All Chapters of RIVER: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

RiverI never told Erica about Alec saying goodbye. I wanted to keep that to myself and for good reason. She told me Jaylen was sad but happy for his friend. She’s been staying at his place for the past two weeks and things have been getting serious between them.I loved it. I hoped so much for them. He’s a great guy and my girl is awesome.A week had gone by since I last saw him and my heart still secretly hurt after that sad farewell. I don’t think there will ever be an explanation for this feeling. I anticipate as the days go by that being with Zach can change all of that. I had already prepared my luggage for our special road trip. Zach and I rented a place between Silvertone and Frisco, Colorado near the Dillon Reservoir. I was excited and anxious at the same time.Zach read me like a book and knew that something felt off, but I played it out blaming my hormones. I wasn’t lying, my period was going to start sometime next week and Zach was dreading it.Tonight we were going to the

Third POV - Day 3River woke up refreshed today. She enjoyed her night with the sexy biker prince. He was sweet with her and talked about so many things distracting her from her problems. He had a girl back home in California and was out here in Deadwood, South Dakota, enjoying a summer cruise.One thing she realized was that the small town had several casinos around including the hotel she was staying at. When she went downstairs to check out, she was shocked to see how early most people were already gambling. It was unbelievable how late in the evening and early people gambled on those machines. She decided to meet with Damon this morning before she headed South to Colorado. They met by the gas station close to her hotel to say goodbye. Damon was intrigued by River. He admired her strength, intelligence, fierceness, and beauty. If he wasn’t with his girl, he would have loved to have met her before even if she was 8 years younger than him. However, he loved his girl and River’s true

JaylenEver feel like your life is going perfectly well? Like it’s too good to be true? Like the calm before the storm? At first, everything was fine until two days ago. I’m usually not an intuitive person, but days felt like something wasn’t right and still all seemed okay. I even called my Mother just to make sure everything was alright on that side of town. To my relief, it was.I didn’t want to alarm Erica with how I was feeling so I tried my best to mask the feeling. It was lunchtime and we were out eating with Jason and his girlfriend. We didn’t invite Zach since he was brooding terribly. He became unbearable to be around drowning himself with alcohol.We were enjoying a nice lunch at Pluckers Wing Bar, which has now become one of my favorite places for wings when all of a sudden Erica’s ringtone went off. By the look on her face, she didn’t want to decline whoever was calling so she quickly answered.“Mr. Barlowe! Is everything okay, did Riv–” She suddenly became quiet, not eve

RiverI hear my name. I feel like I know that voice. I shake my head and feel something crawling in my veins. What is this feeling? I slowly open my eyes to a stunning sapphire sky. I’m lying on my back on the most beautiful pasture ever. Sunshine surrounds me, warming my skin. The birds are chirping and the wind is blowing a delicious breeze.“How did I get here?” I ask.I get up slowly and realize I feel no pain. I’m wearing a beautiful white gown and I’m barefoot. My dress flows with the wind and everything feels peaceful. This place feels calm and I can’t help but notice the gorgeous nature surrounding me. Vibrant colors of every kind illuminate differently almost like a vivid filter.As I roam the most beautiful garden I’ve ever seen, filled with fruits and flowers of all kinds, I hear the sound of water and follow it through a flowery field. The rippling flow gets louder and I stop when I see this amazing white, frothy cascade falling into a river. It was crystal-clear water. Yo

AlecI quietly watched River knowing her mind was racing with probing thoughts. I didn’t ignore the way she peered at Zach wondering why the pretty boy was keeping his distance. I can’t say I didn’t love the way Mr. Barlowe threatened him about confessing anything to River about what happened because he damn well deserved it.When I first met him, I witnessed his jealous, angry, and possessive traits when it came to her. He even yelled at her in front of me. I wouldn’t have done that to her, not River. When you find a girl like her, you cherish her and not take her for granted.My thoughts went back to the time when Erica said, “I don’t think Zach will let her go, not now, not ever.” Those words struck a chord in my heart, but now the tables have turned.I gave her a chance at happiness with him. I wanted to see her happy even if it meant losing her. I know I was late at the time, but now, right this very second, everything has changed. There is no doubt in my mind that she is mine an