Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“Nah, it’s not about that. I’ve had part of this for a while anyway.” I nudge it toward her. “We won’t see each other for a while and…” it’s killing me “…I wanted you to have something you could look at over the holidays.”
She gives me a lingering look, then opens the rectangular box with careful hands, slowly pulling back the silver string around it. She pulls out the book and flips it over to read the title. “River, oh my gosh…The Outsiders…in hardback, too, and signed to me.” Her eyes glitter with emotion.
I lie down next to her. “Mhmm. I figured since you gave me yours, and I kind of wore it out and wrote in it, I’d order you a new one off the author’s website.”
“You’ve had this?” She clutches it to her chest, her smile huge.
“After I finished the book, I started looking for a new copy for you.” I pause. “There’s something inside.”
She opens it and a piece of paper flutters onto the bed. Dipping her head, she picks it up and scans it, her lashes fluttering against her cheeks. “You wrote a note?”
“Mhmm. I typed it. Can’t write worth a damn.”
She rolls over to me and fits herself to me, snuggling her back to my chest. My arm goes around her as she reads it.
I know exactly what it says.
I called Lila while Anastasia was in class on Friday, then went to her apartment to see the original note I dictated to Donovan. Lila knew exactly where it was, in her nightstand, and I took a picture of it then went home to get to work. I sat at my desk for two hours, checking my spelling over and over, before she came over to help me pack.
* * *
‘You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.’
Let me introduce myself. I’m River. I’m your current boyfriend. Cross my heart and hope to die—not really, but you know what I mean.
There are three things about you that caught my attention:
First, you’re smart, too smart for me, but for some reason, you don’t care.
Two, if you had wings, they’d be the colors of the rainbow.
Three, you touch me, and I have peace. You’re a River-whisperer. Dad told me to take care of Mom, be a good brother to Rae, and wait for Anastasia. He somehow knew you were mine.
Where are you from?
Apparently, everywhere. Do you know how cool I think you are? Growing up moving around must have been hard, but it created a woman who looks at someone and sees underneath to the parts others don’t.
What are you doing after this?
I hope after this night, in the future, we’ll be together, in some city, crazy in love.
Please tell me you’re single.
You aren’t single, Anastasia. You’re mine.
Also… I’m not a serial killer. True.
Or an alien. (People in Walker really dig that stuff.) True.
Or a player. I had my moments.
Or a douchebag. Again, had some moments.
Or a dick. Okay…maybe once or twice.
I’m just the guy in front of you on a snow-covered mountain, baring his soul to the most beautiful girl in the world.
You have dreams and I get it. I’ll wait for you forever. No matter how long it takes for us to come back to a place where we can be together for real.
Your first reaction to this note may be to run as far as you can, but you only live once, and we can’t lose what we have.
Fate has a way of bringing people together, and, baby girl, we’re meant to be.
* * *
Kappa Boy AKA River Tate AKA Snake AKA Fake River AKA Anastasia’s Man
* * *
She turns to face me, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “I love it so much.” A tear escapes and tracks down her face before she swipes it away. “I’ve never cried this much in my life.” She laughs.
“Glad you like it.”
She runs her gaze over it again, then carefully folds it up and tucks it back in the book. “I’ll keep it forever.”
“I’ll take that blow job now,” I tease with a grin.
She throws a pillow at me and it bounces off my chest. “Forget that! Your gift is too good, and I don’t have anything for you! I can’t do better than this!”
“I think this bed has too many pillows,” I say on a laugh as she throws another one and I duck. “And you gave me a unicorn pencil.”
“It was nothing compared to your note!” She comes at me and swings her legs around, losing her blanket in the melee, then sits on top of me.
“I could get used to this kind of fight,” I murmur as my hands span her waist.
“I’m mad you didn’t tell me we were doing gifts, but I forgive you,” she says in a serious tone. “We’re early in the relationship and mishaps will happen, but I need to know about gifts.” She pouts. “Yours was so meaningful! I feel terrible!”