Page 148 of Pretty Obsessed

Iris nudged his shoulder into mine. "You okay?"

"Fine," I forced out.

He linked his arm through mine. "Come take a minute with me."

I let him lead me to a back corner and into a bench seat. "What happened to the guy you were with?"

"He'll be there later." He pulled his leg into his chest and turned towards me on the bench. "It's going to be hard."

"I know." I tried to keep emotion out of my voice.

"He doesn't see them. None of them."

"It's not my business." I turned away, but it only put River in my line of sight, so I turned back towards Iris. "We have an agreement."

"I know. But you should listen, he doesn't see them. He's polite to them. He'll talk to fans, but I wish you could see the way he looks at you." Iris' words got my attention.

"What?"

"He doesn't look at them the way he looks at you. Believe me. I've known him a long time and seen him with tons of people who would give anything to be with him. He doesn't see it. He sees you. You’re theonlyone he sees.”

I tried to take his words and feel them but rationalizing when my heart ached wasn't easy. "I don't know how to handle it."

"It's never going to be easy. This doesn't stop. The rumors won't stop. Trust him. He's worth it."

"I know." And I did. River wasn't like anyone I'd ever met. I tucked my knees into my chest, putting my feet on the bench and rested my forehead on them. "I don't know how to walk any of it back."

"You need to figure it out. Both of you do."

"Hey." River put his hand on my shoulder, making me pick my head up. He looked between us. "Why'd you leave?"

"We needed a break," Iris said and offered a smile. "Come sit."

River sat between us, pressing into my shins, turning to Iris. "Why does he look upset?"

"Because that guy was trying to drag you into the bathroom," Iris replied.

Confusion washed over River's face before an 'oh' formed on his lips. He turned towards me, resting his chin on his knees. "I didn't mean to make you feel like that."

"You didn't do anything wrong." I brushed my fingers over his cheek, trying to take in the way he looked at me so I could see what Iris and Octavius saw.

There was so much unsaid in his eyes. "You're what's important. You have my focus."

"I know I do." I trailed my fingers around the back of his neck.

"Is it bad you being jealous makes me super hard?"

I laughed. "No, not bad."

"I like it."

"I'll leave you to your insane chemistry." Iris popped up and darted off into the crowd.

We stayed in the corner. In our own world and I clung to Iris' words. "That was incredible. Thank you for letting me be a part of it."

River glowed, reaching across the table to trace a finger over the lines on my palm. "My pleasure."

"I don't want to leave in the morning."

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