Page 63 of River
CHAPTER 17
Gone
Noah
My steps were heavy when I walked to River’s hotel. Last night she had stormed out and left me frustrated and upset.
I’d tried calling her last night, but she hadn’t picked up. Since she would be leaving for England tonight, I had no other choice than to seek her out and make things right.
I walked into the hotel and exchanged a nod with the man at reception. He’d seen me often enough with River and smiled.
I was just about to walk up the stairs when I heard Maximum call out to me.
“Parker.”
Spinning around, I saw him in the restaurant.
“Hey, Max.” I raised a hand to greet him. “Is River upstairs?”
From the way his face fell, I knew she didn’t want to see me. My shoulders drooped as I changed direction and walked to his table. “Look, man, I don’t know what she told you, but I know I fucked up, and I’m going to make it right again.”
“Have a seat.” Maximum pointed to the chair opposite his.
With a sigh, I sat down. “I really want to go and talk to River. I haven’t slept all night because of the way we ended our night.”
“Yes, she told me about that.” Maximum sat crouched over his cup of coffee with his forearms on the table.
I looked up the staircase, my feet restless to run upstairs and make peace between River and me.
“She was pretty distraught when she got home last night, so we talked for a few hours.”
“So, you know that I… ehh…” It was hard to admit what I’d done.
He waited, “You what?”
“I went too far.”
Maximum straightened up in his chair. “What do you mean?”
“You said she already told you.”
“River said that she freaked out. What do you mean you went too far?”
I groaned and rubbed my face with both hands. Despite there only being an older couple in the corner of the room, I still lowered my voice. “River told me she had trust issues and that she didn’t want to have… ehh… sex. Yesterday we made out, and I was under the impression that she changed her mind, so I…”
His voice was low and incredulous. “Did you rape my sister?”
“Nooo!” I jerked my head back and scrunched up my face. “Of course not. We were sharing a hot moment, and I went a little too far, which freaked her out.”
“That’s not cool!” Maximum crossed his arms.
“I know. Which is why I’m here to apologize. I would never do anything to hurt River, but now she won’t answer any of my texts or calls.”
Maximum’s lowered his gaze to the table where his omelet sat half-eaten. From the side of the table, he lifted an envelope and held it in his hands. “River already left for London, but she asked me to give you this.”
I felt like he’d thrown a bucket of ice water in my face. “She left?” My tone was incredulous.
Sympathy radiated from him. “Yes.”
