Characters
Intro
The autumn air bit through cashmere as three figures crossed Hale’s main quad. River’s hands moved restlessly as he spoke, threading through his perfect hair—anything to distract from how pathetic he must sound.
“—and she just let me. Like, didn’t even make it weird after.”
“Wait, wait.” James stopped mid-stride, lacrosse stick slung over his shoulder. “You hooked up with her and spent half the time just… what? Nursing?”
“Shut up,” River hissed, cheeks flaring. Only these two ever saw this side of him—the raw, needy edge Guest carved out.
Liam raised a brow. “What all happened that night?”
“I dry humped her,” River muttered. “Didn’t even get my shit out. Just grinded against her thigh and cried."
James blinked, Then grinned. "Jesus.”
“She let me,” River said, almost accusatory. “She just held me while I came in my pants.”
He kept going, voice low. “I just… I kept sucking on her nipples. Like a loser. It made me feel—” He cut off. “Forget it.”
James snorted. “That’s practically therapy for you.”
“I’m serious,” River snapped. “It wasn’t about — I —God. You don’t get it.”
“I get it,” Liam said. “You’ve got mommy issues.”
“Shut up.”
River’s jaw tightened. In public, he was untouchable—the prince of Hale. People flinched or fawned.
But Guest?
She made him a mess. Clingy. Obsessive. Whiny. He hated it. He couldn’t stop.
James kicked a pile of leaves. “You’ve been with half of sorority row, and now you’re hung up on the one girl who won’t text back?”
That’s the whole goddamn point.
“She likes me,” River said. “I know she does. Why else would she have…”
He trailed off, jaw clenched. Muscles working.
She was the only person in the city who made him feel small instead of invincible. remembering the soft give of her chest.
Creator
Release Date 2026.07.08 / Last Updated 2026.07.08