Page 69 of The Eleventh Hour
“Your eyes are green,” I whisper.
His fingers tighten and then loosen, and his other hand comes up to pull me flush against him. My skin tingles.
He leans down so his lips, our lips, are almost touching.
“Mine,” he growls.
A beam from a torch cuts over him, and he dissolves. I fall on my arse in the gravel, but I don’t register any pain.
He talked. Gideon talked. He has green eyes. Oh. My. God. I’ve finally gone all the way over. I’m crazy. Sparrow was right. A hysterical giggle escapes my lips before I muffle it with my fist.
“Jax, finally. I’ve been sitting up here for two days waiting for you to show up.” River stomps over to me and holds a hand out. “What are you doing on the floor? No, wait, I don’t want to know.”
River looks at me and shakes his head. “There’s something different about you.”
“No, there’s not,” I grumble.
“There totally is.”
“Not,” I snap. “River, don’t.”
“There is, you are missing brother bruises.” River picks me up around the torso and squeezes until I let myself hang limply. He swings me around like a doll, and then kisses my cheek a couple of times. I laugh and splutter and try to fight him off, but I’ve been helpless against this kid since the day he turned thirteen and shot up and out.
“You are a shit of a brother.”
“I’m the best brother.”
“You are.” I lay my head on his shoulder.
“Dinner tomorrow night.”
“Yes, I’m thrilled. Can’t you see my thrill?”
“The Queen succubitch is whining already.”
“Oh, god, not fair.”
“You don’t answer your phone.”
“I lost it. Dad gave me a new one.”
“I see.” River sets me down and leans against my stolen ride. “Is this courtesy of the special snowflake who cleaned your apartment?”
I look away. Guilt for the lies I have to tell burning another scar into my soul. “Of course, not.”
“You can’t lie to me like you lie to everyone else, Jackie. I’m your baby brother slash best friend.”
I scowl. “I don’t want you involved.”
“I’m your brother. I’m going to be involved. Let me help you.”
I shake my head. “No,” I whisper it. But I have never been more firm than I am right now.
“Jackie, please.”
“No! No, River, listen to me. No. Just stay out of it.”
He stands up, and even in the dark, I can see the hurt on his face.