1. River
CHAPTER 1
River
13 YEARS LATER
“So what’s so great about this girl?” I can’t help but ask Ashton as we walk through his fraternity house.
The music is blaring, and it’s hard for me to even hear my own thoughts. I promised Ash I would visit when I had a break, and this was the only time I could hang out with my best friend since we parted ways this past summer. It’s now November, and a long weekend is upon us.
“Dude, she’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. I don’t know how to describe it. Like the world vanished when we locked eyes.” I have to control the reflex of rolling my eyes as my closest friend gushes about this new girl he started dating.
“Okay, let me rephrase. What makes her different than all the other girls you’ve dated? I mean, Ash, my man, I know how big your heart is, but you have a tendency to look at every girl and see forever with her.”
Ashton Caldon is a hopeless romantic. He’s the golden retriever of our group, and it seems that title remains the same, even in college. My brother and I have teased him about it since we were in kindergarten.
“It’s not like all the other times. You and Clay will meet her and see what I’m talking about.” He’s yelling over his shoulder as we make our way through the fraternity house he just got initiated into this semester.
Clay is my twin brother, who likes to hold it over my head that he’s older by two minutes. Who knew one hundred and twenty seconds could hold so much power between siblings? We’re what people refer to as mirror twins, where our features are identical but mirrored between one another.
Unfortunately, he won’t be here to see our best friend, once again, throw all caution to the wind for this current love interest of his. Clay was supposed to drive up here with me, but he had a paper to finish before Thanksgiving break. He stayed behind in Boston, and I’ll drive back home with Ash in the next few days for the holiday.
“It’s like I have an ache in my chest when she’s not around. I can’t even find words to describe it.” Does he have hearts in his eyes right now as he gazes off, thinking of this chick?
“You’re fucked, man. I can’t wait to tell Clay about this.” I grab a bottle of beer and slap my friend on the shoulder. “Is she here yet? I need to see this girl who swept you off your feet.” I want to add, ‘ Until the next one’ , but hold it in.
“She texted me saying she’s grabbing drinks. She’s probably in the kitchen. I know she brought her roommate. You have to promise me to be on your best behavior.” With that, Ash looks at me, his expression growing serious as he points his finger at me.
“I’m always on my best behavior.” I smile, the dimples popping out to show I truly am loving and innocent—most of the time.
“Don’t give me that, Riv. You and I both know you are what most would deem a man-whore. You fuck anything with two legs. At least that’s how you were all summer. Has that changed?”
“Well, that hostility is uncalled for. Just because I have fun doesn’t make it bad. Plus, after that shit Kailey pulled last year, I’m sort of within my right to have some fun. I mean, she fucked Benson at the party. And of all people, he was our fucking friend. And let’s be fair—my brother is worse than me, and he’s been that way far longer,” I say somewhat defensively.
“What Kailey did was fucking shitty, I get that. But not everyone is Kailey,” he adds, understanding in his eyes.
Kailey Davis was my high school girlfriend. While I was captain of the lacrosse team, she was the head cheerleader. Yes, while it’s usually the football quarterback who ends up with the cheerleader, I was the one who did. And I felt lucky until I didn’t.
She and I were the it couple. We had been together for two years by the time we started our senior year. We were planning to do the long-distance thing once we graduated—at least that was the plan—but she showed me real quick that wasn’t going to work.
I swear, after Kailey showed her true colors, I could see the devil horns coming through. She was my everything until she wasn’t, and it still hurts when I think about it. She went behind my back and not only fucked the football quarterback, Benson Briggs—yes, even his name sounds douchey—at a post-game party after one of my matches, but it turns out they were hooking up all fucking summer. I felt like the biggest fool; technically, I still do.
The fuckboy status started after that. I mended my heart by partying as hard as possible and finding a release wherever I could. And I honestly regret none of it. I am enjoying my life. My brother and I go to the same university in Boston, so we’ve been having a good time while we acclimate to this college lifestyle.
The moment I broke things off with Kailey, I started to open my eyes to the person she was. She was selfish, inconsiderate, and simply the devil incarnate. I can only chalk it up to the fact I ignored it because I thought I was in love. But in all honesty, she held my heart in her hands, and once I discovered her cheating ways, that shit stung. Am I coping? Yes. Am I doing it the healthiest way? Most likely not. But I’m eighteen, in college, and not really wanting a long-term relationship anytime soon—or ever, if I’m being completely transparent.
