Page 17 of F*cking Shattered

She nods with her arms crossed over her chest and walks away.

I use my napkin to dry my face as I look back up at River. He’s just sitting there eating like nothing is going on.

I feel my eyebrow raise. “Are you serious? How can you even eat that?”

He shrugs. “I like it.”

“I hate spicy food.” I toss my napkin down on the table and scoot my chair back. “In fact, I think I’m going to go pay and get out of here.” I stand without telling him goodbye and turn towards the register.

The waitress who waited on my table is now behind the counter. When I walk up, she smiles and waves me on.

“Are you sure? I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

She nods. “It happens all the time.”

I can only imagine. “Thank you,” I tell her with a kind, appreciative smile.

I push open the door and step out onto the sidewalk. I’m only a few steps away when River rushes out behind me.

“Hey!”

I stop and turn to face him. “You are a really bad stalker. You know, you’re not supposed to let me see you.”

He rolls his eyes. “I’m not stalking you. What are you doing today?”

I shrug as I begin walking again. “I have to pack.”

“Pack?” he sounds alarmed as his feet stop moving.

“Yeah, I’m taking a trip,” I say over my shoulder.

He jogs until he catches back up to me. “Where to?”

I look at him, feeling a smile tugging at my lips. “What’s it to you?”

“I’m just making conversation, Jovi.”

“I’m not the best at conversation,” I say without slowing as I jog across the street.

He keeps pace with me, and once we’re across the street, he grabs me by the crook of my arm, stopping me. “Let’s stop in here and grab a drink.” He motions towards the small pub we’re standing in front of.

My head cocks to the side while I look over at him, studying him. “Look, I didn’t mean for you to fall in love with me or anything last night. That broken girl you met yesterday and saw last night, that’s not me.”

He rolls his eyes yet again. “Don’t be so full of yourself.” He grabs me by my shoulders and walks me in the door.

Chapter Five

He practically pushes me up to the bar and onto a barstool before motioning for the bartender.

I make myself comfortable, hanging my purse on the hook under the bar, as he orders us a drink.

He takes the seat next to me and I look over at him, trying to figure him out and what he wants with me.

“What are you staring at?” he asks, seeing me out of the corner of his bright blue eyes.

“I’m trying to figure out what your deal is.”

He turns his body to face me. “Why do I have to have a ‘deal’?”

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