Page 17 of Burned
Turning to face her, I kissed the top of her head. “Please don’t give these guys any grief while I’m gone.”
“I’m not a child, River,” she said defiantly.
Her feisty attitude made me smile. So much of her reminded me of Joselyn. Giving Mark and Brian a nod, I entered the elevator. When I turned to face Kenzi, her arms were crossed at her chest. The last expression she left me with was the roll of her eyes before she turned on her heels and left the living room to head back to the bedroom. She was clearly angry with me, but I would much rather have her angry than dead. God, how I loved her spitfire personality.
~13~
Kenzi
I locked myself in the bedroom, caring less about Mark and Brian, who were supposed to protect me. River was so infuriating that I could have screamed. Ever since I was old enough to move out on my own, I have taken care of myself. Today should be no different. Plopping down onto the bed, I pulled my knees to my chest and rocked back and forth.
Locking myself in the bedroom wasn’t very mature, but I couldn’t bring myself to go to the living room and act like everything was normal. Staring at my cell lying on the nightstand, I reached for it and held it in my hand for a moment. Everything that had happened up to this point made me feel like I was a spectator looking down on my life. I was nothing special, so why was this shit happening to me?
I swiped my hand across the screen of my cell and brought up my contacts. There were only two numbers, River’s and my mom’s. I didn’t know Reyna’s number by heart, but knew where I could get it. I missed my friend more than anything and right now, I really needed her. Pressing the call icon, I waited for my mom to answer.
“Kenzi, sweetheart. Is everything okay?”
I hated that my mom was worried about me. Even though it wasn't, I reassured her that everything was fine. “I’m fine, Mom. I’m just calling to get Reyna’s number. Can you give it to me?”
“Of course. Hold on a minute while I search my contacts.”
The conversation went silent as my mom searched for my friend’s number. She wasn’t technologically savvy, so I guided her through the process. “When you find Reyna’s name, just select her name and her number should come up.” Over and over, I told my mom to ditch her flip phone and get a smart phone.
“Here it is,” she said excitedly. “Let me know when you're ready.”
“Go ahead, Mom,” I said as I placed the call on speaker and went to my contacts to enter Reyna’s number. Only I didn’t use her name. Instead, I used Saxton, Marsh, and Peters with an asterisk behind the name, so I knew it was her number and not the firm’s. The last thing I needed was for River to find out that I had contacted my best friend.
I hung up with my mom after a lengthy conversation and immediately called Reyna. It wasn’t often that she didn’t answer. At first, I was hesitant about leaving a voice message, but then I remembered she didn’t know my new number. It was the only way I could let her know it was me calling.
~
Three hours had passed by and it felt like déjà vu. The only difference was that I had locked myself inside the bedroom instead of the other way around. I was getting worried. Reyna still hadn’t called me back, and I wondered if it was because she didn’t recognize the number. Pulling up her number once again, I pushed send and waited for her to pick up. Before the third ring, an incoming call from River lit up my screen. Thank God.
Swiping the screen, I held the phone to my ear with relief. “River,” I said anxiously. “I was worried that something might have happened to you.”
“Hey, beautiful. I was just checking in to let you know I’m on my way back to the penthouse.”
It felt so good hearing his voice, but I still was concerned about Gretta. “How is Gretta? Is she with you?”
“Gretta is sitting right next to me. She’s a little shaken, but otherwise good.”
“Thank God. Please hurry home.” Relief washed over me, thankful that both of them were okay. Once they arrived, I wanted to know everything that had happened.
I finished the call with River, feeling much better. They were on their way home, both safe. This had been a tiring day for all of us—more for them than me. I had too much energy to wait in the bedroom for them to come home. Pushing from the bed, I decided to do something constructive, like cooking us all something to eat. I left the confines of the bedroom and headed to the kitchen. Mark and Brian were still standing at the elevator, the same as they were three hours ago. Shaking my head, I walked past them. “River is on his way home with Gretta. I think you two can relax now.”
Looking at each other and then me, Mark said, “We will remain here until Mr. Stevenson arrives.”
“Have it your way.” I couldn't care less if they stood at the elevator all night. I was on a mission to prepare a dinner River and Gretta would never forget.
When I reached the kitchen, I pulled open the refrigerator to inspect the groceries inside. I had to hand it to River. He was a nutrition freak, for sure. Most guys would have an ample supply of beer and a half-eaten pizza in the fridge.
I found all the vegetables I needed to make a healthy salad in the crisper drawer. Once I had everything chopped, I searched for a large bowl to put everything in. My salad looked like a masterpiece. After placing in the fridge to chill. I opened the freezer to find six chicken breasts vacuumed sealed. “Super healthy,” I said to myself as I put the stopper in the sink and filled it with hot water.
With the chicken thawing in the sink and the salad needing a friend, I searched the fridge one last time until I found three healthy-sized sweet potatoes in the bottom drawer. There was nothing better tasting than oven browned sweet potato drenched in butter and garlic. Not as healthy as a baked sweet potato, but so yummy.
Everything was ready to go. I was so busy preparing dinner that I had lost track of time. When I looked at my cell, an hour and a half had gone by.Where the hell was River driving from?Lowering the oven temperature to warm, I walked toward the elevator to find out if the guys had heard anything from River.
Before I could ask them, my cell rang. The timing wasn’t good, but there was no way I would decline the call. With my cell to my ear, I headed away from Mark and Brian toward the balcony door. “Reyna,” I said as I stepped out of the living room onto the balcony. “I’ve missed you so much.”
