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I sit at the far end of his sectional, attempting not to let my eyes wander down his still-bare chest.
‘I thought you wanted me to stay?’
He raises a questioning eyebrow like I didn’t read through his quick ‘no’ earlier when I asked if he wanted me to go.
‘I do want you to stay. But if you made up with your boyfriend, maybe you shouldn’t be sitting here with a guy in his underwear who thinks you’re gorgeous.’
I suck in the tiniest breath. ‘You think I’m gorgeous?’
He opens his eyes, a shy smile surfacing. ‘I don’t say things I don’t mean. I’m also pretty sure you know you’re gorgeous.’ He closes his eyes again, his face making me wonder if his next words physically hurt him of if that’s just the cheeseburger doing more damage. ‘Did you guys make up?’
‘I don’t really know?’ I lift a single shoulder. ‘He said sorry and swore it wouldn’t happen again, but he still isn’t making an effort like he promised he would. For instance, he was supposed to call today, but nothing.’
‘You deserve better,’ River says firmly.
‘What’s considered better? I mean, he proposed, he’s in medical school, he’s handsome, smart—’
‘Evasive, doesn’t appreciate you, requested a man he doesn’t know keep an eye on you and call with the “real issues”, and hasn’t even bought you an engagement ring,’ River continues my sentence without missing a beat. His words surprise me.
‘What?’ I ask. ‘Real issues? Did he actually say those words?’
River looks at me apologetically. ‘I want to lie and say he didn’t say exactly that because I can see that it’s hurt your feelings and that’s something I never want to do. But truth is, he did. Also, he gave me his business card so I could follow through, which I would never, because I like you too much to do anything that asshole has requested.’
My heart slows in my chest. Conner’s passed me onto another guy while he ‘lives his real life’ in Boston without me. That jerk. Has he meant anything he’s said since we met? I can’t show River how much this pisses me off – that’ll just prove I’m the biggest idiot ever to only really realize all this now.
‘Thank you for telling me the truth,’ I say matter-of-factly.
‘You’re too pretty to lie to,’ River says, squinting open one eye and glancing my way, half a grin on his handsome face.
Even sick, the guy is charming as hell. I can’t believe he just said that twice. Now I’m unsure whether to accept this by returning the compliment or blowing it off because, technically, I’m taken. Technically, technically, he already knows by my wandering eyes earlier. Newly engaged Jade would likely shut him down right now. But this Jade, the girl whose fiancé has been jerking her around for weeks, appreciates his honesty and wants to give it back.
‘That’s sweet, River. Shall I be candid?’
‘’Tis the only way to be,’ he says. The poor guy speaks mostly without motion; even his eyes are closed. He can talk freely without the cheeseburger threatening a comeback as long as he doesn’t move.
‘Even on your deathbed, you’re pretty too. I’ve always thought so.’
‘Have you now?’ He once again opens one eye with a smile. ‘Prettier than Corndog?’
I laugh to myself, refusing to answer.
‘Say it…’ he jokes.
‘I can’t,’ I laugh nervously. ‘It feels wrong to say when I’ve committed myself to the guy. But, if you’re going to twist my arm, I suppose my answer would be: Y for you’re. E for extremely. And S for sexy.’ With each of the letters, I lower my voice. Afraid to say the words any louder in case it’s a cardinal sin to be attracted to someone while engaged to someone else and I tempt God to throw a bolt of lightning my way. ‘Does that answer your question?’
He sits up, leaning his head on the back of his couch, his eyes on me. ‘Message received, Captain Acronym. Poor Corndog. I bet he never thought a guy with a man-bun would be wooing his girl right now with only my body and honesty.’ He rests his hand on his stomach, grimacing. ‘Ugh. I don’t think this cheeseburger is done with me yet.’
‘You know what you need?’
‘A time machine so I can go back and fix all this?’
All this? I wonder what he’s talking about.
‘I can hunt for Doc Brown if you want, but you need fluids, Advil, and Pepto. Got any?’
‘I got fluids.’ He lifts the water bottle from the table where he set it. ‘The other things I keep at the drugstore three blocks that way and buy as needed.’ He vaguely points behind him towards the street.
‘So, you’re prepared for anything,’ I joke. ‘Is this drugstore open twenty-four hours?’
