Page 6 of A Lesson in Deceit (Mystic Riegan Duet #1)

I shook my head, narrowing my eyes at my boyfriend.

“I would have happily taken the train.” I’d taken the Caltrain plenty of times, seeing as it had stops at all the places I was familiar with.

I had liked using it ever since the first time I’d ridden it with my dad.

I’d even gotten lost on it one time, on purpose, which got me grounded for a week for giving my mom a heart attack.

River rolled his eyes from his place on the floor, happily scratching Beau’s belly.

“That’s a joke, right? It would take over an hour, maybe more to just get to the city alone.

How about you put all that saved up money to use and put a down payment on a car?

Or you know what? Just come live with me. ”

I heard my mom cluck her tongue causing me to let out a long sigh. “Driving is a nightmare here, at least for me and I don’t know…you ever think I might enjoy public transportation?”

In unison they all looked at me and said, “No.”

I was about to protest when I felt arms around me, pulling me into a hug. Grayson’s voice settled near my ear, whispering, “River continues to borrow Asher’s car because he believes that he can do all things with just his motorcycle.”

I wanted to shake my head remembering the story River had told me about how a year or so before we met, he had sold his car in favor of the motorcycle he currently owned.

River in a motorcycle helmet did things to my insides that I’d never felt before, but that didn’t mean I thought the idea was very smart.

His brother’s car was nice whenever he borrowed it, but Asher was the type that wanted it back in pristine condition, which meant that after he picked me up when I’d found Beau, we’d gotten the car vacuumed and thoroughly cleaned.

“I heard that, dickhead,” River scoffed, walking over to us.

I giggled, always feeling this comforting warmth when Grayson Ypulong was around.

I pulled away from him, keeping my hands on his forearms that weren’t as covered in tattoos as River’s, but they were getting there.

His skin had gotten some sun over the summer, so his olive complexion looked more tan than usual.

Unlike River, Grayson’s multitude of tattoos all meant something special to him, especially the ones that had to do with his family, regardless of how and when he got them.

From what I’d witnessed he was close with his parents, and they only ever treated River and I like damn near royalty every time Grayson would drag us out for his family dinners.

“I didn’t know you were coming. River didn’t mention it. ”

Grayson shrugged, running a hand through his dark hair that ended right at his earlobes.

The strands looked so soft and shiny; I had to stop myself from reaching up to touch them myself.

His eyes were almond shaped, turning up slightly at the corners and were the darkest brown I’d ever seen.

“River told me you were moving into the dorms today, and I like to be helpful.” He winked at me.

“Also, you know you’re my favorite if I had to choose between the two of you.

” He reached for my sides, his fingers finding the spots that tickled.

I batted him away, catching my breath from my laughing fit.

My eyes immediately found the one tattoo on his arm that I had been present for.

He’d decided on a random Tuesday night to get his lola’s name tattooed in loopy cursive on his bicep.

That was the same night I discovered lola means grandma in Tagalog.

Every so often, he would throw words I didn’t know into sentences, so he could give me a tiny language lesson. It was kind of our thing.

“Can you get the bags?” River delegated, pointing to my luggage.

Grayson winked at me again, pulling out his keys and pressing a button to open up the trunk to the SUV.

He pocketed his keys and pointed his fingers at the luggage.

Black shadows escaped his fingertips, whipping around and wrapping around my bags.

The tendrils lifted and hauled them towards the closed front door.

Grayson pointed his other hand at the door, letting more black ropes release themselves so that they could turn the doorknob.

We all watched as his shadows worked, effortlessly placing my bags into the trunk. Beau waited patiently by the door, keeping an eye on the black wisps that slammed the trunk closed and then disappeared as if they were never there.

“Show off,” River muttered, playfully slamming his shoulder into Grayson’s. I heard my mom chuckle from where she stood off to the side.

“You ready? We leave now and we should be able to make it there to get you settled in and off to the orientation assembly.” Grayson explained, hooking his thumb over his shoulder.

“Orientation assembly?” I asked, wrinkling my nose.

Both boys nodded. Grayson waved me off. “You’ll see when you get there.”

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 of men 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’s my parents’ 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 was never 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.