i

" I held out a glass of water I

She was completely out of control when drunk, and honestly, I was luck

so close our faces were barely an inch apart. Her he

her lips brushed ag

g. My brain went haywire, my throat goin

otter, twisting my thoughts. A low sound escaped my throat

't happe

re still drunk." I

t me, River?"

ed her face gently, forcing he

. Not li

me, frustration lac

ng in to a desire that had n

in when you'r

torm of temptation by taking a long hot shower

was setting up the space heater. The autumn ai

her. The things I'd asked Travis for were already on the table-painkillers for the hangover, bage

.. River," she

ully awake now, let's ea

round, noticing the clothes she wore weren't hers. Her cheeks flushed red, and she d

ter you eat.

ully. "Who... cha

half-conscious and your clothes were ruined from

rassed. I didn't want to push it, so I

y phone was full of notifications from Travis. One stoo

ope

cared kid with a heavy Japanese accent. I'd spent the last two year

ad confirmed it. I remembered the day clearly: her appendix had burst in e

er that incident on the bridge, the one who became my first love. All I

iv

, drowning in my oversized shirt and rolle

t is

ything embarras

ever found out she'd almost broken my self

"No. You

e?" She glanced arou

er a car tire when

ed phone inside. Her face paled, panic written all o

ediately called someon

place. I'll explain later. Can you

up, her eyes f

bout last night. Can you tell

u'd just fought with someone. You sat at the bar and started drinking. A lot. I saw you from across

e didn't need to know-not yet. When the right ti

ring in her gaze. "So... you

apartment. I went to meet him." No way was I

the breakfast spread. "Thank you, Ri

her. "Why'd you

Way too much. He told me I wasn't allowed to be near y

him during the research. We'd met yesterday and cla

I talk to you... I don't know. I feel

she knew how much I remembered-every second w

e. "Maybe we ha

bling at her toast. "I've

in," I said too quic

to mine. "What's th

not the type who needs alcohol to run f

re a small smile curved her

ng. Ayla jumped to her feet, panic wr

ought and handed them to her. "Here. So

her voice soft.

she paused,

last night. I don't know what wo

f you need me," I answe

d faintly

pulling up the digital file Travis had sent. The records of Hope Fre

a. Possible effect: l

. She really h

at Thanksgiving again. Half-Japanese or

't worry," I said quickl

o hear a knock on

he said, walking in. "How long

r. We're

.. she really is Ayl

gh. Memories of our childhood, her handwritt

en searching for, isn't s

't need to. The truth w