If my father’s passing taught me anything, it’s that life can change in an instant. I don’t think I need to sit here and plan forever with someone when I’m enjoying what’s right in front of me at this moment. I’m being careful, and I’m figuring my shit out.
One of Ash’s fraternity brothers I met earlier, Jared, makes his way over, an energy drink in one hand and a joint in the other. Seems counterproductive.
“Guys, I think I just spotted my future wife.” Did someone spike the Kool-Aid with something other than vodka because these guys are completely losing it. I came to the wrong party. I was under the impression this was a college campus, not the next season of The Bachelor .
Jared continues, “I swear, this chick is fucking hot. She’s in the kitchen with Samara, grabbing a drink. Come to think of it, she’s in my business class.” He scratches his head, his eyes distant as he realizes where he knows this girl from. I’ve only known Jared for a few hours, and I can already tell going to class is an optional thing for him.
“There she is, man.” Ash is tugging at my shirt while I’m swatting his hand away, in no way wanting to ruin this shirt. I just fucking bought it.
We make our way toward the kitchen, maneuvering through a large group of people surrounding what I imagine to be the jungle juice. Red solo cups litter the area. In the far corner of the living room is a table—a new round of beer pong about to start.
“Hey, baby. I missed you.” Ashton wraps his arms around a tiny brunette, his massive height having to bend down to nuzzle her neck.
A small smile spreads across my face. As much as I give my friend shit, seeing him happy is all I want for him, especially with the shitty parents life has dealt him.
Ashton comes from a loveless home. His parents were constantly fighting, causing Ash to hang out more at our house than his own. We welcomed him in, my mother feeling bad for all the pain Ash endured being in an emotionally abusive environment. The minute he turned eighteen, he came over to my mom’s house and stayed until leaving for college. From what he’s told me, his parents didn’t even ask about his whereabouts, and he hasn’t relinquished any information to them since leaving Boston for college.
A movement catches my eye, and soon enough, someone new is joining our group. I am immediately taken aback by her beauty. She’s stunning: long legs, wavy blonde hair, bright green eyes—she might be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. My eyes can’t help the involuntary movement along her body, taking in each perfect part of her.
She’s taller than Ash’s girlfriend by quite a bit. Now that her eyes have trained in on me, I can see she has gold flecks near the middle, and it’s hard to look away. She’s got a bit of makeup on, but I see a faint scar across her forehead that accentuates her beauty versus taking away from it.
I’m staring at this point, and I can’t even feel embarrassed. This girl causes everything around me to go silent with just her beauty. Her bright green-gold irises lock on me, and it feels like she can see into my soul with her gaze. I’m instantly breathless and forget simple words, like a fucking introduction.
You’re freaking her out, Riv. Say something!
“River, I’d like you to meet Samara. Sam, this is River.” I hear Ashton’s voice, but it’s hard to pull my eyes off the woman in front of me. I watch the blonde beauty look me over, at first seeming to take me in. Then her expression morphs into disgust as if I kicked her puppy or something. She’s looking at me like she’s trying to figure me out, and what I would have categorized as intrigue on my end turns to discomfort as her eyes narrow.
I’m pulled from this hypnotic state because my friend is snapping his fingers in front of my face. Finally, I greet the woman my friend can’t stop talking about.
“It’s nice to meet you. Ash is smitten.” This pulls a huge smile from Ashton’s girlfriend, and her grin widens. She’s completely his type with a big smile, doe eyes, and that small-town girl vibe he’s always attracted to. I see why he felt a connection to her.
I try to show Samara some attention, but I can’t help but swing my gaze back to the woman next to her. I don’t know what it is about her, but she’s commanding my attention in a way I’ve never experienced. I keep stealing glances at her as I shake Samara’s hand.
“Oh really? Is that so?” Ashton’s girlfriend sips her drink from the straw and looks over at Ashton like she’s undressing him with her eyes.
I swing my full attention to the beauty by Samara’s side, the girl now looking utterly pissed. What did I miss?
“I know you,” hot girl proclaims, her voice dripping with disgust.
