Chapter 21 Kady #2
Some of the football players, who are dwarfed by Riven, back away, mumbling excuses about having to get to practice before fleeing.
“Apologize?” Shea is quick to rise to a fight. “I’m not apologizing for shit. I’m only speaking the truth.”
When Riven steps forward, I jump in, standing between them to keep them apart.
“Let them leave, Riven.” I put a hand on his chest. “It’s fine. It doesn’t matter.”
“You’re going to pay.” Kyro points at Riven. “Both of you and your pack.”
“Run along, Kyro.” I make a shooing motion. “Before I report you to Dean Rivers for harassment.”
They file away, cursing as they go.
“Are you okay?” Riven’s hand flies to my shoulder, gently stroking it with his thumb.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I shrug. “They’re just jerks who are bitter because no omega wants them.” I look down at the smashed telescope. “But the same can’t be said for your telescope. I’m so sorry they did that.”
Behind me, Delilah clears her throat. I forgot that she was even standing there. I quickly jump away from Riven, but it’s too late. Her eyes roam all over him, giving him a once over before shooting me a knowing look.
“I’m Delilah.” She strides forward to introduce herself. “Kady’s housemate.”
“Riven.” He holds out his hand, smiling shyly. “I’m glad to meet one of Kady’s housemates.”
“You’re going to be late for class, Del,” I say through gritted teeth as they shake hands. “You better go.”
“I’ll catch you later, Kady.” Delilah gives me a hug. “You have some explaining to do.”
I roll my eyes as she heads off. Over Riven’s shoulder, she gives me a thumbs up and mouths, “He’s hot!”
I have no time to think about the interrogation I’ll face at Stella House tonight before I return my attention to the remains of Riven’s telescope.
We both kneel to inspect it, making contact as we reach for a piece of shiny metal at the same time. I shiver as the soft pad of his finger skims the top of my hand. We look up at one another, rooted to our spots.
I clear my throat, tucking a long hair behind my ear. “How did they even get a hold of your telescope?”
Riven carefully disassembles the parts, then stashes them into his backpack, holding the lens in his hand. “They asked me if they could take a look. I thought they might be interested in stargazing.”
“Football players interested in stargazing?” I scoff. “They’d be as likely to be interested in crochet.”
He bashfully looks down at the ground. “I guess it’s a nerdy hobby.”
“No,” I hurriedly reply. “I just meant they obviously wanted it for nefarious reasons. Jocks here kinda have a reputation for being assholes.”
He shifts his weight from one foot to another. “I guess I’m not very good at reading social cues. If someone says something, my brain doesn’t question whether they mean it.”
I can’t imagine how thinking that way would be. Having Richard Sinclair as a father usually means that I’m questioning everyone’s motives. There’s something refreshing about how Riven thinks and how he takes everything at face value.
“Hey.” I gently take his arm. “This isn’t your fault. They’re just jerks, okay?”
“I should know better.” His teeth catch his lip.
“It’s not the first time something like this has happened.
” His expression goes almost vacant, his eyes glazing over before light returns to them a few seconds later.
“It’s fine, though. The damage looks fixable, but next time, I’ll remember what you said about the football team. Jerks. Noted.”
“Do you have to get to class right away?” I ask. “Or do you want to grab a coffee?” I notice how his nose crumples. “Or hot cocoa?” He instantly grins, showing two perfect dimples that contrast with the lines of his nose and sharp chin.
“Cocoa sounds good.” He slings his bag over his shoulder. “I only came onto campus to check out a few vantage points for an eclipse. I found a pretty good spot. If you’re free, I could show you? It’s worth a look.”
I hesitate before responding, wondering whether spending more time with him is really a good idea. “I guess I have some spare time.”
“Perfect.” He beams even more as we head to Bouncing Bunna’s takeout window to order drinks. Riven insists on paying, despite my being partially responsible for breaking the telescope.
“Where is this mystery spot?” I ask as we set off.
“You’ll see.” He blows on his steaming cocoa, his reply cryptic.
“I’ve been at SVU a whole year longer than you, remember?” I tease, nudging him playfully. “I know all the best places.”
“I seem to have a way of finding places that others overlook.”
Somehow, I think he may be right.
Ambling down the main street, we pass early morning joggers and some of the faculty buildings before taking a steep path lined with towering pine trees.
As we reach the edge of campus, the walkway narrows, the trees becoming denser until it opens up onto a small clearing I never knew existed.
I gaze around, surprised at how high we climbed.
Below us, I spot the glass dome of the greenhouse and the roofs of Omega Village.
In the other direction, the mountain view is even more breathtaking than usual.
Riven leads me over to a bench to sit down.
His clean and fresh scent makes me feel calm, erasing all the stress I’d felt upon leaving Stella House this morning.
Being around Riven has a way of cutting through the noise, getting rid of all distractions, and letting me fully tune in to the present moment—something I usually struggle to do, too preoccupied with chasing my next goal or assignment, always thinking about what’s coming up. The stillness is comforting.
“Do you like it?” His heated gaze prickles my skin. “The view?”
“I usually have my head stuck in a book, so I don’t take the time to really appreciate where we are.” I take a moment to fully soak in the snow-capped mountain view and caress my warm cup to bring warmth into my fingers. “This is amazing.”
