Page 157 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

He narrows his eyes at me. “I’m not adorable.”

“Okay.” I smile, and he shakes his head.

Look at us, being friends.

I just wish he wasn’t so damn hot.

“Can we at least wait to go tomorrow?” he asks, straightening. “I want to make sure your head gets enough time to recover. Plus, it’s been less than a day since I made negotiations. And Finn said he has your phone, but he thinks Eli may have put a virus on it, so maybe we should wait to hear about that.”

He’s right. I know he is. But my eagerness to get some answers makes it hard to nod my head in agreement.

He relaxes then gets to his feet. “We should go get something to eat then wait to hear from Finn in my dorm.”

“You’re really persistent about me going to your dorm.”

“I know, but you can’t even get into yours.”

“True.” I wish I could, though, because if I’m going to keep mine and River’s relationship strictly as a friendship, I’ll need space. But he’s right. I can’t get into my dorm right now. And … “I am really hungry.” I stand. “I’m eating at the cafeteria, though, so I can pay for my own food.”

“All right,” he agrees, but it’s clear he’s struggling not to offer to pay.

Goddammit, I wish he was an asshole. It’d make it so much easier to stay away.

I need to be careful, for so many reasons.

Maddison

The cafeteria is weirdly busy for this time of day. River and I draw attention, and even after a few days of this, it still makes me feel a bit twitchy. I end up putting a sandwich and fries on my tray while River gets a chicken sandwich and salad. Then we make our way to an empty table. River sits across from me and immediately takes a huge bite of his sandwich while I shove a handful of fries into my mouth. River is flowing with nervousness, his gaze sweeping across the people sitting at the tables. I’m not quite positive why, though.

“Dude, what’s your deal?” I ask as I rest my arms on the table. “You act like we’re about to get jumped or something.”

His gaze lands on mine. “I don’t think that. I just …” He slumps back in the chair with his arms crossed. “I feel so uneasy about this entire thing, like we’re not out of the clear yet. I’m curious to see how tonight’s meeting goes.”

“How are you feeling about that?” I ask as I dip a fry into a cup of fry sauce.

“I’m fine,” he says, but it’s clear he’s not fine.

I arch a brow. “You’re lying.”

He blows out a breath as he slants forward in the seat. “You’re right. I’m not completely fine. I’m worried about a lot of things; some of which have nothing to do with you, so don’t start blaming yourself.”

How in the heck did he know I was going to do that? “Want to talk about it?”

“Later, okay?” He presses me with a look, and I nod, getting his underlying meaning.

I give him a thumbs-up then shove half my sandwich into my mouth.

River’s brows raise toward his hairline.

“What? I want later to come sooner,” I inform him with a mouthful of food.

I can only imagine how unlady-like I probably seem to him, especially after what River and Finn have both told me about Lily’s upbringing and how she was forced to take manner lessons.

But he chuckles and shakes his head before collecting his own sandwich and stuffing almost all of it into his mouth.

See, look at us, being friends.

Everything is fine for a moment until the security alarm sirens off.

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