Page 49 of Riverside Reverie

“Mmhmm, and how was crashing with Theo?”

“Amazing, actually,” I answered, smiling to myself. “He was incredible.” I shook my head, trying to find the adequate words to describe how I felt and coming up short.

But Jasmine didn’t seem to need me to elaborate. “That’s great, Lux! I knew you guys would be amazing together.”

“How did you know that?” I frowned, glancing back at her.

She lifted a shoulder in a delicate shrug. “Call it intuition, but I’ve been wanting to introduce you to Theo for years. You kept dodging my attempts to get you to come visit.”

“Hmm,” I murmured, returning my gaze to the front. Jasmine was right. I had dodged her invites to visit her in Sudbury or join her on camping trips. “Well, I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow—or in the future, for that matter.”

“Did he say anything?”

“He said he really likes me, and that he’s willing to see where this goes…” I shrugged.

“That’s awesome! All the more reason for you to move to Sudbury and be my roomie.”

“Jas, I don’t want to move for a guy.” I sent her a look over my shoulder.

“I know, and you’re not. You’re moving to get away from your toxic sister and your enabling parents,” Jasmine replied.

I stopped scowling, she had a point there.

After a few days of clarity, I could honestly say I didn’t want to go back to that environment. I loved my parents dearly—hell, I even loved my sister, despite the pain she caused—but I knew I couldn’t stay in that situation. It was breaking me apart bit by bit. I knew if I stayed there, my confidence would continue to take hit after hit as these wounds festered in the toxicity.

“I could get you a job at the Burger Bar,” Jasmine added. She’d worked at a bar that served burgers and other grilled foods part-time for the past four years to bring in some extra cash while she was in school.

“We’ll see,” I said. I wasn’t against the idea, but I was still holding out hope for a position in my field. I reminded myself that it might take time, and a job would be a job, regardless of its description. Plenty of post-graduates had to find filler jobs while looking for positions in their new fields, Jasmine included. She still worked at the Burger Bar.

We joined the others. Talia had been the first to arrive, and she’d already tied her kayak off and was helping Theo and Desmond with the canoes.

Talia held Rhiannon and Baz’s canoe steady so Moose and Rhiannon could climb out. Baz handed Talia the cooler, and she took it, setting it down on the rocky platform.

Once Baz was out on the platform, Theo swam the rope, tugging their canoe along behind him to tie it off with the others.

Then it was our turn.

“The way you guys work together is impressive,” I remarked, taking Talia’s hand while she tugged me out. She grinned.

“Lots of practice, Princess,” she told me, winking.

Jasmine threw her pack out onto the ledge, then tossed the rope to Theo in the water. She took Desmond’s hand, pulling herself out. Her foot caught the edge of the rocky platform and she tripped, falling into him. Desmond caught her with ease and smiled down at her. I couldn’t help but giggle; that same pesky edge had gotten me the other day.

Jasmine wasn’t usually a blusher, but her cheeks flushed. She stepped back abruptly, busying herself by picking up her pack from the ledge while Theo swam our canoe over to the others and tied it off.

“Let’s get this party started!” Talia rubbed her hands together gleefully. We all started walking up the pathway, and I ended up walking in front of Theo and behind Jasmine and Desmond. I could feel Theo’s eyes on me, and I tripped on the uneven ground.

His hands came out to steady my hips, his fingers gentle but firm. His steady touch reminded me of how his hands had felt on me last night, and my body heated in response.

I looked back at him over my shoulder, and his lips curved into a dazzling smile. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied, tucking my hair behind my ear as he released me. We continued walking up the incline.

By the time we reached the top of the cliffs, Talia, Kai, and Zoey had already set their packs down and headed to the edge of the cliff. We’d barely made it to the campfire area before the three of them launched themselves off the cliff, wasting no time getting to the business of cliff jumping.

Rhiannon was relaxing in the chair Baz had carried up for her, a paperback on her lap and her big sunglasses on. She wouldn’t be jumping but said she’d wanted to catch some sun and rest a little before our journey back to the marina. Moose was curled up at her feet, chewing on a stick he’d found along the trail up. Baz clipped Moose’s leash to his collar.

“You good?” he asked, handing Rhiannon the leash. She took it, wrapping it around her hand once.

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