Page 16 of The Rich One

With a deep breath, I slowly step out of the truck and heft my Michael Kors over my shoulder before I saunter over to Petal, placing a soft kiss on her rosy cheek.

“Hey beautiful.”

“Hey gorgeous.”

This kind of greeting started after Petal had taken a class on positivity and lifting women up with words. I’m okay with this because, yeah, women need to empower other women. But then, who the fuck am I to lift anyone up when the only thing I know how to rise is my legs for a harder pounding?

“What’s up with Kai? Did y’all have a fight on the way here?” Okay, so at least she doesn’t know.

“Nope. Found him like this at St. George, just standing in front of his truck, brooding.” I flick my gaze behind her and almost wince at the death glare from the kitchen threshold. Jesus, this can’t just be about me and my job.

“I have some Florida water left that I can spray in the kitchen. The lilac amethyst crystal is already there so it’ll double up.” She hugs me tight like she wants to rid me of all bad energy through love and invasion of private space. I used to roll my eyes at their unwavering beliefs that sage and candles could make the world a better place.

Maybe it can, what the fuck do I know? My life is anything butsage,and the only candles I use are for kink.

Taking my hand and squeezing once, she looks me in the eye and declares. “I saw it in a dream.” Oh, for fuck’s sake, what is she going to tell me now? “You and Kai. It’s meant to be.” This time, I do roll my eyes. I love Petal but that ship sailed a long time ago, when I saw his dick pummeling in and out of my best friend’s pussy.

I mean, it’s not like we were together. Hell, he didn’t even know how I felt about him and thankfully, never knew that I saw them together.

“Petal, no. That’s not going to happen.” She doesn’t have time to respond, just throws me a look that says all is going to be perfect. With a sigh, I let her lead me through the kitchen door and face the wrath that is Kai Briggs.

“Wanna beer, River? It’s organic. Got it from the home brewer in West Virginia last month.” Hard pass on that shit.

“No, thanks. I’ll just have a glass of water.” I can feel Kai’s stare burning a hole in my profile but I don’t dare glance at him. We haven’t spoken since that text, and I swear I can feel the years of friendship and secret crushes disintegrating with every passing second we ignore the elephant in the kitchen.

“I’m so happy you wanted to see us, Kai, but I feel like we’re missing something? Do you have bad news?” Petal is throwing questions at him as she sprays the kitchen down with Florida water. “Oh gods, did someone die? It would explain all this bad energy around you.” With a frown, she sprays Kai’s head. I don’t think it’s supposed to be used like that. In fact, I’m pretty sure my mother said it was only for the room, not for people.

“Yeah, I have something to say.” Kai looks at me and I try to plead with my eyes, try to beg him not to do this. I’m two painful words away from getting up and running out so I don’t have to see my brother’s expression when Kai tells him what I do. Or the guilt he’ll never be able to shake when he finds out why I do it.

Silently, I plead with my entire soul, tears brimming against my eyelashes, and I swear I feel him back off. No one else sees it, but then again, no one knows Kai the way I do. Not even Everest.

“So, out with it.” Everest hands Kai a beer, the yellow and green label advertising the beer’s name—“Orgbrew”. It’s a stupid name. Obviously, marketing wasn’t their strong suit when they decided to mass produce. With a name like that, I bet it tastes like an ogre’s pissfest.

Kai eyes the bottle with regret, probably wishing he hadn’t said yes to the beer, before landing his anger-filled gaze on me. Or maybe it’s hurt. I’m not sure, I can’t tell.

“River goes by the name of Rose.” My life shatters in that moment. I feel like he’s just broken the last remaining piece of my heart, slicing me deep with his need to what? Protect me? Save me?

Destroy me and my family.

“Duh, that’s her middle name.” With his head tilted back, Everest takes a long pull from his beer, his bright green eyes, the exact color of mine, looking at me pointedly in a way that no one else can see. What does that mean? Is he…? Does he know?

A single tear escapes my eye but I wipe it down before anyone can catch sight of it. At least that’s what I think until I lift my gaze to Kai, and see him watching me. It’s then he makes his decision. Taking one for the team.

“Well, fuck.” He shrugs, like he didn’t just scare them half to death. “I thought maybe she was a double agent or some shit.” I put on my Rose face and act like it’s all a big misunderstanding. I have no idea if his complete one-eighty works on Everest and Petal but I don’t look at them to find out. I’m still reeling from the emotional rollercoaster Kai threw me into, and as soon as we’re away from curious ears, I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.

Now I’m the one pissed off, and Kai can sense it. His eyes harden again as we both gear up for a fight.You wanted this? Let’s do it.

“Wanna go for a drive?” My protective walls go straight up, but with sugar in my voice I tell him I’d love to.

Petal sighs audibly, like her dreams just came true. Her literal dreams from last night, apparently.

* * *

We pull up at Allison Pond Park and he doesn’t have to tell me where we’re headed, I already know. It was our quiet spot growing up, the peaceful sounds of nature and the rush of water falling from the fountain was perfect for teenage secrets and romantic fantasies.

It’s where I first told him I hated living like a vagabond. That I wanted to have a house and my own room. And a dog that didn’t belong to an entire community.

It’s where he first told me that he’d lost his virginity to Freya fucking Murphy. Except, it wasn’t a secret to me, but there was no fucking way I would ever tell him that. So, I just smiled and said, “Congrats.” Inside, though? I fell apart all over again.

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