Page 14 of Left on Read
RIVER
“Riv!”
“I hate you,” I called hoarsely, then buried my face back in my pillow.
“No, you don’t,” Zane yelled through my door. “You said wake you up at noon. It’s noon.”
“Ugh.” Groaning, I sat up and rubbed my eyes. “I’m up.”
My door swung open.
“You’re halfway there,” Zane said, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against my doorframe.
Shaking off the last of sleep, I stood and pushed my hair back from where it had fallen over my forehead in a tangled mess.
“Happy?” I asked my brother.
“Ecstatic.” He tilted his head and studied me. “Since when do you set up lunch dates on one of the only days of the week you can sleep in?”
“It’s not a date,” I said, guilt prickling at my chest.
I couldn’t keep lying to him.
“What?”
“I’m meeting someone to buy tools.”
“More tools?”
I waved him into my room. I didn’t want to have this conversation with him in the hallway.
“Don’t be mad,” I said as he stepped around the piles of crap on my floor and came to stand in front of me.
“You know I won’t be. Just tell me what’s going on. You’ve been weird lately. I thought it was because I’m spending so much time with Noah, but that’s not the only thing, is it?”
“You’re annoying,” I grumbled.
Zane wasn’t just my twin; he was my best friend and my other half. He understood me in ways I didn’t. I could never hide anything from him.
“Riv,” he said in that soft tone that he’d been using with me since we were kids. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“I fucked up. I left the tools we bought in the car, and they were lifted out of the trunk.”
“What? When?”
“Around the time I went weird. I mean, it is weird to not see you all the time or spend as much time together, but that’s not what’s going on.”
“Are you sure?” He gave me a skeptical look.
“Yeah. I promise. I’m happy for you guys. I was trying to get you together for weeks before you figured it out for yourselves. And I like Noah. He’s part of us now. You gotta believe me.”
“I believe you.” He put a calming hand on my arm. “Now, tell me about the tools and what’s going on with that.”
“Like I said, I left them in the car, and they got stolen. I didn’t want to tell you because you told me not to forget, and I did.”
“Riv. Did you seriously think I’d be mad at you for a mistake? Someone broke into our car. That’s not your fault. I’d never think it was.”
“I know. And no. It wasn’t that I thought you’d be mad or anything. I just…I’m tired of being the one who always fucks up. I’m so done with you having to clean up my messes because I’m a dumbass.”