ChapterEleven
Mara
I stand there with tears running down my cheeks, but it’s not as if it was hard for them to fall. I’d already been on edge with what had happened in my place, and now I’m watching River walk away. He was so cold that it took me all the way back to the bakery that day.
I thought I saw River’s anger before, but his father got a whole other level. I hope I didn’t provoke him. While I believe a lot of what I caught him saying, I don’t want to cause more damage to his family. The parts I heard were brutal because River unleashed so many bottled-up emotions.
“Glenda?” I turn to her, not sure what to do, but she knows him better than I do. Some of the shock has started to wear off, but now her face is bright red.
When River left my place, he took a part of me with him. We’d all stood there in silence, but I’m sure Glenda put it together after the whole underwear thing. Cillian was silent and stewing while he seemed to work everything out in his head before he finally spoke or reacted. As for me, when the reality that River really left hit me, I was running out the door after him. I felt a mixture of anger and confusion because we’ve misunderstood each other so many times. I didn’t want that again, but this just got a whole lot more intense now that his father is here.
Things like this aren’t easy for me. I have no clue what to do. Do I give him his space or do I chase after him? My mind tells me that it will end badly no matter what choice I make. That’s how it always works.
“This isn’t happening,” Glenda says, her chin rising as my brother stands behind her protectively. He stays silent while letting her say whatever she needs to.
“Glen—”
“Don’t,” she snaps at her dad. “If anyone saves that company it’s because they want you to hand it over. In your attempts to protect the family company, which you messed up to begin with, all you did was keep making it worse.”
“That’s not—”
Cillian cuts him off. “Watch that tone with my wife.”
Mr. Andora takes a deep breath to try and pull it back. “I have no problem if River wants to be with Mara. She is a fine choice actually.” His eyes flick my way, but it’s a cursory glance. I’ll never understand this man.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask if that’s because I have a trust fund of my own or maybe he knows this isn’t a battle he’ll win. He’s learned that lesson already, and River is the last child he has some kind of control over.
“I think you should go,” Glenda says when the silence only grows. Everyone is standing outside the parking lot, but thankfully, no one is around. There are already rumors floating around about our two prominent families and the tension. I don’t want to be caught in some article tomorrow about River and me. I’m not sure what’s really happening with us. I don’t need others speculating too.
River’s father gives us all one long look before he finally turns to go. My eyes go back to where River had taken off, and I don’t see him now. A small part of me wonders if maybe him telling his father he loved me was one of those things that’s said in anger to try and hurt the other person. He had no clue I was standing there to hear it.
“Did he say he loved me?” I ask.
“He didn’t say it. He shouted it,” Glenda points out.
“Then why did he leave me?”
“Well, men are stupid and emotions overwhelm them,” Glenda says with a small smirk, and Cillian nods in agreement with her. I bite the inside of my cheek, not sure if I can really believe that. Why didn’t he turn and kiss me? He just admitted he loved me after he stormed out of my apartment.
“You don’t have anything to say about this?” I ask my brother because he can be more protective than my dad at times.
“I don’t stand in the way of two people in love,” he says simply. For once, I don’t want to think the worst. I want to face the truth and not run from it in fear.
“I’ve got to go,” I tell them before I take off in the direction that River went. I search a few places that people like to mingle, but don’t see him. I debate going back to my place and grabbing my phone when I hear my name.
“Mara!” I turn and see Emma marching toward me with determination all over her face. What’s a bit surprising is seeing her dragging along one of the guys she’d pointed out to me when we had lunch. The ones we decided were douches.
“What’s up?” I ask as they draw closer even though I’m still looking around for River.
“Tell her,” Emma orders, and she pulls tight on the sleeve of his shirt. “Do it, or I’m reporting you.”
A chill breaks out across my skin because I can feel something bad is coming. Of course it is. My hands start to grow clammy, and my heart rate picks up.
“Don’t report me! It’s bullshit. He hasn’t even banged her yet. I mean he’s still got a few days, but no harm, no foul. Right?” The guy gives me a pleading look like I can save him.
“What?” I ask, confused. “I’ve never banged anyone.”
“See there, nothing happened.” Emma releases his shirt, but the guy stays there. “Run before I change my mind.” In a flash the guy takes off across campus. “I hate boys,” she growls low under her breath.
“Can you tell me what’s going on?”
Emma’s angry face turns to a sad one. “I spotted the hot guy that got your food when he stormed by me a little while ago.” She points over her shoulder. “A group of friends started razzing him, and I overheard them say that from the look on his face he hadn’t finished the bet and nailed you. One even said tick tock. Like there’s some fucking time limit.”
“No.” I shake my head. “He wouldn’t. Not River.”
“I’m so sorry, Mara. It was him, and they even said his name. Fuck, I’d go beat his ass, but he got into it with one of them. The one I managed to follow from the group took off so he didn’t get caught up in the fight. I thought if I cornered him and threatened to talk to the dean, I might get something out of him.”
“It was all a game?” I mutter as tears once again start to fall.
“I take it you want to get out of here?”
“Please. I’ll go anywhere,” I beg.
“I’ve got you.” She locks her arm with mine, leading me in another direction.
My mind can’t help but spin as I try to figure out how long he’s been planning this. I’m starting to think that maybe the River and I met outside the bakery was the real one after all.