Page 76 of What I Needed

“Why wouldn’t you listen?”

“Because . . . because I . . .”

“Because that’s what you really think of me.”

“No, River, I don’t⁠—”

“You can be honest, E. I’ve already established that I’m not letting you give up on me that quickly or easily. I want this. I want you. I want us. What you said earlier and what you say now won’t change that. Tell me how you really feel.”

I wasn’t quick to speak and chose my words carefully.

“I’m sorry, River. I’m sorry I thought the worst of you before giving you a chance to explain. I just . . . you can have a different woman every day, and I sometimes worry that I’m not enough. I let what they said in the blogs get to me, and based on your past, my thoughts got out of control. I should’ve given you a chance to explain, but I was hurt and pissed. I’m sorry.”

“C’mere.”

I scooted my ass to the other side of the couch so damn fast, and when I was close enough, he pulled me onto his lap to straddle him. I pressed my forehead against his, and our lips connected in a soft kiss.

“All is forgiven, beautiful.”

“You can forgive me that easily?” she asked.

“I didn’t learn this until today, but it’s easy to forgive someone you love.”

“I—You love me?”

“That was another one of today’s revelations, but yeah, baby, I love you. I’m in love with you.”

“You’re the only man, besides my daddy and grandfather, to ever say those three words to me. It feels different.”

“Different how?”

“I don’t know how to explain it . . . Relieved, maybe.”

“Relieved?”

“That’s the word that comes to mind. I’ve fallen in love with you, too, so I feel relieved that your feelings match mine,” she confessed.

“Damn. I think I know exactly what you mean now. My entire nervous system relaxed when you said those three words.”

She lifted her forehead from mine as we shared a laugh.

“I really am sorry for saying all those terrible things. I wish I could take them back.”

“I’m new to this, and I will make mistakes, but I need you to know my feelings for you run too deep to betray you in any way. I promise I won’t have you out here looking stupid, but you have to remember who I am. As a professional athlete, things will be said about me, and sometimes I won’t be able to prove them wrong, like I can tonight. I need you to trust me, trust my word, and trust that the way I feel about you will stop me from doing anything that will fuck up what we’re building. Okay?”

“Yes, River.”

We shared a kiss before she rested her head on my shoulder. My hands rested on her back, and I rubbed my hands up and down in a soothing manner.

“Tonight has been a lot,” I said in a low voice.

“I’m ready to listen.”

“Riverlynn’s mother’s name is Chala, and she died about a month ago from breast cancer.”

Her body jerked back, and she lifted her head from my shoulder.

“River, oh my God.”