Page 257 of Shadowblood Souls
Riva aims a baleful look at him. “I don’t want any ofyoudealing with injuries on your own either.”
“I can’t be with both groups, as much asIwould like that,” Dominic says in his usual quiet way. “I think we’ll all feel better if I’m with you.”
I can’t help nodding.
Riva lets out a huff. “So I’m outvoted, is what you’re saying?”
Jacob has noticeably brightened since it turned out he was getting to stick with Riva after all. “Four to one. No complaining.”
She wrinkles her nose at him, but there’s more fondness in her gaze than I’ve seen her direct at him in weeks.
He’s reconnected with her too, if not as fully as Drey and Dom have. All at once, my skin itches with the sense that I’ve found myself separate from our group in a totally different way.
I tried to talk to her the other day on the ship, but I don’t know if she really understood what I was getting at. I don’t know how to convey half of the things I’m feeling.
And one very big part of it I’d rather not even think about.
I want her to know I’ll be here for her as much as I can be, though. That she means just as much to me as she does to the other guys.
How much more time do we have before she’s going to be walking away from me, and I might not even get the chance?
As I grapple with my doubts, Rollick chuckles. “It sounds like it’s settled, then.”
With the discussion over, Riva squirms over toward the window where the sunlight is beaming in. We’ve all taken a double row for ourselves, sliding the armrest in the middle out of sight so it’s like one long seat instead of two.
My chest clenches up as if my ribs are closing in on my lungs. I close my eyes, picturing the move I want to make.
Reassuring myself that I can do this, just this, and it won’t be anything like the moments I’m avoiding.
Bit by bit, I gather my self-control. Then I push myself out of my seat and cross the aisle with two careful steps.
“Can I sit with you for the rest of the trip?”
Riva’s head snaps around. She blinks at me, obviously startled—and then a small smile crosses her lips.
“Of course. I’d like that.”
It feels like a much greater feat than it probably should to lower myself into the seat next to her. Even with my broad frame taking up plenty of space, she’s so tiny in comparison that I don’t need to worry I’m crowding her as long as I keep to my side.
Riva peers up at me with a little mischief dancing in her bright brown eyes. “Got lonely all by yourself?”
Despite her teasing, I can see the uncertainty in her expression. That’s exactly why I needed to do this.
I fumble with my words. “I—I wanted to be close to you for a while, before we have to split up. So you remember that I’ve got your back too. Even if I’m not right there with you.”
The amusement fades from Riva’s gaze, softened into something more bittersweet. “I know that, Zee.”
“Well, I thought—I thought it’d be good to really show it.”
My face has heated to the point that I think it might burn right off my skull, but Riva doesn’t laugh at me. She just keeps looking at me with that soft shimmer in her eyes that makes my heart beat twice as fast.
From the tilt of her body, I think she might have reached over and held my hand or something if the situation were different. If I hadn’t flinched away every time she’s touched me in the past.
I’ve come this far. I can manage a little more, right?
Slow and calm, totally controlled. Only one precise movement, nothing a friend couldn’t offer another friend.
I lift my arm and ever so carefully extend it in offering to wrap around her shoulders. Riva’s eyes widen, and then she scoots a little closer to accept the gesture.
