" she huffed.
"Four who the fuck... what the fuck—" I couldn't get the words out. My throat dried, each inhale scraping like sandpaper as anger elevated my pulse.
"Crown, you have to calm down."
"Give me a name," I gritted.
"No," she mumbled.
I chuckled humorlessly, waiting for Four to take heed to the warning.
"Crown, please just leave it alone. I get you want to protect me, but I handled it."
"Whoever beat your ass like you stole something is dead?" I asked.
"No, but?—"
"Then it's not fucking handled, River!" I gritted.
"Don't yell at me!" she spat.
"No one's yelling at you, Four. We don't even gotta speak. Give me a name and I'll shut the fuck up."
"I'm not telling you?—"
"Bet!" I smirked and walked over to the couch.
