Page 17 of River & Crown
"I hope you told her miserable ass to get the fuck on."
"Yup,aftershe told me that all the shit Crown said to me, he said to her."
"River—"
"I'm serious, Chosyn. Leah told me he promised her forever and everything. I'm not mad, though. I like Crown, but I can't give him what he's looking for. It's only a matter of time before he saysI love youforreal and not just in his sleep."
I caught the way her face scrunched as if Crown saying it was the worst thing in the world.
"Would it be so bad if he did?"
"Actually, it would. I'm not ready. I'll probably never be."
"River." I sighed.
"It's not up for debate, Chosyn. You don't get it, and I'm not asking you to. King was easy for you to forget because that nigga wasn't shit. Sincere was different. I can't just move on and fall in love with the next man like what Sincere and I had never existed."
"All I'm saying is Sincere would want you to move on and be happy. Any nigga who'd be mad about you finding happiness and love again is selfish as fuck."
I snapped my mouth shut and left well enough alone. If River wanted to live in the past, then that was her business, but I was going to let Crown know he needed to get his hoe in line before I really set it off on that bitch Leah.
Since having the baby, Wolfe and I moved into the house he had on the cusp of The Grove and Briar Ridge that he swore no one knew about. There was more room here than in each of our places, so it made sense to make that move. River turned onto our block, and in a few minutes, she was pulling into our driveway. Before I could text Wolfe and let him know I was here, he walked out the front door with our child strapped to his chest.
"This man can never be serious." I laughed.
"He seems like the perfect dad." River smiled.
"He is."
Wolfe opened the door, then held his hand out for me as best as he could with our daughter strapped to his chest. He helped me out and then pulled me into him.
"You changed her." I smirked, not smelling my child's funky butt.
"Stop playing with me, my heart. I'm gon' always get my twin right. I just wanted you home."
"So shady," I smacked, rolling my eyes.
"Call it what you want, but yo' ass came home."
"Always."
Wolfe gripped my jaw, and any thoughts I might've had fled my mind. He brought our lips together, and my body melted.
"Mhmm," I moaned.
"Man, move yo' horny ass." Mushing me out of his space, Wolfe laughed. His laugh grew louder when our daughter started blowing spit bubbles in my direction. As much as I loved Phoenix, at times, she got on my nerves, especially with her looking exactly like her damn daddy.
"Yeaaahhh!" Wolfe hyped Phoenix. "Let yo' momma know we're not on that type of time."
"Wolfe, shut up because we both know I'm her favorite."
"Nah, she fucking with me." Wolfe grinned some more.
I walked over to my child, poking her in her chunky cheeks. Her toothless smile grew with each poke, warming my heart.
"Y'all are really a beautiful family."
I turned to look at River and caught the emotions clouding her eyes.
