Page 64 of River
“No. But her plane isn’t until late tonight.”
“She changed it last night and got on an earlier departure this morning.”
“No…. she wouldn’t do that.”
Maximum handed me the letter. “Here.”
My hands were shaking when I opened the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper folded in three.
Dear Noah,
I’m very sorry that I ran the way I did.
It wasn’t your fault, but now you know how broken I really am.
You’re an amazing person. Thank you for making my stay here much better than I could have ever imagined.
I’ll remember your kindness and wonderful humor, but we both knew our days together would come to an end sooner or later.
I wish you happiness and ask that you don’t contact me. It’s better that way, for both of us.
Love
River
I felt my throat constricting, making it hard to speak. I’d been stupid enough to pour my heart and soul into my relationship with River, and this was all I got. A quickly written note to let me know I wasn’t wanted anymore.
“I’m sorry,” Maximum said in a soft voice.
My face was stiff as I battled my emotions.
“Is this normal for your sister? To discard men like this?” My tone sounded raw and revealed how wounded I felt.
“River is…” Maximum shook his head and toyed with a teaspoon in a distracted fashion. “She’ll be the first to tell you that she’s a bit of a lost soul. Her intentions are good, but the burden we both carry can make us self-sabotage.”
I stayed quiet, squeezing the letter in my hand.
“I was actually delighted to see her with you. River has had the worst taste in men, but you were different.”
“Different how?”
Maximum pushed his plate away. “I’ve always found her friends toxic. That whole lifestyle with the constant chase of likes, clicks, and followers, it’s unhealthy. Over the years, I’ve met a few of the men she’s dated, and none of them ever felt as grounded as you. You’re the first normal guy that my sister has dated, and the great thing about you is that you couldn’t impress her with your money, so I know she liked you for you.”
“You make it sound like your sister used to be a gold digger.”
“It’s definitely been a requirement for her that a man is wealthy for her to be interested, but then came you, and I’ve never seen her happier.”
“Did she dump me because I didn’t buy her fancy dinners?”
Maximum looked down. “I asked her that, but she was all over the place last night. She said that you lived in different countries and gave nonsensical reasons that I doubt she even bought herself. She wouldn’t admit to it, but I suspect the frightened part of her was looking for an excuse to break up with you.” He sighed. “Patterns are hard to break, you know?”
I groaned and squeezed my hands into fists under the table but said nothing.
“With River, there’s an underlying fear that if she isn’t rich, beautiful, and successful, then she has no worth to others.”
“She told me, but that’s bullshit. I never wanted her for her money or her fame.”
“All I’m saying is that she’s on a journey and that it’s going to take her time to change her way of thinking.”
