12. River

River

I am royally screwed—no pun intended. But this is like the worst-case scenario—falling for someone else when I know it can’t lead anywhere. It’s like Romeo and Juliet, but obviously way less overdramatic.

I should end it now, especially since my father is aware that I’m involved with Maddy, fake or not. But every time she touches me … kisses me … I’m literally shivering simply thinking about it.

It’s all I think about during the drive back to my place … the feel of her skin … the smell of her hair … But only half my thoughts are there. The other part of my mind is focused on what happened back at her mom’s apartment. Who was that guy, and why was he looking for the necklace? And why in the hell has Maddy’s mother been receiving large sums of money from someone? I know enough people that I can probably help her get to the bottom of it. Or, well, Noah knows some people. He seems okay with helping Maddy, so I hope it won’t be an issue asking him for a favor. But first, we have to get a hold of those papers … unless the guy took them.

“I know this is going to make me seem shallow and kind of ridiculous,” Maddy says as she latches onto me. We’re on the elevator, heading up to my parents’ condo so we can get Finn and drive back to northside to get her stuff. “But I’m going to say it, anyway,” she continues, pressing her face closer to my chest. “I’m worried I’m not going to make the team. Stress is such a huge factor in running, and right now, I feel like I’m a bundle of nerves.”

I smooth my hand up and down her back. “We’ll start training tomorrow. That is, if your head is feeling okay.” I fix my finger under her chin and angle her head up toward me.

She blinks a few times then wets her lips with her tongue.

I want to kiss her so damn badly.

“My head’s fine. I’m more worried about your injury,” she tells me, lightly grazing her finger along my side.

“I’ll be fine.” I skim my finger along her chin.

Her eyelashes flutter.

I want her.

I want her.

I want her ? —

The elevator glides open, and Finn is standing on the other side as if he’s about to get on. He startles. Then his lips curl into a smirk.

“Well, this looks cozy,” he remarks, eyeing mine and Maddy’s closeness.

Maddy is the first to step back, and I’m unsure what to make of it.

“Yeah, this death trap of an elevator is so cozy,” she quips with an eye roll.

Finn snorts a laugh. “This is probably one of the nicest elevators in the city, and you think it’s a death trap?”

“Ones that go this high are.” She gestures out at the city through the glass before hurrying off the elevator, pushing Finn aside along the way.

Once she’s off, she turns to face us. “You guys should really consider getting a stairway added to this place. One without windows.”

“There is one,” Finn tells her. He’s wearing slacks and a button-down shirt, an indicator he’s about to head out someplace nice. “But it’s for the fire escape.”

“Well, we should use that from now on,” Maddy replies while wrapping her arms around herself.

“It’ll set off the alarm,” Finn explains to her. “Maybe if you ask River really nicely, though, he can talk to the building manager about getting the password to shut it off.” His smirk is taunting.

Maddy crosses her arms and lifts a brow. “I feel like you’re implying something that I’m not going to like.”

“You might like it,” Finn starts to say, his grin magnifying.

Knowing he’s about to say some dirty remark, I push him out of the way as I step off. He slightly stumbles and lets out a shocked laugh.

“What the heck, bro?” he says through his laughter.

“Stop teasing her.” I move beside Maddy then look at Finn. “Are you heading somewhere? Because I need a favor.”

“Actually, it’s a favor for me,” Maddy chimes in. “And if you’re busy, you don’t have to do it.”

“Ignore her,” I tell Finn, eliciting a dirty look from Maddy. “You do have to do it.”

“River,” she starts to protest, but I place a finger against her lips.

“This isn’t a favor for you. I’m the one asking him for help.”

Her eyes narrow, and then she opens her mouth and bites my finger. Not hard, but enough that it sends a pulsating zap through my body.

I’m so turned on I damn-near lose it right then and there.

Finn’s eyes widen in surprise, and then he impishly grins. “You know, Mads, that probably didn’t have the effect you thought it did.”

She steps back, a crease forming between her brows. “What?”

“You think biting River’s finger is like some sort of revenge,” Finn tells her with his arms crossed. “But it isn’t. In fact?—”

“Don’t,” I talk over him.

