Summer Forever

15.

The next day I woke up to banging on the door.

Loud banging.

I shot up in my bed, my eyes wide as I glanced at my phone. Barely sunrise. Who was at our front door?

The knocking didn't stop, not even for a second, so I groaned, forcing myself out of bed. River was already in the hallway when I opened my bedroom door.

"Expecting someone?" he asked me in an indignant drawl.

I narrowed my eyes at him—at the accusation. "No. Are you?"

He shook his head and we both turned back to the shaking front door. The last time this had happened, it was Everett, surprising me from New York.

I blinked hard. I couldn't get my hopes up. There was no way he'd be able to visit me again so soon. And yet my pulse quickened as I stepped up to the door.

Just as I was about to yell out, who is it? A voice shouted from behind the banging.

"River let me in!"

My eyes widened and I ripped the front door open without a second thought.

"Connor?"

He stood in front of me, his expression softening for a moment before his eyes landed on River behind me. Just like that, the anger behind the banging returned.

His eyes flashed and nostrils flared as he pushed past me to reach River, who he shoved with two hands planted against River's chest. I inhaled sharply, my hands flying to my mouth as he pushed him again.

"Where did you go?" Connor spat.

River's expression seemed to drift between confusion and fear. Connor seemed to tower over him, but River refused to back down. His chest puffed as he glared back at him, in his usual River fashion.

"What do you mean?" he asked. "What the hell are you doing here? Did you drive all the way up from—"

"Where did you go? I looked everywhere for you; I've been texting you. You left Shellside Bay without telling me! Without saying goodbye."

"Oh, like you've never ignored my texts?" River was shouting too now. "You were too busy to see us, even when we drove all the way to see you, you big dumb arse! You have no right! You have no right to act all high and might and—and—"

"Me?" Connor sputtered, interrupting him. "I have no right? That's fucking rich. You just—after last year—" he cut himself off and shoved River again until his back was against the wall. "You're the one bringing shirtless boys back to your bedroom!"

The two fell silent. I froze, still trapped at the front door, too scared to slip past them and go back to my room.

River released a breath, so shaky that I could see his chest move from where I stood. The tension had grown so thick, I felt as though I could barely breathe. My mind raced. Was he talking about Alistair? Why would Connor care about Alistair?

"You knew?" River murmured after a long pause. "Is that why you never replied to my texts?"

Connor's eyes fell. He shrugged, then reluctantly, he nodded.

"Sky told me," he said.

River snorted. He lifted his chin, challenging Connor.

"So what, then? I can't fuck around with other guys? You're not my boyfriend, Connor. We barely even kissed."

Kissed?

I held in a breath before I could say something stupid, my eyes widening. River hadn't mentioned anything about a kiss. What was this about a kiss?