“With River?” Shawn blurted out.
I shot Cass a glare. “I knew you’d tell him.”
“Duh. As soon as we got back to the tent.” He rolled his eyes.
“Focus,” Shawn laughed. “You’re in love with River, Leo? Like, truly in love?”
I took another gulp of beer. “I am. Kai knows now, too. He’s mad that we lied, but he said we can keep seeing each other.”
A wide grin ate up Shawn’s face. He wasn’t taking pleasure in my misfortune or anything like that, I knew.
He just enjoyed seeing my rule about no relationships crumble in my hands.
“I really like River,” he said excitedly. “He’s a total sweetheart, and he chills you out.”
“It’s true,” Cass agreed. “When we went camping last year, you hiked away twice to get a signal and listen to your voicemail.”
“You even laugh more now,” Shawn added, then giggled to himself. “It’s cute.”
I stroked my beard. “You think so?” I didn’t think of myself as a sad person, but I definitely had been riding a nice high since River came around.
“I have no relationship experience,” I said. “I’m nervous that I’m going to find a way to screw this up.”
“Cass was my first real relationship,” Shawn pointed out. “I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I got to know him, and we made it work together. That’s what matters.”
Cass tossed his arm over Shawn’s shoulder and pulled him close. “Every relationship is different, anyway. If you’re ever uncertain what to do, just think about River and how you can support him and his dreams.”
“It’s one of the best parts of having a partner,” Shawn said with a blush on his cheeks. “Someone who believes in your dreams as much as you do.”
I leaned back in the booth and swirled my beer in the glass. I’d been chasing my dreams for years, and with Silver Lining flourishing, I thought those dreams had come true. But with River in my life, I hoped for something different.
It was funny how quickly my life had changed because of him. It had become better in so many ways, and with Shawn and Cass encouraging me, I started to really see the ways I could make his life better, too.
“I think I know what I need to do,” I said with a quick nod. “Do you mind if I take off?”
“Go get him,” Shawn said with a grin.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
River
I stoodon the street outside the Ringhouse Theater, my jaw hanging slack. Leo had asked that I meet him there, and I had hoped that it meant we were finding our way back to each other after Kai forgave us.
But I definitely didn’t expect what I saw. Written on the marquee in big, bold letters, right beneath the announcement of the new release, was Leo’s message.
Today’s matinee: Leo and River’s Big Date
Tickets sold out
I laughed as Leo stepped through the doors. He was wearing the pair of trousers that were my favorite with a pink shirt tucked in and a purple clematis pinned to his chest. He held a small blue-and-white bouquet in his fist as he held the door open.
“Oh, River,” he joked. “I didn’t see you there.”
My smile was so big it hurt my cheeks. I pointed up to the marquee. “What is this?”
He stuck his head out and glanced up. “Oh, that? I guess we have a big date, huh?” He gestured inside. “Better hurry. Don’t want to miss the start.”
When I stepped through the door, he handed me the flowers, then pulled me in for a kiss. The smell of popcorn was in the air, and I felt a little shy that he was devouring me right in the middle of the lobby, but I quickly melted into the pleasure of his touch and stroked my hands down his back.
