Goddess Revenge: Goddess Series Book 4 (Young Adult / New Adult) (18 page)

“Okay.” She smiled while she leaned into the bike. “How’s your Christmas been so far?”

“Um, good. Paul’s on his way up and will be staying a few days. I was going to see if you and Calli wanted to hang out Friday night. I thought about inviting Seth and Kate over too. We don’t have to worry about Ellen since she’s out of town.”

“Sure, sounds like fun,” she said, fiddling with the gadgets on his bike.

“How’s your Christmas been?” he asked softly.

She shrugged. “Good. My parents sent me a strand of pearls.” She sat up, looking at him. “They’re really beautiful. I never really liked my birthstone, but, River, these pearls are so cool,” she said in wonderment.

He smiled at her. Then sighed. “Er, and the earrings?” He nodded his head toward the ear facing him.

She reached up, rubbed her fingers on both ears briefly, and half-smiled at him. “Adin.”

He huffed. “Of course.”

“Look,” she said, reaching up and stroking his arm. “I considered putting them away and not telling you, but I figured that wouldn’t be very honest.” She paused, thinking about her dream. “Lying never helps.”

River pursed his lips and nodded. “And you’re wearing them because…?”

“Because they were a Christmas gift, it’s still Christmas, and I think they’re beautiful.”

“Are you going to keep wearing them?” he asked, stepping up to her.

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Does it matter? Adin giving me a gift doesn’t change anything.”

“If you want to wear diamond earrings, I’ll go buy you some. I’ll buy you several different cuts and sizes. A different pair for every day of the week.”

“
You
are not allowed to buy me diamonds.” She laughed, but River didn’t find the humor in it.

“I can’t, but
he
can?”

“Are you really going to get worked up about something as trivial as a gift?” she asked, leaning back and crossing her arms.

“That’s not just any gift, Legacy. Your ex-boyfriend gave you diamonds for Christmas. You shouldn’t be surprised that I’m threatened by that, especially since I had to agree to a ridiculously low budget on your gift.”

Twisting to the side, she reached up and pulled River closer to her. “You couldn’t have given me anything I would have loved more,” she whispered.

“I-I know. It’s just…” He sighed, putting his arms on top of her shoulders. “I don’t want him buying you things. At all.”

“
Men
,” she muttered playfully.

He chuckled while he stepped closer to her. He wasn’t pressed up against her, but he was awfully close. “I want to kiss you,” he whispered, running a hand through her hair.

“Then what’s stopping you?”

“My mother,” he sighed. “She knows how I feel about you, and she knows about the prophecy, but she doesn’t know anything has actually started happening between us. She’s probably already flipping out seeing me hold you like this,” he said, reluctantly stepping away.

Taking that as her sign to leave, she hopped off the bike and walked to her car with River beside her. “Merry Christmas, River.”

“Merry Christmas, Legacy.”

They hugged briefly before he opened her door again. He watched her drive off.

When she got back home, she heard her phone beep. She pulled it out to see who’d sent her a message. Her heart fluttered when she saw it was from Adin.

You’re welcome. You’re beautiful. Merry Christmas
.

Chapter Fourteen

“What time are you coming over?” Calli asked Legacy while she rummaged around her closet.

“As soon as I find something to wear.”

“Well, hurry up. Seth and Kate are already on their way. I’m actually excited about you and Kate spending the night after River’s little get-together. We can hang out and gossip about the boys.”

Legacy couldn’t concentrate on what her friend was saying. “I have to let you go, Calli, or I’ll never get out of here.”

“Fine, I’ll leave the gate open. Just park at my house and walk over to River’s. I’m heading over as soon as Seth and Kate get there.”

She got off of the phone, so she could find something, anything that looked right to wear. She needed something alluring, but not too suggestive. Something warm, not bulky. She knew they would be outside at least part of the evening because River mentioned something about the fire pit and marshmallows. She decided on a mini jean skirt with Capri tights underneath, a fitted green sweater—River loved her in green—and some flats. She put her hair up since she didn’t know how windy it might be. She debated on the diamond earrings, but ultimately decided to go with hoops. It was a stylistic choice based on what accessory looked best, not because she didn’t want to wear them over to River’s again.

