Page 104 of Left on Read

He was so vibrant and full of life, and I was me. The quiet bookworm who preferred to spend his nights at home and avoided crowds whenever possible. River thrived when he was surrounded by people and needed to constantly be stimulated so he didn’t get bored.

I could do that for him while he had his friends and his job at the club to feed his extroverted soul, but I wasn’t delusional enough to think I could ever be enough for him long-term.

He deserved someone who was as magnetic and fun as him. Someone who could challenge him and do parkour and work out and all the things he loved and used as his outlets.

Zane was wrong. I wanted to be River’s person, but I refused to be the reason he dimmed his light and stopped being the amazing man he was because I wasn’t enough for him.

River was everything, and he deserved to find exactly what he’d always wanted.

It would be selfish of me to keep him from that because I couldn’t let him go.

17

RIVER

“Soooooo, Hayden.” Nick plopped down on my lap.

“What about him?” I shifted him on my thighs so he wasn’t squishing my dick.

“Are you still besties who bone?”

“As far as I know.”

He peered at me.

“What?”

“Nothing.” He waved Quinn and Gray over. “Where’s your reflection?”

“Right here.”

“Jeebus!” Nick jumped off my lap, his arms windmilling as he nearly toppled over.

He hadn’t seen my brother sneak up behind him. I had, so I didn’t even flinch.

“Zane Bartholomew Masters.” Nick whirled on him.

“You know that’s not my middle name.”

“I know, but I can’t say Zane Elvis Masters without giggling, so I’m sticking with my version.” He put his hands on his hips and glared at my brother. “Elvis.” He snickered, his fake anger melting away.

Zane winked.

“And don’t think you’re off the hook, mister.” Nick wagged his finger at me. “You broke bro code. You shoulda told me I was about to find out what happens when your heart literally stops from terror.”

“Pretty sure bro code applies to his actual brother in this case.” Zane wrapped his arm around Nick’s shoulders and dragged him down to press a loud, smacking kiss against Nick’s temple.

“You big goober.” Nick laughed and wiggled out of his grasp.

“Why do I feel like something is about to happen?” I looked around as my friends made a little circle around me.

Quinn shot me a guilty smile and settled next to me.

I turned to Zane as he sat on my other side. “What did you do?”

“Nothing.” He shifted aside so Nick could squeeze between us.

“This wasn’t his idea.” Nick shot me an apologetic look.