Page 165 of River & Crown
"Four!" he yelled behind me.
"Leave me alone! Help! Help! Stranger danger!" I screamed down the street even though no one was outside.
"River, get the fuck over here before you?—"
I didn't even hear the rest of it. My foot caught on a raised slab of sidewalk, and I went flying. I hit the ground hard, scraping my palms, knees, and whatever was left of my pride.
Stupid fucking glasses and heels!
Tears burst out of me as helplessness started to settle in. Instead of standing to brush myself off, I just laid there sobbing.
Maybe I deserve this.
"Four, get up."
"No!" I cried. "Just leave me here! You don't love me anyway!"
"Four." His voice cracked with frustration, maybe even guilt.
"Four, get your ass up." This time, he didn't give me a choice.
Crown scooped me into his arms, and like a woman too tired to fight, I buried my face into his chest, breathing in that scent of his I hated to love.
"Big ass baby," he mumbled.
My head shot up. "I'm rubber and you're glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you." I stuck my tongue out for added insult.
Crown chuckled low and deep. "That's how you feel, Four?"
"Call me River."
"Why? Matter of fact, cool."
His brute tone made it hard to tell if he was offended or if he just didn't give a fuck. Either way, it bothered me. Crown carried me back to the truck to grab his keys, then carried me toward his place.
"What happened to your keys, Fo... River?"
"I took them off my keyring," I answered flatly.
If Crown was going to talk to me with little to no emotion, then I planned on doing the same. Whatever he was on, I was on.
"Get down and take a few steps so I know your ankle's good."
He placed me on my feet, and I did what he asked, all the while keeping a grimace plastered on my face.
"You should be good. Ice it just in case and stay off your feet," he told me, then turned back toward the door.
"Wait!" I shrieked, emotions breaking through. "Where are you going?"
"I need a minute to chill. I'll be back. If you need anything, text me and I got you."
I nodded, but so much more danced at the tip of my tongue. Hearing the door shut and then the lock pulled me out of my trance. I grabbed my purse, which Crown had carried inside, and took out my phone. As I headed toward the bedroom to change into one of Crown's t-shirts, I hit the group chat.
Me:
Where y'all at?
Kyree:
