Page 13 of Crush & Byte
“Nope!”Yeah.She was practically vibrating with energy.“But I drank three Redbulls a half hour ago!I’m ready!”
Crush snorted so hard he choked on his own spit, and I wasn’t far behind him.“Three Redbulls?Why the fuck would you do that?”
“I couldn’t sleep last night so I knew I needed a shot of caffeine and I really like Redbull so I ran out to the little convenience store across the parking lot and got some snacks for the road and drinks and --”
“Three Redbulls.”Me and Crush finished her sentence with her so we all spoke at the same time.
She took a breath before starting again.“I honestly don’t know why I did that.I was just so wired about today.I’ve never been so excited in my life!”She clasped her hands together, bouncing on her toes.“I feel like I could run a marathon or climb Mount Rainier or something equally ridiculous.”
I watched her fidget with the hem of her sweatshirt, her energy infectious despite the early hour.The caffeine had definitely kicked in, as evidenced by the way she kept shifting her weight from foot to foot.
“Jesus, River,” I said, unable to keep the amusement out of my voice.“You’re gonna crash hard later.”
“Worth it,” she said, flashing me that grin that made my chest tight.“Besides, I figure if I’m going on some mysterious adventure with two bikers I’ve known for less than twenty-four hours, I might as well be fully caffeinated for the experience!”
Crush stood up, shouldering his duffel.“Smart thinking.We should grab breakfast and get moving.Pike Place opens early, but it gets crowded fast.”
Breakfast was terrible.Watery orange juice, soggy eggs, and a sad pastry tray.But River ate like she hadn’t seen food in days, all while talking nonstop.Normally the chatter would have been a special kind of hell for me, but I found myself enjoying the shit out of a caffeine-intoxicated River.Crush sipped hotel coffee and glared at a business guy who kept staring at River over the rim of his latte.If River noticed the tension in Crush’s gaze she didn’t comment, but I thought she was too excited to notice.I wolfed down three Danishes and two cups of coffee.
River drained her juice and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand.She almost muffled an impressive belch before bursting into giggles.Christ, this woman!There was such joy and wonder on her face I had to wonder how much fun she’d had in life.Though she had a default setting of shy and reserved, the more comfortable she became around us, the more she loosened up and let more of her natural personality bleed out of her shell.
Fuck.I already missed the shower.
Pike Place Market looked exactly like it did in every Seattle tourist video I’d ever watched.Fish flying through the air, neon signs, street musicians competing with gulls for the loudest sound in a three-block radius, and a ton of people.Even in the morning.The air was a mess of saltwater, fried dough, and the faint, ever-present smell of fish and sea air.I loved it.
River walked between me and Crush, head on a swivel.Every time a fishmonger yelled, she started, turning this way and that trying to see the spectacle.When a violinist played a trembling phrase right in our path, she lit up like a kid at a birthday party.To say she didn’t want to miss anything was a vast understatement.
We wound through the crowd, Crush moving with relentless purpose while I kept an eye on River.She bumped my arm more than once, maybe by accident, maybe not, but I didn’t mind.I could have walked that market for hours if it meant she kept glancing at me with that bright, excited smile.
The vendor we were looking for was exactly where Maggie’s instructions had said.As we approached the main entrance, across from the place with the flying fish, I saw a tiny shop crowded with rows of handmade journals and calligraphy pens.The woman behind the counter was old in the way you only see in movies, with her white hair in a bun, gold-rimmed glasses perched low, and eyes so blue you’d think she wore contacts for effect.
Crush nodded a greeting.“Here for the Walsh Family package,” he said, voice pitched low.
The woman’s face didn’t change.“You must be the brothers,” she said, looking us up and down.“And this is River.”She smiled at River, who froze like she’d been caught cheating at cards.
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, flashing her a grin.Usually it was Crush taking point on shit like this, but I found myself relaxed in a way I could never remember being.Especially when River moved closer to me and snagged my arm.It didn’t escape my notice she put herself slightly behind me as if for protection.Maybe her trust gave me what I needed to pull myself out of my shell.All I knew was it felt good to have her close and leaning on me for protection.
The woman bent down, fished out a small envelope from beneath the counter.She smiled at us before addressing Crush.“Tell your grandmother I said hello.”
Crush took the envelope and nodded.“I will, ma’am.”He flashed her a smile before turning and jerking his head for us to leave with him.
“It was nice meeting you,” River called over her shoulder, waving at the older woman.
“You too, dear.Keep your men out of trouble.”
River stopped, but I snagged her hand and tugged her after me.“My men?”She still looked over her shoulder at the other woman.“We’re friends, but we’re not --”
“Of course you’re not, dear.”She gave River a soft, knowing smile.“Not yet.”She waved at River before turning to another customer.
I felt River’s grip tighten on my arm as we walked away from the woman’s stall.The blush creeping up her neck was impossible to miss, and I had to resist the urge to reach out and touch that warm pink skin.
“That was embarrassing,” she muttered, but she didn’t let go of my grip.“She made it sound like…”
“Like what?”I asked, even though I knew exactly what the woman had implied.The old bat had seen right through us, probably pegged our dynamic within thirty seconds of us walking up.Not how I’d have preferred to broach the subject of River being with both of us, but the old woman had put the thought in River’s head.Now, maybe she’d think about it before me and Crush brought it up.
“Nothing,” River muttered, but her voice had gone higher, the way it did when she was flustered.“She doesn’t know us.She was just --”
“Being observant,” Crush cut in, already tearing open the envelope.His tone was matter-of-fact, but I caught the way his eyes flicked to where River’s hand was still wrapped around my forearm.
