Page 24

Confirming it’s the correct floor, I step out into the hallway, taking in the dark-colored tile that perfectly complements the light-colored walls and greenery that decorates the space between apartments. The building is even nicer on the inside than it is on the outside.

Stepping to the right, I follow the hall to the very end where I find the door that has 6A attached to the exterior.

Lifting my hand to knock, I don’t even touch the wood before it swings open, leaving me standing with my hand awkwardly in the air. I drop it the instant River’s face comes into view.

I didn’t think it was possible for River to get better looking, but as he stands in front of me in a plain white shirt and gray lounge pants, so casual and at ease I could die, I’m struck by how beautiful he is all over again.

“Hey.” He opens the door wider, stepping back enough to give me room to enter. “I wasn’t sure you would show,” he says as I step past him into the apartment.

“Neither was I,” I admit, looking around at the sparsely decorated, yet very tidy, space.

It’s an open floor plan, each room bleeding into the other, with very little in the way of separation. Gray wood floors. Cream-colored walls. A large wraparound couch in the center of the living room. A television mounted to the wall in front of it.

It may not have much in the way of decorations, but with windows lining the far wall, you don’t really need many. As I suspected, you can see the water from up here and the view is spectacular, even from where I stand by the entrance. We’re at least as far from the beach as Lyric’s parents’ house, but because there is very little around to obstruct the view, it feels much closer. I take a moment to study it before finally turning toward River when I hear the obvious sound of the door closing behind me.

“Nice view.” I gesture to the windows, feeling a little embarrassed that that’s the best I could come up with.

“Yeah, it’s one of the reasons I picked this place.” He grins, seeming completely at ease, while I’m over here feeling like I might bounce out of my own skin. “You thirsty? Hungry? Anything I can get you?”

“I’m good.” I shake my head, slipping off my shoes by the door, a cardinal rule in my parents’ home. “Why aren’t you at work?” I ask, knowing he should be given that it’s only three in the afternoon. “Isn’t there some emergency that has you working all day every day?”

“There was,” he confirms. “We have locked down the breach and assessed the damage, as well as put additional action into place to prevent it from happening again.” He tries to dumb it down in a way that I will understand, and I appreciate it because I know next to nothing about cybersecurity or what all it entails. “Given the number of hours I’ve been working, they let me off early and gave me the entire weekend off.”

“Lucky you.” I knot my hands in front of me.

“How was the rest of your visit with my sister?” he asks, heading into the kitchen.

“It was good.” I try so hard to keep my voice neutral that it ends up coming out strained. “We spent a lot of time on the beach.”

“Not surprising.” He grabs two bottles of water from the stainless steel fridge before heading back toward me. “My sister loves the beach.” He extends me a water even though I said I didn’t want anything.

“Thanks.” I unclasp my hands to accept the bottle.

After twisting off the cap, I take a long pull, for no other reason than to give myself something to do.

It’s so strange to be able to talk so openly with someone, to share some of your darkest fears and deepest desires over the phone, only to have no idea what to say to them when they’re standing right in front of you.

Imagine meeting someone online. Someone you immediately connect with. Someone who just seems to get you. Imagine spending months getting to know that person. Sharing almost everything with them. And then imagine standing in front of them for the first time. Then you might be able to understand just a smidge of where I’m coming from.

And, while no, this isn’t the first time we’re meeting in person, it might as well be because it’s the very first time we’ve ever been truly alone, and this knowledge terrifies me as much as it excites me.

“How many bedrooms do you have here?” I ask, again just trying to ease my own tension with easy conversation.

“Two.” He sips his own water, his eyes locked on me as he does.

River is the definition of gorgeous. Forest green eyes. Blond hair. A short, well-kept beard that’s easily three shades darker than the hair on his head, accenting a face that might as wellhave been etched from stone; he’s so perfect. Far more perfect than any human has the right to be. It’s unfair really.

Add on the fact that he’s tall, standing at least five inches taller than my five-eight stature, with broad shoulders, thick muscles visible through the thin fabric of his T-shirt, and a smirk that can dismantle every single one of my defenses in an instant, and I think it’s safe to say he’s pretty irresistible.

“Why am I here, River?” I finally ask, unable to take the silence a second longer.

“I don’t know,” he admits, twisting the cap back onto his water bottle before lowering it onto the end stand that sits next to the couch.

“You don’t know?” I arch a brow, my breath catching in my throat when he steps closer, takingmywater bottle and setting it next to his.

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.” He steps closer.

“Was that before or after I told you all I wanted was to fuck you?” I try to fake a confidence that I don’t actually feel.