Tell Me You Love Me

28| Wrong

Chapter 28: Wrong (River's POV)

"Goodnight," she smiled, waving our last guest goodbye. 

"Brielle." We both turned around where her parents were calling her from. 

She stiffened almost immediately beside me. 

I grabbed her hand, bringing her attention back to the front. "Shall we head out?" I asked. 

She nodded in response. 

"I'm talking to you, Brielle," her dad called out. 

She faltered in her steps. She took in a breath, her grip on my hand tightening. 

"Brielle!" 

I stopped in front of her, putting my hands over her ears. I looked at him over her head. "What?!" I snapped. 

He looked at me in disbelief. "I wish to talk to her. Let her go," he demanded. 

I rolled my eyes, looking down at her. 

She had her eyes closed too. 

I pulled my hands down and she opened her eyes. I grabbed her hand and started walking, neither of us stopping when her dad called after her. I took the keys and held the door open for her on the passenger side. I shut the door, climbed into the driver's seat, started the car, and quickly backed out of the parking spot. I shifted gears and then hit the road to get us back home. 

She let out a huff, leaning her head back and staring out the window. 

"It's okay, just ignore him. I know that's easier said than done, but you have to try, Bri." I glanced over at her. 

Oh, please don't cry, please don't cry, please don't cry. 

She has her dress bunched up in one hand while her other elbow is propped up on the window frame while she's pinching the bridge of her nose with the other hand. But fortunately, she isn't crying.

I grabbed her hand that was in her lap and pulled it away from the dress, bringing it to the console in between. She rested her elbow on it and I locked my fingers with her, keeping it there, moving her hand with mine whenever I had to shift gears. 

When we entered the palace gates and I parked the car, she finally looked at me. Then her eyes traveled down to our hands. She didn't see it at first. She blinked once, then twice. "Is that my hair tie?" she asked. 

"Yeah." 

"How long have you had that on?" 

"A while," I answered, leaning my head back and looking at her. 

"Can I have it back?" 

"No." She grabbed it but I pulled my hand away. "It's mine now." 

She scoffed, looking at me in disbelief. "What are you going to do with it?" 

"Wear it." She opened her mouth to argue more but I beat her to it. "Come on, let's go inside." I got out and then got the door for her before locking up the car and heading inside with her. When we got to our room, I lost the coat and my shoes immediately just as she took off her heels and the jewelry. 

She grabbed her pajamas and went into the bathroom, locking the door this time. I pulled on my sweatpants and then waited for her to open the door. When she did I tossed my clothes in the hamper and grabbed my toothbrush while she did the same. 

She turned to me when we finished. "Give me the hair tie. I have to tie my hair." 

"Take a new one, this one's mine," I replied, pointing to the drawer where she kept the whole box of hair ties.