Page 9 of A Lesson in Deceit
River turned and pulled my mom in for another hug, giving her shoulder a squeeze when he let her go. “She’ll be in good hands, Mrs. Monroe.” He looked over his shoulder at me and smirked.
“I’m still convinced she’s getting out of here just to play house with you.” My mom’s tone was full of humor. I knew it was a way for her to try to calm herself so that she didn’t completely combust after I was gone. I planned to come back to see her, whether it be River driving me, train, or rideshare.
My boyfriend scoffed. The amount of times he’d proposed I live with him was astronomical. He nodded his head towards my mom, the silver studs in his ear glinting in the sunlight that came through the window. “Tell your mom goodbye like a good girl and let’s hit the road.” He raised his eyebrows and smiled at me while I stared at him with my mouth open. Grayson cackled loudly, following him outside.
I sighed, both me and my mom taking equal steps towards each other until we were fully embraced.
“Call me when you get there, please? And call me when you get settled in your dorm. Also, please call me when you are going to bed, I want to know how your day went.” Her voice had a faux calm that was familiar, since I tended to do it as well. She rubbed my back in soothing circles as if she knew there was something else on my mind but refrained from asking.
“I will, Mom. I promise. We can Facetime and you can let Beau in on the call.” I heard a bark and the sound of a vivacious tail.
She leaned back, kissing my forehead. Her hands smoothed over my braids, her face scrunching up a bit. She was trying not to cry, and fuck if she didn’t make my own eyes well with tears. I whispered, “I’ll call you the minute the school comes into view, okay?”
“Okay. I love you, always and always.” She kissed my forehead again and lightly pushed me towards the door.
I fingered the gem around my neck, swiping a finger under my eye to remove the tear I could feel wanting to fall further towards my cheek. “I love you too. Always and always.”
River and Grayson leaned up against the SUV, patiently waiting. River tilted his head down to catch my eye. “All good?” His voice was soft and understanding.
I sniffed, nodding. “All good.”
He gave me a small smile, tilting his head further down so our foreheads were touching. He kissed me quickly, reaching up and rubbing his thumb over my bottom lip and then kissing me again.
“You guys are disgustingly hot. I could stand and watch you for hours, but can we get a move on. Hustle, hustle.” Grayson joked, clapping his hands in rapid succession.
River grabbed his friend’s head and mussed up his hair, tugging on a few strands to pull his head up. He pressed his lips to Grayson’s cheek in a chaste kiss. “Fuck off, but let’s go. I’m driving though.” They had always had this very touchy, close-knit relationship that I never questioned because River always had a way of making anything and everything seem like the most casual thing in the world. I had always wondered if they’d ever been together at some point, but it wasn’t my business, so I kept that thought to myself. I knew River didn’t care about the idea ofmen or women, but Grayson just seemed like his type, although Grayson could be everyone’s type if I was honest.
Grayson paused as he was rounding the front of the car to the driver’s side. “It’smyparents’ car.”
River shrugged, giving me a once over that was dedicated for when we were alone and he was prepared to make me sore for a few days. He looked back at Grayson. “Yeah…unless you want me fingering her in the backseat, I think I better drive so my mind can focus on something else besides wanting to taste her p?—”
“River!” I shouted, moving towards the back door.
Grayson casually dropped the keys in his hand. “Solid reasoning. I accept, but I’m not sitting in the back because you drive like you’re on a motorcycle and not a four-wheel drive.” He jogged over to the other side of the car, stopping when he saw my face. “What?”
“He…I…ugh, I don’t understand you guys. Like me, you should be fucking mortified.”
He let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “Nah, I mean he makes a valid point. You have seen yourself, right?” He narrowed his eyes at me as if I was insane for not leaning into being desirable to my boyfriend…or to anyone.
I closed the door behind me, securing my seatbelt. River turned the car on, his green eyes finding mine in the rearview mirror. “Sometimes I really wish I hadn’t promised not to read your mind.”
I gave him a confused look while he put the car in drive, hitting the gas. “Are you planning on elaborating?"
He shrugged, turning right. “Mmm, no. You’ll elaborate to me whenever you’re ready, gorgeous.”
I tried to keep my composure while I’d set myself up to transfer schools. I really thought I’d played it cool. River wasnever one to assume, but I guess with me, he had to go on assumptions and inferences alone.
Grayson turned to look at me from over his seat. “You ready for Mystic Riegan,trouble?”
“Trouble?” I raised an eyebrow at the nickname.
He snickered, eyeing me suspiciously. “My shadows know trouble when they see it. Deny it all you like, but I think trouble is exactly what you’re planning.
3
Riley
River pulled into a parking space and cut off the gas, leaning back in his seat. He never did well with traffic, so this drive had gotten on his nerves more than usual. I looked out my window to see a long row of cars parked next to us, groups of people hauling items out of their trunks. I’d spent the last twenty minutes on the phone with my mom and I couldn’t deny that I missed her already. I took a peek out of the front window, taking in as much of the university as I could.
