Page 164 of River & Crown
"Figure it out. I get River fucked up, but toying with her emotions is just as fucked up."
"I hear you, nigga," I huffed, already feeling a headache building behind my eyes.
"If you want, I can swing by my crib and get you a weighted blanket. It helps with the stress."
"Nigga, what?" I barked out a laugh.
"I'm deadass. That shit is helpful as fuck. The best gift I ever got. Don't tell Chosyn. Her ass might try to burn Navy for giving it to me."
"I thought they were cool?"
"They are, but you know Chosyn don't fuck around when it comes to me."
"Yeah... she don't play."
The back window cracked open, and Four's voice sliced through, full of attitude. "Can we go? I'd hate for you to catch your brother's illness."
"Nigga, you sick?" Wolfe side-eyed me. "Chosyn's gonna bitch if I get Phoenix sick."
"No, I'm not fucking sick. Do Ilooksick?"
"Don't let him lie to you, Wolfe," Four cut in. "That nigga's contagious. Stay around him too long and you'll start acting like a fuck nigga too. Then it'll betwoniggas Chosyn and I gotta bury."
"Shut your scary ass up. You probably never even held a gun."
"Keep playing with my emotions, and you'll find out. Now bring me the fuck home, pussy nigga."
Wolfe half-laughed, shaking his head. "Y'all two are crazy."
"That's her dumbass," I muttered.
"Nah, nigga, that'sy'all.And remember what I said — think shit through. Yeah, she messed up, but you gotta handle this like a man. There's too much on the line for you to fuck it up now."
Wolfe hopped in on the driver's side, and I jogged around to the passenger side and slid in without speaking. I waited until Wolfe pulled off to glance in the rearview mirror. And there Four was, sitting with her arms crossed, and glasses on. She was pissed, but shit, so was I. Still, underneath the attitude and anger, I felt love. She's mine and I'm hers. I didn't see that changing, and maybe that's the real problem. I might just fuck around and love her hard enough to ruin us both.
Chapter 42
River Ashland
"Can I have your keys to get in, please?"
After twenty or so minutes of sitting outside his place, I spoke up, ready to get from around him. At first, I thought Wolfe was going to drop us off and take the truck, but he drove to my house, where Chosyn was, and drove home with her. Crown jumped in the driver's seat, but I stayed in the back to keep some kind of distance between us. I hoped on the drive here, Crown planned on dropping me off and maybe spending the night at one of his brother's houses or even with Gigi's. Hell, my mom's house was even an option. Anywhere but where I was sleeping tonight would have sufficed. Our relationship issues were real, but as long as we kept leading with love and avoiding the hard conversations, the ill feelings we had would grow into resentment.
"Crown," I fussed, watching as he scratched along his jaw like he didn't hear me calling him.
I let out a frustrated breath and reached for three of his braids. At first, I gently tugged on them to get his attention, but then, the memory of his lips brushing mine, his hand on my throat, and the humiliation burning in my chest after I told himI love youcame rushing back. That gentle tug turned into a full-on yank.
"Fuck you doing, Four?" he growled, jerking his head forward.
"The same shit you did to me with that kiss!" I snapped. "I told you I love you and you?—"
I blinked back the tears and steadied my voice. "I want you to hurt the way I did, Crown. Tell me how it feels to be completely defenseless while the person you love causes you pain!"
I grabbed more of his braids and yanked his head to the left, slamming his face into the passenger seat.
"Four!" His bark shot through the truck, freezing me in place long enough for him to break free.
Before he could say or do anything, I swung the door open and took off running.
