Page 133 of Wild River

Saylor

I love surprises. What is it?

Peyton

I hope it’s a naked man with a giant penis.

Peyton

Or waffles with fresh bananas would be a close second.

I stood back and took a screenshot of the flowers and the wall covered in sticky notes.

Saylor

My heart just exploded. Holy swoons! That is so romantic.

Peyton

It’s so sweet, but kind of in a serial killer sort of way. But I’m here for it.

Demi

I think it’s amazing.

So, do we think I should meet him at the cove tonight and hear him out?

Demi

YES! You asked him to figure his shit out, and I believe that’s what he’s been doing.

Saylor

Agreed. His first apology wasn’t impressive. Let’s see what he does today.

Peyton

Hear him out, but make him grovel. And I mean, really grovel.

I can do that. I’m the queen of enforcing the grovel.

I tried to focus the rest of the day, but my mind was on River.

My phone rang just as I was getting ready to leave so I could run home and change clothes before taking the kayak out. He hadn’t told me a time, so I just planned to go when I got home.

My mom’s face lit up my screen, and I didn’t even cringe the way I normally did. It hit me in that moment that I’d come a long way. So had my brothers. Things were so much better with my family now—and my mom was the only one left who hadn’t changed at all.

And I doubted she ever would.

But I’d changed the way I responded to her, and I would continue to do that for my own sanity.

“Hello,” I said, as I reached for my keys and grabbed my purse.

“Hey.” Her voice was sulky and sad. “Where are you?”

“I’m just leaving the office and heading home.”