Page 16 of Left on Read

“What are you doing?”

“Shut up and take it.” He extended a handful of bills to me.

“Zane—” I pushed his hand away.

“You’re not using all your tips to replace shit some asshole stole from us. We went in on them together. We’re buying them together.”

“You didn’t lose them.”

“Neither did you.” He shoved the bills into the front of my pajama pants. “No backsies.”

“And people say I’m the immature one,” I deadpanned as bills bounced and floated down my leg like my pants legs were a pinball game.

He chuckled. “Funny how that happens, hmm?”

A smile tugged at my lips, but I rolled my eyes and shook out my pants so the bills fell out the bottom and puddled around my feet. “Say hi to Noah and everyone for me. I need to shower. My hair is driving me nuts.”

“Will do. SOS me at the first sign of anything.”

“I promise.”

“Don’t even think about putting that cash in my room or giving it back to me.” He shot me a warning look. “I mean it. You’re not at fault here.”

I nodded in agreement and bent to pick up the fallen bills as he left my room.

Ten minutes past our agreed meeting time, I pulled up in front of the address Hayden sent me. Hopping out of the car, I speed-walked up the front walkway. Hopefully that didn’t look as sus as running up to the door would.

I was just about to knock when the inner door swung open.

“Hi, Hayden?” I asked when the man on the other side didn’t say anything.

“River?” he said hesitantly.

“That’s me. Hi. Sorry I’m late.”

“It’s no problem. It’s kind of a confusing area if you’re not used to it.” He pushed the screen door open. “Come in.”

I stepped into the house and quickly checked Hayden out as he moved back to let me in.

He looked exactly like his pics. That was rare.

His sandy blond hair was neat and casually styled, with the sides shaved close and longer on top. His pale skin was youthful and unlined, except for the circles under his hazel eyes.

He was about four inches shorter than me, which tracked with him saying he was five-ten in his bio.

The oversized sweats and hoodie he had on made it hard to pin down his body type, but from the pics on his profile, he was what most people would consider an average size for his height.

He wasn’t exactly handsome, but he wasn’t not handsome. It was hard to explain. His features were average, but they worked together in a way that made him interesting. He looked kind. Like someone you’d want to hang out with and have on your side.

“Did you get lost trying to find the place?” he asked, his cheeks ruddy as he pulled the sleeves of his sweatshirt over his hands.

“I wish I could use that as an excuse, but I lost track of time.” I raked a hand through my hand, pushing the strands back from my face. “My buddy’s boyfriend lives about a mile from here, so I know the area a bit. That helped me be less late because you’re not kidding. This place is like The Sims on crack.”

“The Sims on crack?” The corner of his lip twitched up in a tiny smile.

“Yeah. You know, like the game? Just streets and streets of identical houses in patterns that make no sense to anyone except the dudes who designed it. At least they gave you guys doors and windows.”

Hayden snickered. “I take it you’ve played?”

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