78

4.3K 203 379
                                    

hiii! happy reading my loves<3

Lottie's POV

"Do I tell them?" I ask River on the way home.

"Obviously."

"But they might section him."

"If that's a possibility then definitely don't keep it a secret. What are you even thinking?"

"I am thinking he'll stop talking to me and he'll feel like he's being attacked, and he will stop talking to his family and it would be even worse for him."

"Lottie." River sighs. "It's not your decision to make. It's bigger than your relationship, isn't it?"

I guess.

"God I just want to get drunk, and move, or dance it out? You know. I have so much stress and tension."

He snorts. "It sounds like you need to get laid."

I send him another set of looks that I hope makes him deeply regret saying that.

Instead of cowering in fear, he glances at my face and laughs. "Like you are so tense."

I shake my head, grumpier than ever now. And embarrassed.

"I am not propositioning you." He says laughing. "Don't look so appalled."

"I am appalled."

"Okay- you have a boyfriend that cannot perform- I get it."

"He's not my boyfriend and he's in a fucking hospital bed."

"Ha bet you wish he was fucking you instead."

"River!"

"Okay sorry. I was just trying to make you laugh."

"It's not funny."

He rolls his eyes. "You are no fun."

"I have stress!"

"Then run or something!" He exclaims back. "I don't know what to tell you."

I haven't worked out in a while. I guess.

I stayed sat my Rowan's bedside all afternoon. His mum and dad were in and out. Fran and Sutton were successful in lifting a smile to Roe's face. I just rested my head on the cushion, reading my math book and just feeling safe in the proximity of everyone.

Roe and I hardly talked after him asking me not to tell anyone.

"I have to tell them, don't I?"

"Yep." River says. "I thought of a better way to let out tension, but I am not allowed to set fire to things anymore."

I look at him. "Real question- what's the fire thing?"

He shrugs. "Just fire is cool."

I pull a face.

"Anyway." River continues. "You could write down all your worries and burn them. That's what we used to do with the first foster parents we got sent to. Audrie was like four months old."

"So little."

"Ya, but it was so good to do that. Build a bonfire. We could have a drink. Singular. Because you have addiction genes in your family and I've lost enough people to that sort of shit."

I look at him surprised.

River tends to sprinkle fucked up things that have happened to him into general conversation, often by accident.

I just nod. "At Nova's and Cole's?" I ask. "Would they let us make a bonfire."

"I don't know. Surely you know the answer to that more than I do?"

Non VerbalWhere stories live. Discover now