Page 71 of Untamed

“I think it means something different for everyone.” Poppy sighs. “And that’s what makes it so goddamn hard.”

Her phone buzzes. Again. It’s been going off for the past hour, and I know I’ve hogged her for long enough.

“You can go, Poppy,” I tell her. “Seriously. I didn’t get any sleep last night, and I have two shifts to work tomorrow.”

“Are you sure?” Her eyebrows pinch together. “I feel bad. I wanted to stay here until I tucked you in and you were passed out cold. No alone time for your mind to go all dark and scary.”

That makes me laugh.

“I promise you that I am okay. Some alone time would probably be nice.”

“If you insist.” She stands and clears the wine, corking the bottle and putting it in the fridge. “But if you need anything, just text me. I will happily sleep on the couch and come give you all the cuddles.”

“I think Rhett would literally kill me if I stole you from his bed.”

“Please.” She rolls her eyes. “That man needs to learn how to miss me anyway.”

“Hey.” I take her arm as she walks out the front door. “Thank you. Seriously. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you today.”

“Oh, River.” She pulls me into a bone-crushing hug.

“Go, go.” I sniff and wipe the lone little tear that tries to escape. “Go get laid.”

She gives me a playful shove and then skips down the stairs, leaving me alone with the crickets and my thoughts. I turn off the outdoor light and close all the windows and curtains. It needs to look like no one is here. All the lights are out except for one small one next to the bed, and I leave it on. It’s not that I’m afraid of the dark or of being alone out here, but there’s something about leaving it on that gives me some comfort.

I feel like if I turn it off, the silence will be too loud. Or my thoughts will be. And right now, all I want is a really, really good night’s sleep. Scooting down under the covers, I breathe in the scent of laundry detergent and fabric softener.

My phone vibrates.

Poppy: Melatonin is in the nightstand. Use it. And set a loud alarm!

River: I think I love you.

I dig out the melatonin and dry swallow one pill. Making sure my alarm is set and my volume is on loud, I flip my phone over and pull the covers up to my chin. Within fifteen minutes, the exhaustion wins, and I’m out cold.

I got the best night’s sleep of my life last night. I know I was exhausted, but I think the melatonin helped me stay asleep. Pretty sure I woke up in the same position I fell asleep in. Poppy told me to help myself to the groceries, even though there aren’t many since she’s basically moved in with Rhett. But there’s coffee, and that’s all a girl can ask for.

Plugging my phone in to charge, I scroll through my playlists and find the best one for lifting my spirits. Sometimes there are just certain songs that make you want to dance your heart out while you throw your head back and sing with your whole chest. That’s the playlist I put on, and as I get ready for my day, the music infects my mood and raises my spirits.

I dance around the small house, swinging from room to room as I drink my coffee and throw on some clothes. This is the first time since everything happened with Hayes that I’ve had any energy to move around, let alone stretch my muscles and smile. It feels good and makes me think I can finally have a day without crying my eyes out.

I’m just finishing up when I hear a gentle knock at the door. Nervous butterflies take flight in my stomach because I am fully expecting it to be Hayes. But when I walk out of the bedroom, I see Katherine standing at the door, waving at me with one hand while the other holds a huge plate of breakfast. My god, this woman. No wonder Clyde locked her down.

“Hi!” I open the door and gesture for her to come in. “You brought me breakfast?”

“Of course!” She walks in and sits it down on the island in the kitchen. “Rhett told me last night you would be staying here, and I knew with Poppy mostly living with Rhett now, there’d be hardly any food in this place.”

“Thank you so much.” My stomach growls as I pull up a chair, too hungry to act otherwise. “This looks so good.”

“Care if I sit with you? I know you probably have work today…”

“Please.” I push out a chair with my foot. “I don’t have to leave for another fifteen minutes or so.”

“How are you?” Her face goes soft, and I can see all the love she has for me there. Like a mother should have. “Something happen with your mom?”

“I’m just tired of taking care of her when she never took care of me. And on top of that, I don’t even get any love in return for taking care of her. This fight we had was kind of the last straw.”

“I’m so sorry, River.” She leans forward and gives me a hug.

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