“Bye, Mr. A. Bye, River.”
The two of them meandered out of sight. Jem watched them go, resigned, then turned to face the music.
River cleared his throat, hands in his pockets, and gazed up at the ceiling with interest, rocking on his heels. “So. Kindergarten teacher?”
So much for intrigue. “Yep.”
“Fuck, no wonder Eric and Ward were laughing so hard. Amanda literally got me an overqualified babysitter.”
Jem fought the urge to toe the carpet. “Sorry they spoiled the game.”
“Nah.” River looped his arm through Jem’s. “Just gave me a leg up in one category. I still have to guess where you grew up and how you punched your V-card and your favorite drink, remember? Plenty of mystique left to explore.”
“Maybe we should explore it somewhere else,” Jem suggested, “before any more five-year-olds crash our date.”
River steered him toward the checkout. “I know just the place.”
Chapter Seven
Accidentally in Love
After payingfor their purchases, including Jem’s Taylor Swift album, which he predictably protested by saying he didn’t have a record player and then equally predictably shut up about when River gave him the choice of listening to it in River’s music room or letting River buy him a turntable, and arranging for the store to deliver everything so the vinyl wouldn’t warp in the car, River took them down to the pier and bought them ice cream.
“You don’t think it’s too cold for this?”
River shook his head. “I’m from Arizona. If I waited untilIthought it was hot to eat ice cream, I’d never get to.”
“That’s fair.”
They walked the boardwalk with the wind flicking sand at their legs, until they found a picnic table somewhat sheltered from the breeze. River sat on the top of it, feet on the bench even though he knew it was bad manners, and was surprised andsatisfied when Jem sat next to him. “Look at you, setting a bad example.”
Jem was licking at a melting drop of vanilla sliding down the side of his cone, so it took him a moment to respond. “During the schoolweek, I get paid to set a good example. Kinda figure it’s the opposite on weekends.”
River swallowed around a bite of chocolate. “Got me there.” He tore his gaze away from Jem and focused on the water. After a childhood in a desert state, the ocean captivated him. He loved the sound of it, the power. As much as he missed the clear, open, endless sky of Arizona, he’d find it hard to give up this view.
And he didn’t actually mean his present company.
“Any other naughty behaviors you want to indulge in? Get them out of your system?”
“Why?” Jem asked, smile audible in his voice. “You think I should get a tattoo?”
“Only if I get to pick it.” Honestly, he shouldn’t tempt River like that.
Jem laughed. “Pass.”
The conversation lulled. Normally River would’ve hated that. He practically had an honorary degree in filling silences. But though he made his money by making noise, part of making good noise was knowing when to let the silence shine through. He focused on the salty breeze and the smooth, rich taste of chocolate ice cream, and let himself enjoy it.
And then Jem made the bitchiest-sounding scoff River had ever heard and said, “Oh my God.”
Immediately River looked over so he could follow Jem’s gaze to a couple walking down the boardwalk.
At first he thought Jem might’ve been commenting on the woman. River didn’t have to be attracted to the female form tosee she was a knockout in that MILF-next-door way. Midthirties, probably, blond hair up in a ponytail, sunglasses, powder-blue ballet flats with daisies on the toes, perfectly fitted jeans, slouchy shoulder bag, lacy white top.
But there was no reason for Jem to sound so derisive looking ather, even if commenting on a woman’s appearance weren’t egregiously out of character for him, so River shifted his attention to the guy she was with.
“What is hedoing,” Jem muttered, horror coloring his words. “Does the man not own a mirror?”
River took a bite of his cone. “Signs point to no.”
