Shallow River

“Will you help me to the bathroom?” I ask quietly. Asking Billy a favor never comes free. I know this, but the urge to go is starting to deepen.

He takes the cigarette back from and sticks it in his mouth. I study his lips, where they’re hugging the yellow filter. Where my lips just were. It makes me feel like he’s touching me.

“You’re too old to need help to the bathroom, River,” he admonishes.

My bottom lip threatens to tremble as the feeling gets worse. I really have to pee. But I don’t want to try and get up in front of Billy. He’ll see me struggle. He’ll see me cry. He’ll see me weak. And then he’ll make those things worse.

“Okay, Billy. I don’t have to go that bad,” I lie. It’s a lie worth saying if it means he’ll believe me and leave. He looks down at me, a knowing smile tugging on his lips.

“Okay, River,” he repeats, his cold voice airy. “I hope you don’t, because you’re grounded. You’re not allowed to come out of this room until morning. You hear me?”

I suck in a painful breath, but nod my head.

Billy gives me one last smile and then walks out of the room, closing and locking the door behind him. The locks always been on the outside, never the inside.

The second he leaves, I release myself. It’s cold in here, maybe it’ll keep me warm for the night.

Ten

River

WHAT THE FUCK DID I get myself into?

“I don’t want to hear any comments from you, okay?” I demand, glaring at him from my spot on the floor.

I look absolutely pathetic, I know this. But it doesn’t stop me from making my demands.

Mako stares down at me with a plethora of emotions in his eyes. Sadness and disbelief are there. But the most dominant emotion is unbridled fury.

Me and you both, buddy.

“What… did he do?” he asks through barely contained anger. His fists are clenched so tightly, his knuckles are bleached white.

“Nothing, can you just help me, please?” I deflect, not wanting to get into what an asshole my boyfriend is. It’s embarrassing and I don’t want to hear him say I told you so. After a moment, he remembers himself and scrambles over to me.

“Careful, I—I’m not clean right now,” I say, stuttering over how to say that I pissed myself. He pays me no mind. Gently, he picks me up, but it doesn’t matter. The searing pain in my ribs is breathtaking. I gasp from pain, and he freezes.

“I’m sorry, baby,” he says. My heart drops at the endearment. Normally, the pain would distract me from his words, but instead I focus on that so I’m distracted from the pain.

Fuck you, heart. That’s what got me into this situation. Clearly, it doesn’t know what it’s talking about.

With great pain, he cradles me in his arms and carries me out to his car. I’ve never been so embarrassed in my entire life. So badly, I want to crawl out of my skin and disappear. Before I can stop it, my hands are covering my face and sobs wrack my body once more. I don’t care about the pain right now, I’m just so… angry. So hurt and embarrassed. I can’t believe Ryan left me like this. I can’t believe he hit me again.

“I got you,” he whispers in my ear. “If you’re embarrassed, I got one better. I was seventeen and just showing up for a job interview. I was so nervous that I had gas. But when I went to fart, I actually shit myself.”

Something between a shocked gasp and laugh escapes my mouth. It hurts my ribs, but I’m too stunned to care.

“You did not!”

I’d rather not look at Mako and think about him shitting himself. He’s too hot and that story is just weird. But it seems to work long enough to cease my pity party.

“I did. I ran out immediately but not before the manager got a good look at my retreating ass.” Another laugh escapes, completely bewildered that he’s not the least bit embarrassed about his story. He stares down at me with a crooked smirk and a thin layer of amusement masking his true feelings. He’s distracting himself as much as he’s distracting me.

He opens the door to his Jeep Wrangler and daintily sets me on the seat. As he’s buckling my seatbelt, he explains, “I know you’re uncomfortable, but I don’t want him to come home while I’m here. If he does, I’ll end up in prison for first degree murder. I’m going to sit you in the car and run up and grab some clothes.”

I don’t have the energy to argue, so I nod. “Panties are in the top drawer. Pajamas are in the second drawer.”

It only takes him a few moments to come back. He must’ve found the duffle bag in the closet since it’s strapped around his broad shoulder. He gets in the car, and my cheeks redden.