Whoa. I know, with absolute certainty, I have not met this woman. I would know. I know I wouldn’t have walked away from her, seeing as she might be the most captivating person I’ve ever seen in my life.
I can’t help but pull my backward hat off my head and run my hand through my hair. It’s something both my brother and I do when we are uncomfortable.
I let an easy smile cross my features, letting my dimples pop out for a little extra charm. I’m uncomfortable, however, wondering how we are connected when I don’t even go to this school. I let silence be my answer because I have no idea who she is.
“Yeah, I do know you. You were at my senior prom. Did you go out with Shelby Peters?”
What the fuck? Of all the connections to have tonight, this girl knows a psycho. Wonderful.
“Um, ‘go out’ is not quite the terminology I’d use.” I use air quotes to accentuate my words because Shelby is in no way someone I dated. I would never classify us as dating, nor did I want to go to prom with her. Fuck, of all the things to follow me, this had to be the thing. What fucking luck I have.
“What do you mean you didn’t go out with her? She told everyone what you did to her.” Now that causes the easygoing smile I was sporting to drop off my face.
I put my hands up as if I’m surrendering, not sure what she heard about me, but knowing the source, I can guarantee it’s false.
“Listen, I know Shelby, but I haven’t spoken to her since that night at prom, and I did nothing to her.”
Even though I’m trying to diffuse the situation, my words seem to be making this chick angrier with each sentence.
“Right. I bet every guy that gets denied the back door says that.”
What. The. Fuck?
Ashton nearly sprays me with his beer, and Samara’s mouth hangs open in shock. Her eyes are volleying between her friend and me like she’s engrossed in an episode of Law this one is off her rocker. Whatever attraction I had for her is out the door now. She might be pretty to look at, but man, does she make my blood boil. She’s all fired up, and she doesn’t even know me.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you, sweetheart.” I take a sip of my beer, completely over this conversation.
“Don’t call me sweetheart,” she snaps, the air around us crackling, and not in the hot way like I’d prefer.
“Okay, both of you, take a chill pill.” That was Samara, while Ash rubs his hand down his face.
He’s met Shelby before, and I know he finds this fictional story too far-fetched, even for her. Fucking Shelby and the damn stories she makes up. Maybe after I share this one with my mother, the PG version, of course, I’ll get excused from having to see her anytime soon.
Samara tries to fix this dumpster fire of an introduction, which hasn’t gone past accusations. She just went right in with the insults. I may have met Ashton’s girlfriend, but I have yet to know who the firecracker is by Samara’s side.
“River, I’m happy to finally meet one of Ashton’s friends. Thanks for driving back with him for the holiday.” Samara gives me a genuine smile. I can tell that she is the peacemaker of her group, especially with uptight Nancy over here. Too bad her friend can’t take these pointers and use them to her advantage.
She gestures to the woman who’s on the Shelby bandwagon. “This is my roomie, Kennedy. Kennedy, play nice.” She glares at her friend, I think realizing that she needs things to go smoothly, seeing as she’s dating my best friend.
I extend my hand, and Kennedy looks down at it, then looks at her friend. They seem to be having an entire conversation with their eyes, and Kennedy finally relents, rolls her eyes, and puts her hand in mine.
“Nice to meet you, officially,” I say in hopes we can have a truce.
She rolls her eyes again and huffs out, “Fucking dick,” under her breath while attempting to pull her hand out of my grip.
I’m quicker and grip her hand a little tighter, pulling her closer to me.
I bring my lips to the shell of her ear and say, “Maybe you need a little ass play. But I think that stick might get in the way.” I chuckle as I move away from her, trying to ignore how good she smells. Skipper huffs out a breath, and her mouth hangs open.
“Fuck you,” she seethes through gritted teeth.
“Why don’t you get on your knees and warm me up first,” I throw back, and I know that now she might explode.
She storms off, and I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.
Sam sighs and goes running to catch up with her uptight friend, while Ashton mouths, Fuck you , yet laughs because that shit was fucking funny.
No matter how gorgeous that chick is, her attitude is shit. Lucky for me, I won’t have to see her anymore after today. Ashton will soon be onto the next girl he’s envisioning forever with, and I can say goodbye to what I can guarantee is an uppity personality like Kennedy.