Page 7 of Don’t Be A Stranger

“Yes, way.” River grins but his focus remains on the road in front of us. “I just have that effect on people. But I said no because I’m not a homewrecker.”

I turn my entire body toward him, fixing my seatbelt back in place because this conversation is a lot more interesting than the one about Savannah.

“Wait.” I stop him before he can start talking again. “How and when did this happen exactly?”

River dramatically brushes his hand through his black hair. “You sound shocked. As if the act of someone wanting me is repulsive.”

Repulsive? No.

Annoying? Yes.

“I’m just trying to understand how Miss Legally Blonde found any interest in you.” I wave my hand aimlessly in his general direction.

River rests a hand on his chest. “Summer. My sweet girl.” My breath hitches at the nickname but River doesn’t seem to notice. “I’m a chick magnet, okay. I don’t have to try. It just happens.”

I laugh. “Has anyone ever told you that your ego is just a tad bit too big?”

We arrive at River and his roommates’ apartment but neither of us move to get out of the car.

“Alright.” River finally allows himself to turn and look at me. “I told you my secret. It’s your turn. What happened with you and Savannah?”

Just when I thought he was going to drop it.

I make a dramatic display of hitting my head against the dashboard. “I promise you, River.” I don’t dare to lift my head up to look at him. Not when I know I’m about to tell another lie. “We just grew apart.”

I wish it was as simple as that.

When River is abnormally silent for a little too long, I have no choice but to lift my head up to look at him.

I fully expect him to call me out on my lie, but he must see something in the way I’m looking at him because he sighs.

“Okay, fine. I won’t bring it up again.”

I highly doubt that but I appreciate it right now.

“Thanks.” I smile softly.

River might get on my nerves sometimes but if I’m staying here in Ellingbrook for the summer, then I’m glad it’s with him.

Three

Summer

When I first told River that I wasn’t going home for the summer, his first question was why and the second was where I was going to be staying.

I hadn’t thought much of it. I figured I could stay over at one of my coworkers’ places, but I didn’t get much time to explain that to River before he was asking his roommates Stone and Moose if I could stay with them for a while.

Stone, as stoic as ever and holding true to his hockey nickname, didn’t care one bit. Mainly because he wasn’t even going to be here in Ellingbrook for the summer.

And all Moose asked was that I didn’t eat any of his snacks.

Seemed pretty fair to me.

At the time of agreeing, I didn’t think much of sharing a space with River. We basically grew up at each other’s houses but having sleepovers with our parents around is a lot different than sharing close proximity to my best friend when there’s a big ass elephant in the room with us.

We don’t talk about this past December but that’s easier to do when I’m not getting ready for bed in his room with him coming back from his shower without a shirt on.

It’s only been a couple of days since summer break started and I’ve practically moved into River’s apartment. Reminding myself that this is temporary only gets me so far.