Chapter 13: Chapter 13

My palms dampen with nerves as my gaze stays trained on the entrance of Taco Loco. When there’s still no sign of my brother, I fire off another text, trying to hasten him along. It’s been more than ten minutes since I sprinted from the restaurant like my ass was on fire. River should have been right behind me.

How long does it take to pay the check?

My mind spirals, imagining the worst-case scenario.

I really hope he and Maverick aren’t getting into it. Those two can’t be within ten feet of each other without coming to blows.

If Maverick thinks I’m with River, he might decide to throw it in my brother’s face.

A little payback for past transgressions.

As far as I know, that’s all Saturday night was to him—Maverick taking something that belonged to River.

A pit settles at the bottom of my belly. I really hope that wasn’t the case. It would really suck if the best sex of my life turns out to be nothing more than a revenge plot.

A way to lash out at my brother.

I shift on the leather seat of River’s SUV and stare out the passenger side window, silently willing my twin to walk out. The tacos I’d eaten for lunch threaten to make an unexpected appearance.

Just as I open the home screen of my phone to fire off yet another text, River shoves through the glass doors and stalks toward the vehicle.

My lungs empty of air until little spots dance across my vision.

His expression is grim as he slides into the driver’s seat of his Chevy Blazer and stabs the ignition. Anger vibrates off him in suffocating waves. Any moment, he’s going to blow a gasket.

I’m terrified to ask what happened, because it’s apparent from his stony expression and demeanor that something transpired.

The only one capable of setting River off like this is Maverick McKinnon.

Oh god.

I never should have gone home with him.

What the hell had I been thinking?

If I could go back in time and⁠—

I gulp as my brain somersaults.

Would I make different choices?

It’s surprising to realize that I wouldn’t change one single second that transpired between us. He’s the only man to make me feel alive. Like I could soar above the earth untethered. Before him, I had no idea that kind of pleasure existed. And for all I know, it’s not something I’ll ever experience again.

My heart clenches at the depressing possibility.

So, no, I wouldn’t change a single second.

No matter the fallout.

It’s only when my fingers drift to where my necklace should be that I realize they’re shaking.

Before I can work up the nerve to ask what happened in the restaurant, my twin’s stormy gaze settles on mine. “Did you know that Maverick McKinnon was in there?”

My teeth scrape against my lower lip.

It’s so tempting to lie.

But I’m already keeping too many secrets from my brother.

I’m loathe to heap any more onto the pile.

“Um…yeah, I caught sight of him on the way out.”

The muscle in his clenched jaw tics a mad rhythm. “I really fucking hate that guy.” His gaze sears into mine. “You know that?”

“You’ve mentioned it a time or two.” It takes effort to swallow past the lump that has formed in my throat, and even more to keep the thin waver from invading my voice. “Did you two have another run-in?”

“Yup.” A smirk lifts the corners of his lips. “Told him that it was great to see him twice in one week.”

I groan. “So you’re the one who instigated it?”

His brows slam together as his expression contorts. “After the fight he started during the game? You bet your ass I did. The guy is a total dick. He deserves to have the loss shoved in his face. He thinks he’s so fucking special.”

I release the painful breath clogging my lungs. “Maybe he’s the one who has something to be angry about. Have you forgotten you stole his girlfriend in high school?”

River’s upper lip curls as he glares. “Exactly whose side are you on?” There’s a beat of uncomfortable silence before his tone turns suspicious. “Why are you defending him all of a sudden?”

My eyes widen as I shake my head. Fear slides through me and I gulp. “That’s not what I’m doing.”

“Yeah, you are.” He reverses the SUV and nearly gives me whiplash.

My mouth dries. “I’m just stating the obvious. He’s the one who has something to be angry about. Maybe at some point, you need to sit down and hash it out instead of constantly getting into fights on the ice.”

That suggestion is met with a scowl. “What happened with Sabrina is ancient history.”

“Clearly, it’s not. It continues to rear its ugly head every chance it gets.”

“We’re not even together anymore,” he mutters, some of his previous anger draining away.

When everything first went down, I thought River stole Sabrina as a way to mess with Maverick, but they were together for over a year before breaking up and going their separate ways in college.

My brother hasn’t been the same since then.

I can admit it, even if he won’t.

“Have you tried reaching out to her?”

His lips flatten as he gives his head a slight shake.

Even though Sabrina and I still follow each other on social media, we haven’t spoken in years. I’ve seen pics of her with a few guys, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone serious in her life.

“Maybe it’s time for you to⁠—”

“I don’t want to talk about Sabrina.” There’s a brief pause. “Or Maverick McKinnon. Sabrina is part of my past, and nothing is going to change that.”

Even though it’ll fall on deaf ears, I can’t resist adding, “It doesn’t have to be that way.”

“Yeah, it does. End of story.”

When my fingers brush across my collarbone for a second time and come away empty, I realize that I need to get my necklace back.

The question is how.