Once she was ready, she grabbed her overnight bag and drove to Calli’s house. She took her things to her friend’s bedroom before heading over to River’s house.

Legacy had felt butterflies in her stomach all day at the thought of being over here with River in front of Calli, Seth, and Kate. This would be the first time they were all together after her date with River. He was careful around her at school, but now that they’d actually gone out on a date and were officially exploring this
thing
between them, she didn’t know if that meant he wanted to go exploring in front of everyone.

She inhaled deeply as she knocked on the door.
Showtime
.

She was relieved when Calli opened it.

“It’s about time! Everyone’s out back. I just came in to get some graham crackers and chocolate to go with the marshmallows.”

Legacy nodded as she stepped in. “You look cute,” she said as she took in Calli’s outfit.

“Thanks. You too.”

They walked out back, and everyone was sitting by the fire pit. River was leaning over, talking to Seth, when she walked out. He turned to look at her, smiling, when he heard the backdoor open. He got up and walked over to her while Calli walked over to the table to put down the snacks.

“You look beautiful, baby,” River whispered as he wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her.

“Thanks. You look nice too.” And he did. He had on jeans and an unbuttoned shirt over a fitted t-shirt. Casual but sexy.

He took her hand and guided her to the empty chair that was beside the one he’d been sitting in. She sat in front of the fire with her feet propped up on the stone facing, chatting with Kate while River walked over to the ice chest. He grabbed some drinks and came back over to the seat beside her.

Calli walked up with a hotdog on a skewer and stuck it in the fire. “Did you see River’s new bike out front?” she asked Kate.

“Er, no. I didn’t notice,” she said, taking a sip of her soda.

“Seth’s begging him to let him take it for a ride,” Calli said, glancing over at River.

“But I told him hell no!” River laughed, leaning forward to look at Kate.

Paul walked up with his hotdog in hand. “He wouldn’t even let me take it out, and we’re blood,” he said incredulously, giving River a light punch in the shoulder as he stepped up to the fire to cook his hotdog. “What’s up with that, bro?”

“It’s good he’s not letting anyone drive it. It’s a powerful piece of machinery,” Calli said as she put her hotdog in a bun.

Legacy turned toward her. “How do
you
know?” she asked with her eyebrows raised.

“’Cause he gave her a ride this morning.”

Her head popped to the side and her eyes flashed to River’s. “What?” she yelled in mocked outrage. “You
refused
to give me a ride when I was over here. How do you explain yourself?”

Everyone laughed.

“Uh-oh, you’re in trouble now,” Paul said as he laughed.

Laughing with everyone, River said, “I didn’t have a helmet for you. Calli came over after I bought one.”

“Likely excuse. I see how important I am. My feelings are
hurt
,” she teased.

River stood up. “Oh no. C’mon, I’ll take you out right now.”

“Nope. I don’t want to ride now,” she said, looking away from him with a smile.

“
Please
? Please let me take you out on it,” he begged, sitting back down and leaning toward her.

She sighed playfully, not looking at him. “Maybe later.”

River groaned through a chuckle. “I’ll find a way to get you on that bike tonight.”

Her eyes flashed to his. “Only if you play your cards right, darling.”

“Mmmm…I always play my cards right,” he murmured.

“Okay, you two,” Calli said, taking a bite of her hotdog.

She stood up, and River grabbed her hand. “Where are you going?” he asked quickly.

“I’m going to cook a hotdog. Want one?”

“I’ll get it,” River said, standing up. They walked over to the food and put some hotdogs on skewers. He carried hers to the fire and cooked both of them.

Calli turned on some music, and they all ate, laughed, and talked.

After the sun had set, it was getting really cold. Legacy stood by the fire, shivering, while Paul and Calli walked around River’s backyard and Seth walked Kate inside to use the restroom. River stepped over to her and chafed his hands along her arms.

“You want to go inside for awhile?”

