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 stop at the front podium to tell him where exactly he can shove the shattered remains of his so-called heart.
But then I see someone at the door.
Eyes I know by heart. Unmistakable runway model cheekbones. Leather jacket. Hat and shades hanging from his grip, just taken off.
“R-River,” I choke out.
He’s windswept and flushed from the heat, his eyes on me from across the dim, narrow lobby of the nightclub.
I have no idea how he found me—and only a handful of seconds to wonder before Theo is at my side, his eyes upon River. “Oh, wow,” he breathes, completely caught by surprise. Maybe a bit star struck, too. Theo was the more enthusiastic movie-watcher between us, after all.
River reads the tension in the room like a script. “Am I interrupting you two?” Theo says, “Yep,” at the same time I say, “Nope.” River frowns. “Glad to clear that up.” Then he crosses the room and stops in front of me. “You okay?”
“Are you?” I bring my hands to his arms, which seems to surprise him. “It’s totally fucking nuts out there. How did you even get here?”
He studies my hands for a second, as if grateful they’re there. “Snuck outta the bungalow—yep, it’s surrounded by news crews, as is your house—and after a call from Brooke who got a call from some other dude—Skippy, I think?—I was told where you might be and came as fast as I could.”
“What is it with this jacket, hat, and shades outfit?” I ask in disbelief. “Who are you? Clark Kent? Seriously, no one recognized you?”
“I feel terrible.” He gently strokes the bangs off of my forehead. “This is my fault. I brought this down on you and your family. I—”
“Don’t go taking all the blame just yet,” I tell him, then twist my sharpened eyes onto Theo behind us, standing at the doorway to the club picking at his fingernails.
Rage fills River’s eyes. “You did this?” I feel his arms tightening beneath my grip. “You fucking did this, Theo?”
I blink. “You knew who this was?”
“Saw the framed pictures in your house. One in the den downstairs, the other in the game room,” he growls.
I blink. I suppose that’s thanks to Heather, the real one who never let go of my ex.
Theo gasps. “Y-You know who I am? By … name?”
I turn to shoot Theo a look. He sounds more honored River knows his name than he is concerned about being the second jaw River’s fist might meet this month—not that anyone’s counting except maybe the tabloids.
I quickly put a hand to River’s chest. “Not Theo. The guy he’s seeing. He’s been stalking me.”
River’s eyebrows twitch. He eyes Theo. “Really?”
“Not seeing anymore,” Theo quickly corrects me. “He is gone. Broke up with him the second I saw the article.”
River looks like he’s literally chewing on his words, a storm cloud raging over his eyes. Then at once it dissipates, and he lowers his gaze. “I shouldn’t be one to point fingers. This wouldn’t be happening at all if it weren’t for me …”
“Not that again,” I groan, turning back to him.
“I’m always as careful as I need to be in my line of work. But with you, I lost myself.” River grips me by both of my shoulders and gently brings his forehead to mine. “I am so sorry this is happening, and if I have to spend every last cent to my name to fix this for you and your family …”
“Please don’t do that,” cuts in Theo, rushing forward—but not too close, likely in fear of River changing his mind about socking him. “I want to help.”
“You can’t help,” I throw back at Theo.
“If it wasn’t for me clinging to my heartache, driving the guy I was seeing bonkers, your privacy would never—”
“And if I hadn’t clocked a director in the jaw,” River cuts in just as grievingly, letting go of me to face off with Theo—though it looks less in anger and more in sadness, like each is determined to be more at fault than the other, “this nightmare wouldn’t have come to Dreamwood Isle.”
“And neither would you,” says Theo, “and then Finn wouldn’t look so happy!”
“Happy?” I cut in, surprised.
“Happy!” Theo doubles down. “I mean, yeah, the pics were creepy, but didn’t you see your face?”
“My … face?”
“It’s the … the first thing I noticed … your face …” Theo’s eyes sparkle with joy, picturing it. “Well, before the shock of reality hit me. I saw the … the joy in your eyes.”
The joy in my eyes.
It was truly a magical moment we shared, River and I, in that secluded spot in Cottonwood Cove. A moment I’ll never capture again in my lifetime.
“There were other pics, too,” Theo goes on. “Pics I saw just before I deleted them off his phone. Your laughter … how River lit up your whole face … I have never seen you so happy, Finn.” He swallows before saying the rest. “Even when … when you were with me.”