Page 90 of Don’t Be A Stranger

“You…tripped?”

It’s not that my parents hate River. They love him. I’ve just avoided the topic of River for a few days, and I don’t really want to explain why he’s sneaking into my bedroom at ten at night.

Not that I would know why he’s here. Or why he felt the need to climb through my window.

“Is she okay, babe?” Dad’s voice travels down the hallway from his bedroom.

“Yeah!” I call out to him. “I’m okay, Dad.”

It’s silent for a moment, Papi and I looking down the hallway. Papi then sighs and chuckles. “For the love of god, Mija, keep the shenanigans to a minimum, okay?”

I shake my head. “There will be no shenanigans.”

“Goodnight, sweetheart.” Papi rolls his eyes, but smiles against my skin as he presses a kiss to my forehead.

“Night, Papi.”

I watch him walk back to his room before closing my own door, leaning back against the wood and sighing.

River finally stands up, dusting off his jeans. I catch a sliver of his stomach and the top of his boxers with how low his jeans hang on his hips. The memory of River’s bare, warm skin under my palms has me stepping closer before I realize what I’m doing.

I force myself to stop, my fists clenching and unclenching at my sides, the urge to reach out to touch him almost unbearable.

It’s odd. I went years being able to refrain from acting on my feelings for River.

Every sleepover. Any moment alone. Any hug or touch, I could brush off the tightness in my chest or the shaking in my hands.

Compartmentalizing my feelings for River that had absolutely nothing to do with our friendship was a gift that I learned to master, but now that I’ve had a taste, it’s like my body is having withdrawals.

River stands awkwardly in the center of my room. He doesn’t seem to know where to look or what to do with his hands because he puts them in his pockets just to take them out.

“Are you crazy?” I cross my arms, choosing to remain near the door instead of stepping closer to him. “We’re not twelve anymore. You can’t just sneak in through the window.”

River shrugs. “Why not?”

“Because it was cute then, now it’s a little stalkerish.”

“Well, I had to do something. You won’t answer any of my calls or texts,” River says. The nerve of it makes my blood boil.

“That’s literally what you wanted, River.” I make an effort to keep my voice down, but I’d love to yell at him right now and ask where he got the nerve.

River winces. “I know…but you still could’ve told me about your dad, Summer. I was so worried that I finally had to call Santiago myself.”

I shrug, trying really hard to keep my demeanor nonchalant. I don’t want him to know he can affect me so easily. “Okay, you found out that my dad was fine, so I don’t know why you kept calling or why you’re even here right now.”

“Because I miss you.” He has the audacity to flat-out say.

No, he doesn’t get to do that. He doesn’t get to say that after pushing me away, after telling me that we wouldn’t work.

I walk over to my dresser, digging through my drawer for pajamas to give my hands something else to focus on instead of the pounding of my own heart.

“I’m sure you can find someone else to entertain you, River,” I snap. “Because I don’t have the mental capacity to do that anymore.”

I steal a glance in River’s direction. I’d probably feel better if he looked a little hurt by my words, but he looks as if he simply understands.

“I’m an idiot. I know that.”

“No shit,” I mutter.