Riverand I remain relatively quiet while we run. The gym is not too packed, but the people there constantly glance at us, and it ruins my run. By the time I’m finished, I’m more than ready to go to my room and shower.
“But what if there are cameras?” River asks as we exit the gym.
I wipe some sweat from my brow. “I’ll ransack my room, and cover all of my bases.” When his lips part in what is more than likely a protest, I add, “I can’t just stay in your room. I need to be able to go into mine.”
His throat muscles work as he swallows down the protest. “All right, but if you need anything?—”
“I text you if something goes wrong.” I offer him a forced smile then start toward my room, which is in the opposite direction of his.
I move quickly, needing some space so I can clear my head. It’s not that I don’t like being around him—I do a ton—but seeing the paparazzi was like a bitch-slap reminder across the face of what I’m getting myself into with this fake dating plan of ours. I don’t believe I’m from royal blood, but I am worried about River’s world. I could barely walk through the lobby of hisbuilding in the city. How am I supposed to deal with being in newspapers and enduring this constant attention merely from walking around with him.
What I need to do is figure out why in the hell this society wants to come after me. I may not understand societies, but corruption and being targeted by male assholes is definitely something I’ve had to do on multiple occasions.
I decide to take some action when I get back to my dorm room. But I take a shower first because I freaking stink. Once I’m clean and dressed in a pair of baggy jeans and a T-shirt, I slip on my shoes and head out to see if Lily is home. I luck out and find her in the kitchen, rummaging around in the cupboards. She looks like she just returned from class, sporting comfortable but stylish pants and a colored shirt.
“Where the heck did the movers put the forks?” she mumbles while closing a drawer.
“Hey,” I greet her as I enter the living room quarters.
She jolts, her gaze snapping to me. But the instant she spots me, I know she’s learned about River and me.
“Oh my God, I’m so glad you’re here because I heard a rumor that I want to confirm before I start getting too excited.” She practically skips over to me, and I have to wonder if this isn’t her getting excited, then what the heck is?
“I already know what you’re going to say.” I sit down on the sofa. “So, to answer your question, River and I are dating. But it’s not anything serious.”
The high-pitched squeal that leaves her mouth is enough to make me about piss my pants. Fortunately, I don’t have to pee.
“Oh my God, I knew it!” she exclaims as she dramatically plops down onto the sofa beside me.
“How the heck did you know?”Especially since we’re fake dating.
Sure, we kind of hooked-up last night, but if the society hadn’t become a problem, we wouldn’t be dating.
I think …
“I could just sense it.” She reclines back on the sofa. “River has never spent this much time with a girl before, so I knew he liked you.”
“And how did you know I liked him?” I question
“I don’t know. You just seem like the kind of person who would be good with him, and since you’ve spent so much time with him, I assumed you’d fall for him eventually.” She smiles as she adds, “River is the nicest guy when he lets his walls down. I’ve seen him around you, and I can tell he’s been doing that with you.” She flips her hair off her shoulder. “Plus, I have a sixth sense about these things.”
“About people liking each other?”
“About people being soulmates.”
I have to bite back a laugh. “Lily, we’re just casually dating.”
“For now.” She gives me this knowing smile that makes me slightly uncomfortable because, for a crazy moment, it feels like she can see something I’m not aware of yet.
I can’t fall for River. Hooking up with him was already crossing a line. We need to keep this fake dating under control and only put on a show when we have to because the last thing I need is to be plastered around in articles as River’s side piece for northside.
Speaking of articles …
“Totally off the subject,” I say, “but can I have Wren’s number? There’s something I need to ask her.”
“Sure.” She stuffs her hand into her pants pocket to retrieve her phone.
She tells me Wren’s number, and I punch it into my phone then call her.
