Page 45 of With You

Zena is going to the same auction next week

And somehow the girls have come to the conclusion that we’re dating

River

Are they wrong?

Amelie

Now is not the time to argue semantics

River

But that’s one of my favourite things to do with you :(

Amelie

You’re ridiculous

I’m just warning you in case Damien gives you the same inquisition that I just got

River

I don’t think Damien cares all that much about my love life, but thanks for the heads up

Love life.

Two words shouldn’t fluster me so much but they do, and I put my phone away so I can’t see what else he might say. It’s just a common phrase, but it feels like a lot more coming from him. I know River wants more out of whatever relationship is budding between us, but I’ve made it clear I can’t give myself full to him like that yet. However, it’s getting a lot harder to silence the voice in my head that wants to do exactly that.

As to be expected, the Hall Napoléon is decorated beautifully for the event. Under the Pyramid, the space has been transformed from a museum entrance to an extravagant space. Tables and chairs are covered in swathes of white fabric, perfectly complimenting the white concrete and beige stone. The light of the setting sun and the buildings around us illuminate the space in shades of yellow and orange, and I’m already anticipating how much prettier it will look once the sky turns darker.

River and I are shown to our table, and I thought I’d have some time to settle myself before meeting his parents, but they’re already there. His mother is even more beautiful in person, long dark waves cascade over her shoulder, emphasising the asymmetrical cut of her black dress. She stands when she sees us approaching, walking to meet us halfway before she pulls River into a hug and kisses his cheek.

“You get more handsome every time I see you,” she says, voice soft but there’s a hidden power beneath it.

He does look handsome. His suit is perfectly tailored to fit him, the sharp lines emphasising his athletic body. It’s a black-tie event and though I’ve seen River dressed up many times before, there’s something different about it tonight.

“You must be Amelie.” His mother directs her attention to me once letting go of him.

She wraps her arms around me as if it’s not the first time we’ve ever met, and kisses me on both cheeks. It’s comforting, in a strange way, to be held by this woman who seems to know a lot more about me than I do her.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs Campbell.”

“Oh, please. I’m not that old yet. Call me Winter.” She takes hold of my hand and leads me to the table, gesturing for me to take the seat next to hers.

I glance at River to see if he’s following after me, but he’s still in the middle of the hall, one hand in his pocket as he runs the other through his hair, while talking to his father. The conversation seems tense, River’s fingers tightening around strands before he drops his hand and nods, agreeing to whatever the two are talking about.

Winter doesn’t give me a chance to breathe; she bombards me with questions, and while I can give her enough attention to answer them as politely as possible, most of it is focused on River. His seat next to mine remains empty as multiple men come over to greet him and his father, standing off to the side.

River has a polite smile plastered on his face but it’s so different from the one I’ve gotten to know over the past few months. There’s no warmth in it, and his every action looks robotic as he pretends to laugh at whatever boring jokes his father’s acquaintances make.

As if he can feel me staring, his eyes dart to mine for a split second, and then he does smile for real, his gaze lighting up. He takes his hand out of his pocket and fans his fingers toward me in a small wave that’s undetectable to the men standing around him, and wholly for me.

Winter turns her attention to the men too, and lets out a heavy sigh.

“I think he needs saving,” she hints to me, with a small grin.

I’m not sure what River has told her about our relationship, but she might be getting her own ideas already.