Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 22917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
The last time I saw River, he told me to stay the hell away from him, and that’s what I’m going to do. The bakery incident was embarrassing enough. It only solidified that the worst things in my mind can and do happen. It was a mild setback for me, and I might not have told anyone about what happened, but my mom knew something was up. She’s too good at figuring things out.
I also recall a few years ago Glenda being pretty upset with how River was handling the whole fallout between families. I think River blames my brother for it. Cillian went against River’s father’s wishes and married Glenda anyway. If he only knew the role I played in that ordeal.
“Mara!” I hear him call after me.
What the hell? Panic starts to rise up my throat. No, not now. I will not have an attack. I breathe in through my nose and out my mouth. When that doesn't work, I come to a stop and rest my hand on a tree. I do my best to follow the three-three-three rule Dr. Abram taught me.
“I see a tree, I see a butterfly, I see grass,” I whisper to myself. “I hear a lawn mower, I hear footsteps.”
“Mara!”
“I hear River,” I say as he comes to stand next to me.
“Why are you running from me?” he asks because he’s probably confused why any girl would ever run from him.
I wiggle my fingers before I tap my toes. Lastly, I lift my arm to tuck my hair behind my ear. The panic attack seems to have faded, and I’m surprised it actually worked. I can do this. I turn to face the boy I once had a crush on as a little girl when he came to my older sister’s wedding.
“You don’t like me,” I remind him.
“I never said that.”
“I think you made that pretty clear. I didn’t know you were in the quad or I wouldn't have gone near it.” I start to walk again.
“Shit,” he curses under his breath. I think we’re done, but a couple seconds later, he runs to catch up to me.
“You’re following me,” I point out. What’s wrong with me? Could I be more awkward? Stop pointing out obvious things that don’t need to be said.
“I’m sorry. I was an asshole. You caught me off guard that day, and I had no clue it was you.”
“But when you realized it, you practically knocked me over.”
“I—”
“Don’t lie. You gripped my shoulder and said I smelled good. It wasn’t like I ran into you and then fell backwards. When you jumped backwards to get away from me, you released my shoulders at the same time, and it knocked me off balance. Not like you tried to help me back up because it was all an accident.” I’d been so shocked by the action after he’d said I smelled good a half-second before.
“I just needed some space between us. You’re tiny, and I guess I didn’t know my strength. Like I said, I’m sorry.” I stop walking and stare at him. He runs his hand through his short hair, making it disheveled.
“Okay. Thank you.” I turn and start walking again.
“For short legs, you walk pretty damn fast.” Again he jogs to catch up with me.
“I’m in a hurry.”
“To get away from me?” I peek over at him, and he smirks, and damn him, a laugh sneaks out of me.
“I guess.” I slow my steps, but it’s not like he really needs me to. He’s extremely close as we walk. So close I bet we appear to be a couple.
“I suppose I deserve that.” His hand brushes against mine, and I jerk it back. I pretend to tuck my hair behind my ear even though it’s already there. It must have been an accident on his part. “You headed back to our building?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll walk you.”
“If you say so.” We walk in silence but then I wonder if I should make small talk. I can’t be weird—or weirder—if I keep my mouth shut. That sounds like a solid plan. Too bad I don’t do it. “How come your family hasn’t selected a wife for you?” He lifts a brow as he cocks his head my way.
“How come your parents aren’t taking offers for you to get married?”
“What?” His question completely catches me off guard. I once again stop walking. “They aren’t? How do you know that?”
“Just heard people talk.” He shrugs absently.
“About me?” Panic starts to rise again.
“I mean, I’m sure you got a lot of offers before they shut it down. People are going to talk if they pretty much put out a blanket statement that they’re not entertaining them. You didn’t know?” I shake my head. “Probably because you’re in school.” He grabs my hand and pulls me to start walking again.