Chapter 7 River
RIVER
I’m wandering around mine and Finn’s dorm, searching for my wallet. The place is a mess, mainly because Finn is a slob. We’ve always had a housekeeper until we came here, and I think he’s struggling with the concept of that, though he keeps insisting he’ll clean up.
He’s currently sitting at the table, eating a bagel and drinking a protein shake. He has his feet kicked up on the table, and he’s wearing shorts and a T-shirt that stinks because he hasn’t cleaned up since he got back from practice.
“You smell,” I inform him as I rummage through a stack of papers and other crap piled on an end table.
“So? You’re the only one here, and I’m not trying to impress you.” He stuffs the bagel into his mouth, a trail of crumbs falling on his shirt. “What’re you even looking for?”
“My wallet and keys.” I pat the pockets of my pants, even though I’ve done that like a million times. “Have you seen them?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Sorry.”
I internally grimace. “When are you going to clean up?”
“When are you going to clean up?” he quips, lowering his feet to the floor.
“I clean up after myself.” I swing my arm toward the sofa where the athletic bag, three pairs of socks, and a shirt are tossed about. “You’re the one who keeps leaving your shit everywhere.” I wander over to the kitchen to check the counter area.
His gaze tracks me. “You’re nervous about something.”
I open a drawer. “No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are,” he insists while resting his arms on the back of the hair. “We’re twins, bro, so I know these things.”
“Well, your twin telepathy isn’t working because I’m not nervous.” I am, and I don’t even know why.
Okay, that’s not true, but the reason makes me feel like a dumbass.
Maddy and I have hung out a ton of times, and tonight isn’t any different. Sure, we’re not training, like we usually are, but we’re just hanging out as friends. And yet, my heart rate is up a bit.
“It’s not broken.” He assessed me. “Where are you going?”
“Out.” I’m vague on purpose.
“Out where?” he asks as I shut the drawer.
“Nowhere if I can’t find my wallet and keys.” I leave the kitchen and head to my bedroom, my anxiety increasing. If I don’t calm the hell down, I’ll reach a point where my brain will be a mess, and then I’ll never find my keys.
Finn trails after me with his protein smoothie in hand. “Out where?”
“Just somewhere.” I stand in the middle of my room, taking a few breaths to try to calm down.
Chill out, River. This isn’t a date.
I’ve never even been out on a date. My parents and Isla’s tried to force us to go on one when we were fifteen, but Finn came with us because he knew I didn’t want to go.
Isla wasn’t into it, either. Part of me is relieved she doesn’t want to marry me.
It gives me a drop of hope that perhaps, one day, we can figure out a solution to the problem.
But that hope gets dimmer the older I get and the closer we get to the day we’ll be married.
“If you tell me, I’ll help you look for your wallet and keys,” Finn says from the doorway of my bedroom. He takes a sip of his protein shake, the corner of his lips quirking.
It’s not that I don’t want to tell him what I’m doing tonight, but he’ll make a bigger deal out of it than he should. When I check the time on my watch, though, I realize I should be heading to Maddy’s dorm already.
“Fine,” I cave, raking my fingers through my hair. “Maddy and I are hanging out tonight.”
“What?” Some of his amusement fizzles.
I’ve had a bit of suspicion that he might like Maddy, but Finn won’t ever act on it. He doesn’t date, only hooks-up, something he started doing when he was fifteen.
“Just as friends,” I feel the need to explain. “I think it’s time I told her what we learned about that necklace and maybe give her a heads-up about the society. By the way, do you have any more info about that?”
He momentarily stands there like he can’t quite figure out what I said.
Then he snaps out of it. “Not really. I haven’t had much time to look into the necklace thing.
And the society meeting is tonight, so I might have more information later.
” He rotates the cup he’s holding between both his hands. “Where are you guys going?”
This conversation deepens my assumption about him liking her.
“To a taco truck, and then the lake.” I glance at my watch again then pat my pockets idiotically for the tenth time. “If I can ever find my wallet and keys.”
Finn scratches his wrist. “Check the sofa cushions. I was sitting on the sofa earlier, and they more than likely fell into the cracks.”
“Thanks.” I rush past him and check the cushions.
Sure enough, there they are, wedged in the crack right beside the remote and an unopened granola bar.
Shaking my head, I toss the remote and granola bar onto the coffee table then stuff my keys and wallet into my pocket before heading to the front door.