“I almost feel like Scent Valley University is in a snow globe.”
A laugh escapes my lips.
“What?” His brows wrinkle in surprise. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” I say quickly. “You’re right. I just hadn’t thought about it like that before. I like the way you,” I select my next words carefully, “look at things.”
A small smile plays on Riven’s lips. “It’ll look even better covered with snow in the winter.
” He points out various things I didn’t notice—a tree in the distance that’s branches coil like a flame, the way the clock on the library building is one minute behind. His attention to detail is next level.
“Sorry you can’t get a closer view.” I gesture at his backpack where the telescope is lying. “Maybe next time?”
“Are you kidding?” He looks straight at me.
His blonde eyelashes shimmer as the morning sun slices through his hair, making it look almost silvery.
He has light stubble that almost looks like sparkling crystals in the light.
As I fully take him in, time seems to stand still.
How is it possible for someone to be so aesthetically perfect? “I have the best view right here.”
I press my lips together, trying not to break out into the goofiest smile. That line would be corny from anyone else, but knowing Riven and how sincere he is, it’s quite possibly the best compliment I’ve ever had.
“Can I ask you something?”
He inclines his head. “Of course.”
“You said, ‘things like this’ have happened before when you were talking about the football team. What did you mean?”
Riven leans back. “I guess I’ve never really fit in before. I was bullied when I was younger for being different. People didn’t understand me.”
I nod, listening as he continues.
“I know I’m different. I don’t have a diagnosis or anything like that.
I’ve never saw the point in seeking one.
I’m just me. I don’t want medication to change me.
But it has meant I’ve struggled sometimes.
” He wrings his huge hands in his lap. “I come from a big family, a loud family. A family who never really got why I didn’t want to, ‘join in the fun,’ so I became an outsider.
” He sighs. “I need my own time, my own space, to process things. I like silence. Not everyone is comfortable with it.”
I say nothing, not wanting to interrupt his flow while learning more about him.
“No one thought I’d be an alpha because of my nature.
I wasn’t loud. I wasn’t into sports. I liked math, sudoku, puzzles, the stars…
” He rolls up his sleeves. “Calder was my only friend in school. We were part of a larger friend group, but they only put up with me because they liked him. He was always the popular one.”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” I say kindly.
“Oh, it was,” Riven grimaces. “I heard what they said about me when they thought I wasn’t listening. I was the weird kid, the math nerd, but I never said anything. I figured Calder would get bored of me eventually.” He smiles. “I guess he never did.”
“Well, I don’t think you’re a nerd,” I reply, to which he arches his eyebrows. “Well, maybe a little, but no more than I am. I spend all my time in the library. I’m glad you found interests and hobbies you’re truly passionate about. And I’m glad you found your pack too. You all seem good together.”
I’m increasingly aware of how close our knees are, the heat radiating from him despite the cold temperature. How my body wants to be closer to him. I resist the urge to lean against his chest as we sit, not saying a word, savoring the view, until Riven suddenly blurts, “Can I kiss you?”
The unexpectedness of his request stuns me. When I look up at him, his eyes are wide, cheeks ablaze.
“S-s-sorry.” He rubs his eyes. “See? This is what I mean. Sometimes I say exactly what’s on my mind too. I don’t really know how to act around you, I—”
Before he says any more, I silence his plump, pink lips with my mouth.
Riven’s kiss isn’t what I expect. Despite him questioning himself, his kiss is confident, strong and grounding. He knows exactly what he wants, as if kissing me is erasing all those little voices in his head that tell him he’s not good enough.
He strokes my hair, lacing it through his fingers as I shuffle closer to him.
The kiss is firm but with a tentativeness and with a calming edge to it that makes me melt into him.
When his tongue cautiously slides into my mouth, he tastes of cocoa and lingering spearmint, cozy and fresh.
His thumb sweeps over my cheekbone before he pulls away, breathless.
“Is this okay?” His voice is a little raspy.
“Uh-huh.” I gaze into his dreamy eyes, his massive pupils blown. “Very okay.”
“I’m new to this,” he admits. “And I may say the wrong things sometimes, but I want you to know that I’m serious about you, Kady Sinclair.” My heart pounds in my chest. This is the kind of moment that Delilah’s book club would be swooning over. “This is more than a kiss to me because I think—”
Before he can finish his sentence, the “Barbie Girl” theme song starts playing.
We both hear it, freezing in place before Riven breaks off to fish around in his pocket for his cell phone.
“Calder keeps changing my ringtone,” Riven mutters.
“That reminds me.” I jump up quickly, suddenly feeling very flustered despite the temperature. “I need to go. I’m supposed to be at The Valley Voice office.”
I vaguely promised Devon I’d swing by, but it’s probably safer that I leave before we do something one of us may regret. If I kiss him again, I’m not sure I’d be able to stop…
“I’ll walk with you?” Riven offers.
“No need,” I squeak. “You stay and enjoy the view with your cocoa. I’ll see you soon.”
With that, I scamper away down the trail, pulse racing from our kiss, wondering whether it was a mistake.
A sweet guy like Riven deserves an omega who will dote on him, not an independent omega like me who might not be able to give him what he needs.
But if leaving is what’s best for everyone, then why do I feel more hollow the farther away I get?