Page 11 of River & Crown
I ran into him, pressing my body firmly against his, whispering, "I got you."
His lips caressed my neck, kissing me gently. With his face buried in my hoodie, Sincere's shoulders shot up, then rested. He was crying.
"I'm so sorry," I whispered.
Lifting his head, he pinched my chin, holding my gaze. A tornado of emotions swirling in his browns.
"You're all I got left in this world, River. I fucked up earlier. I need you like crazy, but if this shit is too much, let me know. I'll leave you alone for good."
"Wha... what Sincere? No." My voice elevated in fear. "I don't want to break up. I forgive you."
"I'm serious, BB. I don't want you thinking what happened to Alexis might happen to you."
"You have always protected me. That's not going to change. Alexis stays in the middle of drama. I'm hurt about what happened, but I know it's not your fault."
"I love you, BB."
Before I could say the same, Sincere crashed his lips into mine. His tears soaked my face as our kiss deepened.
"Our love is forever, beyond the grave type shit. In the afterlife, it's only us," he whispered into my mouth.
I caught every word, allowing them to encase my heart. There was no doubt in my mind that Sincere was who I would love in this lifetime and the next.
Chapter 1
River Ashland
The present. Six months after making it official
Getting out of my car, a black Nissan GT-R caught my attention. It was parked across the street, low to the ground with tinted windows and a familiar kind of arrogance in its stance. For a second my chest tightened but I didn’t linger on the feeling. I looked away and hurried around to the passenger side of my car to help Chosyn. Soon as I opened the door, this hoe sucked her teeth and pushed my hand out her way.
"River, if you don't get the fuck on," she gritted, struggling to get out. "Damn, when did your car get so low?"
She adjusted her cropped hoodie, pulling it down to cover her nursing bra. Pulling her tights up next, Chosyn strutted toward the pool hall, flinging her straightened hair over her shoulder.
"Ma'am, my car has always been low. You're struggling 'cause those stomach muscles aren't what they used to be."
"Whatever! I'm just not used to riding that low anymore. Let's not act like Wolfe didn't threaten to turn your baby into Swiss cheese if he caught me riding shotgun." Chosyn giggled.
"Bitch, that wasn't funny." I frowned.
Wolfe was crazy about Chosyn before getting her pregnant. Wolfe, while Chosyn was pregnant, was a whole differentdemon. Pulling up, out of the blue, on Chosyn whenever she called herself hanging out was his favorite pastime. At first, I thought it was some type of cat-and-mouse game between them. Then Wolfe pulled up to one of my races, threatening to see if everyone could outrun his bullets if his BM didn't show her face. I cursed Chosyn's ass out, then forced her out of my car. Wolfe let me know it was up for me and my car if Chosyn got back in my shit while carrying his baby. The nigga didn't have to tell me twice.
Unless we were chilling in the house anytime Chosyn went outside, Wolfe was posted watching from afar. Chosyn swore she hated it, but deep down, I think she felt a sense of relief knowing Wolfe was never too far away. The situation with Wolfe, his mom, Chosyn's father, Chance, and her sister, Choyce, bothered Chosyn more than she wanted to admit. They were both dealing with the residual stress of the situation and using it as an excuse to be overly protective of each other.
"You know I wouldn't let Wolfe mess with your car. That boy is all talk," she huffed, adjusting her boobs. "Let's hurry this up. I only have two, maybe three hours max before my boobs start leaking."
"Chosyn." I laughed.
"What?"
"No one told you to leave the house when you just had a baby."
"River, please." She waved me off, smacking her lips. "I had Phoenix four months ago. That C-section almost sending me off to glory is the only reason I chilled and let y'all wait on me hand and foot. I'm fine now and just want to show my face."
I nodded because I understood. Watching the horror come over her as the doctor told her she needed to have an emergency c-section was crazy. Wolfe and I were both allowed in the room as they cut her open. All I did was cry as I watched my best friendbring life into the world while watching life drain from her eyes. Her stay in the hospital was longer than any of us would have liked, but she and her baby came home healthy.
"You never cared about showing your face before."