“Have fun!” Finn calls out as I’m opening the door. “And make sure to wrap it—”
I close the door before he can finish that sentence. However, a guy walking by at that precise moment chokes on a laugh.
I sigh, heading toward Maddy’s dorm room, my anxiety picking up the closer I get. The corridors are surprisingly empty for it only being six o’clock. It’s about dinnertime, so many of the students are probably in the dining room.
As I’m nearing Maddy’s dorm, my phone rings. I assume it’s her, so I fish it out with this weird fluttery feeling inside my chest. But when I note the caller’s name on the screen, my mood takes a nosedive.
It’s my father. I have no clue why he’s calling, but I’m not about to take a call from him right before going out with Maddy. He’ll put me in a bad mood, and Maddy doesn’t need to deal with grumpy River, as she so nicely nicknamed me.
I silence the call and am not surprised when the phone vibrates and announces he left a voicemail. I ignore it as I stop in front of Maddy’s dorm room. I knock then hold my breath, waiting for her to answer. The door swings open and—
“Hey, big bro.” Lily is the one to answer. She’s grinning as she crosses her arms. “What’re you doing here?”
I grow fidgety. “Why do I get the feeling you already know the answer?”
“Because I do.” Her grin widens. “How does it feel to be going on your very first date?”
“It’s not a date,” I say flatly.
“So you and Maddy keep saying, but then I found out you’re going up to the lake, and we all know why people go up there.” Her grin is beyond annoying.
“Is Maddy here?” I ask, glancing behind her and noting the empty living room.
“Yes, she is!” Maddy calls out. “She’s coming! She just can’t find her wallet.”
I press back a smile at the fact that I was struggling with the same issue minutes ago. “Have you checked the couch cushions?”
“Good idea.” Her voice floats across the room.
And then I see her.
She walks hastily into the living room, making a beeline for the sofa. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of her long legs in those tights she wore the first day I saw her at the academy. Although it wasn’t the first time I saw her. That was while we were in jail.
I still haven’t told her that I paid her bail bond. I worry if I do, she’ll try to pay me back, and I don’t want her to.
On top of wearing those tights, she has on a short dress, along with a leather jacket and boots. She’s so gorgeous in a way I’m not used to—all wild and beautiful, in an effortless way. I try not to stare at her ass as she leans over to stick her hand down the crack of the cushion, but I fail.
Lily notices and lifts her brows at me.
Thankfully, before she can comment, Maddy announces, “Here it is.” She removes her hand from the cushion and holds the wallet up as she spins toward me.
As I get a full view of her, I damn near lose my breath again.
Her hair is down in untamed waves, her beautiful big eyes are lined with eyeliner, and her lips are shiny with gloss.
She has a splatter of freckles on her nose that are so adorable, and her smile is the most amazing thing I’ve seen, so real and genuine.
“How’d you know it was going to be in there?” she asks as she approaches me.
“Because I couldn’t find mine tonight, and that’s where it ended up being.” I stuff my hands into my pockets, unable to take my eyes off her.
She grabs a mini backpack as she passes by an end table. She unzips it, drops the wallet in, then slips it on before walking up to me.
Lily is still standing in the way, but she inches to the side. “You two kids have fun,” she calls out as she backs away.
I want to press my fingers to the brim of my nose. Why are my siblings so annoying?
“You look stressed out,” Maddy remarks as she exits her dorm and closes the door behind her.
“My brother and sister are driving me crazy,” I explain as we start down the hallway.
“I don’t have any siblings, so I can’t relate.” She adjusts the handles of her bag. “However, my parents are annoying, so there’s that.”
Maddy has mentioned her parents a few times, and I also overheard her talking to her mother when she was in jail. She hasn’t given many specifics, though.
“You want to talk about it?” I offer, watching as a lock of hair falls into her eyes.
I have this strange compulsion to reach over and tuck it behind her ear, just like I did right before I kissed her the other day.
It was a brief kiss but long enough that I still remember how soft her lips felt.
Part of me wishes I hadn’t done it because it only makes me crave her more.
But I can’t act on it, so I’ve been pretending it never happened.
And Maddy seems to be on board with that.
“Do you like your parents?” she wonders as we turn into another hallway, our footsteps echoing against the domed ceiling and thick brick walls.
“I like my mom. To be honest, I’m not a fan of my father. He’s a cheating asshole, as you already know. Plus, he’s the main factor behind me being betrothed.”