Page 104 of He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Later That Night – At Bible Club…

I’m so nervous I almost just dropped my drink as I tried to take it from the bartender. I wipe my sweating hands on my jeans and try again.

‘Thanks,’ I say, feeling like a dumbass as I walk away.

River’s harmless, really, but he’s very protective of Hollyn. I get it. I am too. Surely he’ll see we’re on the same side here.

He walks through the front door, glances at me, holds up a hand, then points to the bar. I lift my chin, acknowledging his arrival and plan.

I’ll just say the words. As soon as he sits down, I’ll blurt it out. Waste no time, beat around no bushes. Just get it out there.

The front door dings open. I glance up, practically falling from my chair when I see Dr John walk in, Penny right behind him. You havegotto be kidding me.

‘Sorry,’ River says, now approaching my table. Once we’re away from anyone else he whispers, ‘Parents saw me driving through town and followed me here.’

‘It’s cool.’ I wave a hand casually.

River cocks his head in confusion. ‘What’s wrong with you?’

‘What? Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.’

I pull my shirt away from my chest a few times, hoping for the air I need to survive this.

‘Somethingbad?’ he asks, sitting across from me knowing full well something’s up. ‘You’re not dying, are ya?’

‘Dying?From what?’ Guilt, probably.

‘I dunno. You find a lump in your stones? Brain tumor? The clap?’

‘What?’ I laugh. ‘No. Can you die from the clap?’

He lifts both shoulders, now sipping his beer. ‘I don’t wanna find out.’

‘OK, we’re way off track here.No, I don’t have the clap or a tumororlumps.’

‘Just say it then.’

‘Well.’ I glance up at John and Penny, both still at the bar. Here goes nothing. ‘I’m in love with Hollyn.’

River glances around the room, bellowing with laughter as if I’ve told him a joke. ‘Did we just go back in time?’

‘Riv. I’m serious. Something happened.’

His face finally sobers, and he stares across the table at me. ‘What do you mean something happened?What?’

‘I told her,’ I say. ‘Last week, I finally told her how I felt. That night you caught us watching TV in your room? It happened then. You almost walked in to find us making out. Then last night… well, we kind of slept together.’

He grunts a laugh. ‘No shit? I helped make that arrangement. Remember?’

I nod. I remember. ‘Nah, River. Like weslepttogether. I’m in love with her.’

For a second, he stares at me. His eyes are locked with mine in a way that makes me feel like I can’t look away. To see River, you’d think he was some Spicoli surfer dude. The love child of Ashton Kutcher and model Christopher Mason. But underneath that mop of blond hair and male model face lives a man fiercely protective of his friends and family.

‘Yousleptwith her?’ he asks, his beer halfway to his lips before he slams it on the table, busting out the bottom, beer flooding our table.

As it pours into my lap, I jump from my stool, but River doesn’t react, just continues to bore a hole through me with his glare.

‘I don’t think I heard ya right,’ he says, standing from his seat, now watching me attempt to clean his mess.

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