Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
I’m not sure seeing a film starring River Wolfe was all that great an idea in my current state of mind. I was, until an hour ago when this movie first started, prepared entirely to sever ties with him, friend-zone myself for good, and apologize for complicating his stay here in Dreamwood. I would let my sister help him, keep out of their way, and tend to the task of apparently preventing my own family’s financial demise—for which I’ve allegedly donated my lips, which warrants an entirely different conversation I will be having with my sister very, very soon.
But now as I sit here, fully engaged in a story centered around a person who is not River Wolfe yet looks exactly like him, I can’t help what my heart’s doing as it tugs for him in every single scene. I can’t help remembering how he touched me so tenderly and caringly on the couch in that bungalow. How he tended to my pain. How he listened as I poured my heart out. How he looked into my eyes when we sat together in the shaded and secluded Cottonwood Cove, feeling like we were the only people on the whole island.
How he’s been to me while living with him upstairs.
How he checks up on me. How he smiles …
I can’t deny the way he makes me feel any more than I can deny what seeing him on the TV does for my soul.
Letting go of River won’t be as easy as I expected.
Suddenly the screen freezes, and we’re made aware of Heather holding the remote. “So sorry,” she says, “but if I don’t go and take a piss right now …”
“Me, too,” admits Dad with a lighthearted laugh, and the two of them hop off the couch and hurry away.
Brooke and I meet each other’s eyes.
Then we quickly scoot together and pour it all out. “I did not know this was the movie they’d pick—” she hisses.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. What the heck was that about me being your kissing booth prince? I said Chase would do it!”
“I’m so, so sorry, I panicked,” she whimpers, wincing. “Heather showed up out of the blue. I had to rush my ass downstairs. Then Dad came home, and I was trying to keep them both away from upstairs, but you know when the two of them get together, they—”
“—work each other up, yeah,” I finish for her. “So they didn’t see River …?”
“Of course not! But I had to cover up what I was really doing, and the very first thing I thought of was the kissing booth. You know how genius strikes me under pressure—”
“Genius?? You could’ve just said Chase instead of—!”
“It’s too late! They’re obsessed with the idea.”
“Now I’m headlining your mononucleosis booth—”
“I said I’m sorry!”
“—and everything else is messed up.” I let out a heavy sigh. “I hope it didn’t spook River too much.”
“Well … actually …”
I turn to her. “What?”
She peers over the back of the couch, as if sensing Dad or Heather returning, then lowers her voice. “I don’t know when it happened, but … he snuck out.”
“He snuck out??”
“Returned to the bungalow. I guess he figured it’s safe again. He left a message on our guest line. It was in code. He requested takeout from Easy Squeezy. He meant Easy Breezy, obviously, but they don’t do takeout, so I figured he meant he … wanted to see you.” She comes even closer and lowers her voice to a near whisper. “Just between us. Please tell me the truth. I’ve been watching you guys over this past week. Tell me … is there something serious going on between you guys? Like, a real, actual thing-thing?”
Dear sister, please allow me to introduce you to the question of the day.
But before I can answer, Heather returns, and while we wait patiently on Dad, my sisters start exchanging opinions of the movie so far while I sulk on the couch drowning in my troubled thoughts.
On the TV screen ahead of me is a frozen screenshot of River’s face looking just as uneasy as I feel, bangs wet and dangling, eyes full of tension, and lips parted and plush.
I wonder if I can even honor Brooke’s lie of agreeing to be her Prince of Dreamwood Isle. If I can even stomach kissing anyone else. If my one condition for headlining the booth is if it’s only River Wolfe waiting in that line, only River that I kiss, ten times, a hundred, again and again, and no one else at all.
Chapter 15 - River
I take my coffee to the back porch, early morning.
In plain view of the Hopewell house by the water.
I flick the back porch light on, illuminating me.
I’m doing this on purpose. I imagine Finn’s taking his coffee at that kitchen window in his house like he always does, the one with a perfect view of this very porch. The light is on right now. It is more than possible he’s standing right there, watching me as I watch him. I want to imagine him wondering about the message I sent, debating if he should take the bait and visit me.