But he continues.

“It probably turned him on.”

I shove his shoulder, and he busts up laughing. My face feels a bit warm. Maddy’s cheeks are flushed, as well, but she keeps her composure.

“One of these days, I’m going to pay you back for all of these jokes you make on my and River’s expense,” she informs him haughtily. “I’m much more calculating than you, and I’ll wait until you least expect it.”

When Finn’s laughter fades as he assesses her, attempting to tell if she’s joking, Maddy winks at him. I snort a laugh at the dumb look that crosses Finn’s face. He promptly recovers, though, his mouth opening.

“So, about that favor,” I say before he can continue to push Maddy’s buttons. “I need you to come to northside with me and Maddy so we can get her stuff out of her mom’s apartment, and then we can put it into the storage place here.”

All the humor in his expression fizzles. “Why? What’s going on?”

Maddy blows out a heavy sigh. “My mom decided to move out without telling me, so my stuff is lying around in the apartment. If I don’t get it out soon, the landlord will probably toss it.” She says it so matter-of-factly that it makes my chest ache.

I reach for her hand, lace our fingers together, and skim my thumb along the back of her hand. “We’ll get it taken care of.”

I know she doesn’t like the we part, but she doesn’t protest. I’ve never met anyone who refuses to get help like Maddy does. But knowing what I know about her family, I kind of understand.

“Yeah, I can blow off what I’m doing tonight.” He winks at Maddy. “For my bestie.”

She makes a big show of rolling her eyes. “I’ll let the bestie remark slide, but only because you’re helping me.”

Finn is beyond amused, but that look fizzles as he frowns at me. “Totally off the subject, but Dad wants to have breakfast with us tomorrow morning.”

I shake my head. “I’m not doing that.”

“Dude, you know if you don’t, he’ll just have one of his minions track you down.” Finn presses me with a look while sliding his hands into his back pockets.

He’s right. But that doesn’t make it any easier just to go. I know he’s going to bother me about dating Maddy. I’ll just need to stay firm and not allow him to push me around.

Easier said than done. My father is an extremely wealthy and powerful man, which makes it simple for him to find ways to force people to obey him.

Grimacing, I shake my head. “Fine, whatever.”

Silence settles between us.

“Has anyone heard any updates on when we can return back to the academy?” Maddy breaks the edgy stillness in the air.

“Tomorrow, actually.” Finn removes his hands from his pockets and checks his watch. “That’s what Noah told me, anyway. He said he has a connection in the office that told him the system was fixed. The academy hasn’t sent out an official notification yet, though.”

“I’m kind of relieved to go back,” Maddy says, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “But at the same time, I’m a bit nervous, considering what was going on. And then there was that rando running at me in the hallway when I was evacuating.”

“That was weird,” I agree. “But it was probably someone from the society. Not that it makes it any better.”

“Speaking of which”—Finn points a finger at me—“Remember, you and I have to attend a society meeting tomorrow.”

I’d rather drink toilet water, but if it means keeping Maddy safe, I’ll deal with frat boy drama for a night.

“I’ll be there.” I glance at Maddy. She has a frown on those pretty lips of hers that should never be frowning—I want to make her smile all the time. “Should we head out and get your stuff? Do you think that guy will be gone?”

“Wait, what guy?” Finn interrupts, his face creasing in confusion.

“We’ll explain on the way.” Maddy’s eyes are filled with worry. “The later we are, the more sketchy things will get.”

“We’ve been to northside at night, Mads,” Finn reminds her with a cocky smile. “We can handle it.”

“You’ve been to street races on northside,” Maddy stresses. “You haven’t been in the neighborhoods at night. It’s a completely different game. One you won’t be able to win over with your charming smiles. In fact, that’ll probably get you into more trouble.”

Finn searches her eyes, as if seeking a sign that she’s joking.

She appears one hundred percent serious, and that causes worry to flashes across his face.

And he should be worried.

What we’re about to do isn’t something to take lightly, something Finn has a hard time doing.

He needs to know the danger we’re in.

How bad things could get.