Page 38 of Don’t Be A Stranger

“I took a cab.”

Which is usually the case if River isn’t driving me. Or Bethany. I do have my license but living in New York really hasn’t given me much reason to get a car of my own.

“Take my car back to the apartment,” River orders. “I’ll ask Mario for a ride home.” He twists the ends of my hair around his finger.

“No.” I shake my head. “I can just get another cab back.”

“Please? I know you hate driving but I don’t want you taking a cab this late.”

My heart flutters at his quiet concern. It’s nothing new but it feels a little different when I’ve yet to lift my hips and pull us apart. I’m not really looking forward to doing that.

“Fine, but I’ll come back and pick you up when you get off.” I compromise.

River nods his head and I’m sure he’s about to tell me that it’ll be too late but I don’t care, he’s letting me use his car. The least I can do is pick him up. So, I interrupt his refusal with a few pecks on his lips. He sighs against me.

“Call me when you get off,” I say, making it clear that there isn’t room for discussion.

***

By the time two-thirty in the morning rolls around, I’m out front of Metric’s once again but this time sitting in the driver’s seat of River’s car.

“Want me to drive?” River asks as he leans against the open passenger door.

“No, I’ll do it this time, sleepyhead.”

River doesn’t try to argue with me and that’s how I know he’s as exhausted as he looks. He slips into the car and melts into the passenger seat.

“Long night?” I keep my voice gentle as I pull away from the curb, settling into the peacefulness of the radio quietly playing Seether.

When River is quiet for a little too long, I look over to see his head leaning lazily to the side, and a tired smile rests on his face.

“Tonight was perfect,” River admits.

I smile, twisting my free hand and reaching for the takeout bag on the center console. I set it down on his lap.

“Well, it’s about to get a lot better,” I declare.

River immediately groans and the sound shoots straight down between my thighs, but I try to behave myself. I’ll choose to be greedy some other time when River isn’t hanging onto consciousness.

“You didn’t have to do this,” River says while tearing the bag open to reveal a greasy cheeseburger.

“I did,” I argue. “I don’t need to hear you complaining about not being able to sleep because of how hungry you are.”

River swallows before speaking. “You do it too.”

“Yeah, that’s how I knew this burger was a necessity.”

Another moment of silence settles between River and me. He lazily eats away at his food and neither of us feel the need to fill the space with a conversation. This is what I wanted. Quiet moments with my best friend that don’t feel like the life we built together isn’t going to come crashing down.

“Thanks, Sum.” River speaks.

“You’re welcome.” I pat his thigh. “Now sit back and relax, passenger princess.”

“Will do.”

And just like that, things are back to normal between us. See? I knew this whole thing would work out.

Thirteen