I’m literally about to kiss him so he can get this need out of him. I’ll take one for the team if it means we can get past this mouth-staring obsession he has.
Yeah, Maddy, because the only reason you’ll kiss him is for him. It’s not like you’re currently thinking about kissing him, too.
“I’ll let you get changed, and I’ll go change in Finn’s room,” he conclusively mumbles, tearing his focus off my mouth. Then he grabs some pajamas from the dresser before exiting the room and closing the door behind him.
I release a breath I didn’t even realize I had trapped inside my chest. Then I unzip my bag and grab my pajama shorts and T-shirt. My phone is shoved in my bag, too. I’ve had it silenced since I left with River, mostly to avoid my mother texting me and the unknown caller that I’m certain is Drew.
I consider checking the messages, but I don’t want to deal with that tonight, not when a secret society is coming for me. So, I leave my phone in the bag and grab the locket. I smooth my finger over it as I think about what River told me tonight. It’d beso much easier to get answers about it if my aunt hadn’t totally disconnected from the world.
I hurriedly get changed then brush my teeth and return to the living room. River is already there, sitting on the sofa, and he has the remote pointed at a massive flat-screen mounted to the wall.
When I enter, his gaze travels to me and scrolls up and down my body. My shorts are pretty short, but my T-shirt is baggy. My tattoos are on full display, and his gaze momentarily lingers on the intricate ink.
“What sort of show are you in the mood for?” He attempts to act all casual, like he wasn’t just openly checking me out.
I sit down onto the sofa close to him but not touching. “I don’t know. I’ve never really watched a lot of TV or movies, so I don’t even know what’s good or what’s on.” When he gapes at me, I shrug with my hands tucked under my legs. “We never had the money for movies or subscription services.”
His wheels are turning—I can tell—as if he’s grasping to understand this concept.
“So, what’re your suggestions?” I recline back in the chair and put my feet up on the coffee table.
“Hmm …” He contemplates this, and then his eyes light up. “I have an idea.” He starts pushing buttons as he scrolls through options on the television. “Lily and Wren are always talking about this movie.” He selects the titleMean Girls.
“Looks like a chick flick.”
“So?”
I secretly smile to myself. He’s so damn cute. If only I could enjoy his cuteness without all this crazy, scary shit going on.
“Hey, River?” I ask, and he glances at me. “Why did you act weird when we were in my room? Like maybe someone could hear us talking?”
He stretches his arm along the back of the sofa, his hand grazing the back of my head. “I’m not positive, and I couldbe overacting, but the thought crossed my mind that perhaps someone planted a camera in your room.”
My back goes ramrod straight. “What?”
He scoots closer to me. “Like I said, I have no proof, but the society is capable of a lot of things.”
“What if they did? How the hell am I supposed to feel safe in my room again?”
He reduces the space between us even more. “Finn will give us answers. I promise. Now, let’s watch the movie, okay? It’ll help you take your mind off of this.”
I nod but know it’ll probably take more than a movie to help me take my mind off of this.
No, the only thing that’ll help is for me to get some damn answers.
CHAPTER 12
RIVER
I can’t stop sneakingglances at Maddy as we watch the movie. Every so often, she laughs, and it’s so damn beautiful to watch. Her dark hair is falling in waves down her shoulders, she has no makeup on, she smells like mint and sugar, and don’t even get me started on her legs that are fully visible in those short shorts. I want to trace the lines of her tattoos that carve across her legs and neck. I want to slip the hem of her T-shirt up and see how far those lines go up her side.
I want to fucking kiss her so damn badly.
I’m so fucked. It’s that simple.
I can’t fall for her, and yet I can feel myself standing on the edge of a cliff, about to tumble off. And part of me wants to fall until I crash.
We make it through the movie, and Finn still isn’t there, so I pick another. Maddy is half out of it at this point, and about five minutes later, she dozes off, her head ending up on my shoulder.
