Page 41 of Don’t Be A Stranger

“We were having fun.” I turn my back to her, blaming it on my concentration to get these intricate folds right.

Fold, flip, tuck until I’ve created a double diamond.

Just like Hazel spent days teaching me.

I continue my argument. “Also, why does it matter? You and Moose couldn’t keep your hands off each other.”

“Yeah, but Moose and I are dating. We literally made out before going into that karaoke room.”

That sounds about right.

“River and I are just—”

“Handsy?” Bethany giggles.

“No. Comfortable. We’ve known each other for practically forever, remember?”

Bethany sets down the napkin she’s working on and walks over to my table to come help me even when I clearly don’t need it.

“Yeah, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen friends eye fuck each other like that before.”

I rub at my temples, now feeling a headache coming on.

Did I possibly get far too handsy with River, especially in front of our friends? Sure. But River and I promised not to tell anyone about us, so I deflect. “We weren’t eye fucking each other.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” Bethany snorts.

Something in me wants to tell her about what happened between River and me last night because my body seems to be buzzing constantly from keeping it all inside, but I keep my mouth shut and continue folding napkins.

Fourteen

Summer

Me: Just got home. Heading to bed. I love you guys.

Dad: Goodnight, lovie. We love you too.

“Honey, I’m home!” I shout into the apartment, relieved to finally be home and grateful that Bethany offered to drop me off—although she was coming over here to pick up Moose anyway but still, she could’ve left me stranded at work.

Moose and I bump into each other by the front door. “Sorry, Summer,” Moose chuckles while taking a step back. “You’re a cute girl and all but I’m practically already hitched.”

“Believe me, Moose. I think I’ll live.”

He smiles. “Is Beth still out there?”

“Yeah.” I kick my shoes off under the hallway table that’s way too wide for how small this apartment is. “She told me to tell you that you have exactly one minute to get your ass downstairs or she’s leaving.”

Moose’s eyes widen and he mumbles something that sounds a lot like “she’ll do it too,” before he steps past me and heads out the door. It closes with a click.

“River?” I call out to him and set my bag down on the same table, walking a little further down the hallway. Maybe he’s not here.

This apartment isn’t big enough for him to not hear me calling out. I’m surprised the neighbors haven’t pounded on the wall yet—their way of telling us to shut up.

A smile forms on my face when I spot River sitting on the couch. His headphones are on and he’s hunched over something. I step closer to see that he’s completely focused on his sketchbook and he has colored pencils sprawled out on the coffee table.

River’s never used color in his art before. I personally think it never needed it. Everything he makes seems to come to life effortlessly.

I try to sneak a peek at whatever he’s so focused on and what inspired him to start trying to incorporate color. All I’m able to catch is a sketch of a hand before River’s head snaps toward me and he’s ripping out his headphones, slamming his sketchbook shut like his life depends on it.