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I close my eyes, remembering the feel of River’s kiss. The way he would always scratch his teeth gently against my lower lip. The sounds he would make when he was close to falling apart...

My eyes dart open and I suck in a ragged breath.

How could I not see how hard I had fallen for him until he was letting me walk away? How could I not appreciate what I had and do everything to hold on to it? How could I just let him go so easily?

The thought that I might never feel his touch again. Might never hear his laugh or the deep gruff of his voice when he first wakes up. Feel his smile against my skin as he nuzzles his face into my neck. Hear him say my name...Red.

I have to fight the urge to fold in on myself.

“You good?” Maisie slides up next to me, slipping an arm over my shoulder.

“I will be.” I force a smile, allowing her to guide me from the room.

The rest of the night goes by in a blur. One minute, I’m dancing in a crowded room being handed shots from what feels like every direction. The next, I’m outside, Lyric’s arm tucked into my right, Maisie’s into my left, as the three of us follow Kai and Jackson to his car.

“Did you have fun tonight?” Lyric asks, nudging my hip with hers, nearly knocking herself over in the process.

“I did.” I try to force my words to come out even, but there’s an undeniable slur to them just the same. “But I think I might be a little drunk.”

“You think?” Maisie snorts out a laugh.

“Are you drunk?” I ask no one in particular.

“Wasted.” Lyric grins, the action splitting her face in two.

“Very,” Maisie agrees.

“I need you girls to promise me something...” Lyric licks her lips like they’re too dry to continue until she does so. “Promiseme that we won’t ever let anything come between us.” When she says this, her eyes come to me.

“Promise.” Maisie hiccups.

“I promise,” I say, all traces of humor leaving my body in an instant. “I’m sorry about River.” Emotion tickles the back of my throat.

“We aren’t doing that.” She shakes her head, matter-of-fact. “I know why you lied. And I also know it wasn’t to hurt me.”

“I never want to hurt you.”

“I know.” She gives me a soft smile.

“I love him,” I blurt abruptly.

“I know,” she repeats a second time.

“But the real question is...” Maisie interrupts. “What are you going to do about it?”

“What can I do about it?”

“You can tell him point blank how you feel.” She suggests. “Lay it all on the line. If he rejects you, then you’ll know for certain. But if he doesn’t...” She raises her eyebrows suggestively.

“He already knows how I feel.”

“Does he?” Lyric’s forehead crinkles in question. “I mean, he overheard you tell me that you were in love with him, but that doesn’t mean he fully grasps the enormity of your feelings for him.”

“He knows,” I state flatly. “And as you can all see, he’s done nothing about it.”

“Give him time.” Lyric pats my arm sympathetically. “If I know my brother, he’ll realize his mistake eventually. Might take him a while...Men,” she grumbles, earning herself a scowl from Jackson before a knowing smirk slides across his lips.

“In the meantime”—Jackson turns, walking backward, his eyes fixed on me—“if you need a rebound or someone to makehim jealous, I’m happy to volunteer.” He holds his arms out at his sides as if to sayI’m all yours.