Page 33 of Riverside Reverie

My thoughts were interrupted by rustling at the bottom of the hill, followed by the sound of a zipper punctuating the quiet. A dark figure climbed out of Jasmine and Lux’s tent, pausing to close it before flicking on a flashlight, following the pathway west of camp.

Turning my head, I looked back up at the endless sky, letting the quiet sounds of nature move over me. Crickets, the occasional owl, the rustling of the leaves in the trees—followed by the telltale sign of someone returning.

The flashlight paused between the tents before going out, but the person lingered, seeing my shape on the rocks illuminated by the full moon. Intrinsically, I knew it was Lux.

She wore a dark, baggy sweater pulled up over her head, but I could tell it was her in the way she carried herself. Graceful and poised. I turned my head, listening to her footfall as she climbed the rocky hill. She stepped out of the treeline, her red tresses glowing when the moonlight spilled over her.

She stilled, catching the shape of me on the rocks, and waited until her eyes adjusted. “Theo?”

“Hey,” I sat up, tugging my hood down so she could better make out my face, and gave her a friendly smile.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize anyone was still up.”

“Don’t apologize,” I told her. “I couldn’t sleep, so I figured I’d watch the stars.”

“Mind if I join you?” she asked, somewhat timidly. “I can’t sleep anymore, either.”

My heart jolted in my chest, but I covered my reaction with an easy smile. “Sure,” I said, laying back down and resuming my position staring up at the sky.

Lux sat down beside me, hesitating for a moment before she laid fully down. I turned my head to look at her while she took in the sky, the stars reflecting in her deep irises.

The urge to get to know her was every bit as strong as the urge to reach out and take her hand. It would be so easy; all it would take was moving my hand a couple of inches to the right.

Instead, I forced myself to look at the sky. “Jasmine’s been trying to get you to come camping for years. Looks like she finally wore you down. Gotta say, I’m glad she finally succeeded.”

“I know,” she laughed, following it with a soft sigh. “I’m glad she did, too. I’m actually having a lot of fun.” She stole a quick peek at me. Had I not been so focused on her every movement; I would have missed it.

“You sound surprised about that,” I said.

“My family never did outdoorsy activities, not like this. My parents’ idea of camping is to rent a cottage with all the amenities, including a pool, so, no chance of fish brushing against my leg there. I never pictured myself doing this,” she laughed lightly, shaking her head.

I chanced another glance at her. Her complexion appeared crystalline in the moonlight, her red hair a beautiful contrast. Her chin was angled up as she gazed at the stars. She was heart-stirringly stunning, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away from her parted lips.

“What changed?”

She turned her head at my question, and blinked, her long lashes brushing against the tops of her cheeks fleetingly before those luminous eyes focused on me.

“To be honest, I needed to get out of my parents’ house for a bit,” she admitted. “I moved back in after graduating, it’s only temporary, but…” she pulled her gaze away, focusing again on the sky above us.

I chuckled lightly, nodding slowly. I could understand that. “Parents driving you nuts already?”

“I wish,” she frowned, turning her head back to look at me. I met her gaze directly, my breath catching in my throat at the emotion reflecting back at me. She smiled, covering the hurt. “My little sister’s welcome home gift was to sleep with my boyfriend.”

I whistled lowly. “Ouch. Why would she do that?”

“It’s a very long story,” Lux admitted. “My sister has mental health issues. Although she won’t admit it, or get help…” She sighed, glancing up at the stars. She didn’t seem judgmental of her sister, just deeply hurt.

“I’m sorry, that’s really rough.”

She paused, her eyes dropping to my lips before she forced her gaze to meet mine. “It is. I love her, but sometimes I can’t help but hate her for everything she’s put me through over the years. Then I feel bad, because you shouldn’t hate your own family, your own sister. There’s something inherently wrong with that.”

I felt bad for her. I couldn’t imagine having such a toxic relationship with Olivia. No matter the distance, my sister could count on me, and I could count on her.

“I don’t think you hate her,” I remarked, turning my head to look at her. “I think you hate the pain she causes, and the divide…but not her.”

“Yeah, that’s it,” she looked astonished that I understood, and I couldn’t help but feel good about that.

“And no offence, but your boyfriend—”

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