AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Laugh all you want. You’re a classic textbook case. Hard on the outside and damaged on the inside.” I knew this because I was the same way; I just wouldn’t admit that to him.
This draw that lived between us was most likely the recognition of one damaged soul to another.
“All right. I’m not going to argue with the fact that I’m damaged. I’ll be the first one to admit that. I guess you really are the expert,” he said, but I didn’t miss the sarcastic tone.
I’d always made a point of knowing things about the people in town when I was young. Like who to avoid.
River and his friends were on that list.
Hell, I’d gotten into a street fight with his friend Romeo back when we were young. He hadn’t even put up a fight. I’d been forced to fight him because a few kids had jumped me on my way home after school, and he’d come to my rescue to help me.
I couldn’t have that.
Couldn’t look weak.
So, I’d punched him in the gut and told him that I could take care of myself.
He hadn’t done a thing in response. He’d just nodded as if he’d understood why I’d had to do it.
But unlike River and his friends, I’d always preferred to fly solo. I didn’t want to rely on anyone outside of my father. The few times I’d done it, it had bitten me in the ass.
My dad had been the only person who hadn’t completely failed me.
We’d taken care of one another the best we could.
River was scowling at me now, and I knew I’d pissed him off, even if he was trying to act like I hadn’t told him anything he didn’t already know.
“You asked me to tell you what I thought of you, and I did. Don’t shoot the messenger,” I said, reaching for my paddle.
“What’s it like, sitting up on your high horse judging the world? I’m guessing it’s pretty lonely up there, Ruby. Unlike you, I’ve found people that I trust. Yes, I had a fucked-up childhood. So the fuck have millions of other people. But I did something about it. I didn’t like what happened to me, and I chose a profession that would help me make a difference in the world. So I could stop that shit from happening to others. Butyou,you chose a profession that allows you to make assumptions about everyone. I may not have a degree in psychology, but I think you’ve just found a way to keep everyone at bay. It’s probably a form of protection. Decide everyone is bad and then stay the fuck away from them. But unlike you, I’m living every day. Enjoying my life. You’ve run away and buried yourself in books so that you don’t have to deal with real life. Who’s the fucking phony now?”
Motherfucker.
This guy had just psychoanalyzed me?
And he’d been somewhat right about a few things.
The thing he didn’t understand was that I wasn’t in denial about who I was.
So I did what any intelligent woman would do in this situation.
I took my paddle, plunged it into the lake, and used force as I shot it forward and doused him in the face with water.
He didn’t even flinch. He just smiled, like he’d won some big challenge.
I flipped him the bird and got the hell out of there.
River Pierce was more than a red flag.
He was too smart for his own good.
Dangerously good-looking.
And he’d just summed me up in a nutshell without any formal training.
That just made me hate him a little more than I already did.
five