She nodded, and River put his arm around her to escort her in the house. He turned to the side, looking at Paul. “We’re going in,” he said to him across the yard. “We’ll be in the game room.” He leaned over to her, putting his lips to her ear. “Unless you want go for a ride?”

She shook her head with smile.

“Hmph. You’ll change your mind,” he muttered through a chuckle.

On their way in, they passed Seth and Kate walking out and told them where they were headed. They joined them instead of going back outside. Calli and Paul came up too.

With the party relocated in the game room, they played some games while chatting. Seth and River played pool while Paul and Calli played ping pong. From what Legacy could see of the two of them, they were really hitting it off, but it looked as if they were connecting on a plutonic level. Calli seemed to be as into Paul as he was her, but they looked at each other as if they were great friends, not dating material. Legacy couldn’t be sure since she and Calli hadn’t talked much about Paul, but when Calli did, she would say she wasn’t ready to date. Legacy would have to really talk to her about her intentions.

As the evening went on, Seth and Kate got cozy in front of the massive television, and Calli and Paul continued their ping pong marathon. River and Legacy played a few games of pool, and he took advantage of positioning her for her shots, brushing up against her whenever he could. After they played for a while, though, she was ready for a break.

“How about that ride?” River asked softly, stepping up to her.

She shook her head and laughed. “You’re not going to give up until you’ve righted that wrong, are you?”

“Nope.” He stared into her eyes, waiting for her answer.

“Fine,” she said, “but I should probably put on some jeans. I’ll be back.”

“No, I’ll walk to Calli’s with you. Then we can leave as soon as you change.”

At Calli’s house, he waited in the foyer while she changed into a pair of jeans. She also took down her hair and brushed it out since she knew she’d be wearing a helmet. When she came back down, he took her hand, glancing at her freshly brushed hair, and walked her back to his bike.

He took the helmet off the back and placed it under his arm. He gently tucked her hair behind her ears and handed her the helmet. She put it on, and he fastened the straps for her.

“Up you go,” he said, holding one of the grips with one hand and her waist with the other.

Once she was on, she shifted back so he could get seated. He put on his helmet and slid in front of her before starting the bike. It roared into the quiet of the night. She wrapped her arms around him and scooted up against his back.

He pulled out of the driveway at a comfortable speed while she clung to him. Once he left his neighborhood, he hit the interstate to show her how fast it could go. It was exhilarating. They made it back to his house quickly, and when he parked the bike and got off, he had to help her.

“Whoa!” She stumbled as she tried to get off the bike, but River had his arms around her.

“I wasn’t going to let you fall.”

She felt top heavy with this helmet on, so she was eager to get it off. Once River unfastened the straps, she yanked it off, shook out her hair with her head bent over, and tossed it back out of her face.

River’s breath caught, so she looked at him quickly to see why.

He was staring at her.

“Are you okay?” she asked him with a smile.

He nodded, eyes locked on her. “Er, here.” He reached out, took her helmet, and put both helmets back on the bike. Since he didn’t answer her question, she could only assume he liked seeing her flip her hair. She suppressed a smile at that thought.

They walked back into the house, but River hesitated before going into the game room. He looked at her with bright eyes. “Want to see what my dad sent me for Christmas?” he asked giddily.

She laughed at his playfulness. “Sure.”

“C’mon.” He grabbed her hand and ran up the stairs. She started when she saw him stopping in front of his bedroom door. He opened the door and pulled her in, shutting the door behind her. He stepped over to his shelf while she slowly walked farther into his room. Then he turned around and carried a baseball in an acrylic case over to Legacy. “It’s signed by Babe Ruth,” he said, pointing to the old, faded signature.

“Wow,” she whispered. “That’s so cool.”

“Yeah,” he whispered. “Dad knows how much I love sports.”

River carried it back to the shelf while she walked over to his desk and leaned against it. She wasn’t sure how long he’d want to stay in his room with her, but she figured she should get comfortable and not really think about it.

“So…did you get an earful from your mom after I left yesterday?” she asked, easing up onto his desk and crossing her dangling ankles.

River took a deep breath and crossed his arms over his chest. “To say the least.”

She chuckled. “What did she say?”