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“Bye, River.” I spin on my heel, getting all of two steps away before he calls after me.

“Actually, do you mind if I walk with you? The hotel is in the same direction and I’m going to need to change if we’re going to be outside all day.” He gestures to his jeans. “It’s way too warm for pants.”

“Um.” I glance back at Lyric and then at River. “I guess.” I shrug indifferently.

“I’ll catch up with you guys in a bit,” he tells his family before jogging up next to me.

“What the hell are you doing?” I wait until we’re out of earshot to ask.

“Walking you to your dorm.”

“You don’t think it’s a little suspicious?”

“No. Why would it be?”

I turn my face to look up at him.

“Seriously?” I can’t tell if he’s messing with me or not.

“It’s clear my sister is oblivious. Today proved that. Besides, I’m a nice guy and walking a pretty girl back to her dorm room when I’m headed in that direction anyway is what nice guys do.”

“Do nice guys also come inside pretty girls’ dorm rooms?” I fight the smile that twitches at the corner of my mouth.

“If said pretty girl invites him inside.” His eyes darken as he looks down at me.

“Something I’ll have to keep in mind.” My mouth widens into a full-blown smile.

“Be sure you do that, Red.” River smiles back, revealing a mouthful of perfect white teeth.

Gahhh. Why does he have to be so damn good-looking?

This would all be so much easier if he weren’t. Maybe then I could resist him. Maybe then I wouldn’t be lying to my best friend. Maybe then I wouldn’t wake up to a ten-ton boulder sitting on my chest every morning. Maybe then I couldbreathe...

We make the rest of the ten-minute walk back to campus in silence. A billion things climb up my throat, but not a single word slips past my tongue. I’m honestly not sure what to say.

I want to ask him about what Lyric said, about him ending relationships before they get too real. I want to know if there’s truth to that. I want to know that if I get too close, if I’ll be one of them. Then again, don’t I already know the answer to that? Didn’t he already do that to me? Months of talking and then when things started to feel real, he ghosted me. And then, only after I told him all I wanted from him was sex, did he let me back in.

An uneasy feeling knots its way into my chest, squeezing so hard I swear I see stars.

I was so sure that’s all I wanted at the time. An itch I needed to scratch. A thirst I needed to quench. Only now, I’m not so sure that’s still true. Hell, I’m not sure it was ever true to begin with. I think I just wanted him so badly, I didn’t care.

I shake off the thought, refusing to entertain the idea.

It isn’t until we reach my building that I finally speak, slowing to a stop as we approach the entryway.

“Well, this is me.”

“It is.” He rocks back on his heels, hands shoved into his pockets.

Do not invite him up.

Do not do it, Char.

Bad idea.

What if Maisie comes home...

Unfortunately, my mouth doesn’t seem to agree with my brain. How could it with those damn hunter-green eyes boring into me like they want to devour me from the inside out.