บททั้งหมดของ Never Mine To Love: บทที่ 41 - บทที่ 50

River's Pov.After the call.after that strange, scratchy voice came through the phone and made my whole apartment feel cold and empty, I just sat there. Right on the rug. Cross-legged, like I was about to meditate or find some kind of peace or whatever.Spoiler: peace didn’t show up.The orange juice sat beside me like it was confused. Like, Hey, weren’t we having fun? It left a little wet circle on the floor that would probably annoy me later. My sketchbook was still open in front of me, the pencil stuck between the pages like it had given up halfway. I couldn’t even remember what I’d been drawing. Maybe a cat wearing glasses or a weird toaster.It didn’t matter now.My heart was pounding like it was trying to get out of my chest. Loud and heavy. Kind of over-the-top. I hugged my arms around myself and rocked a little. Not on purpose. My body just did it on its own. Like it didn’t know what else to do.I didn’t really cry. Not the messy kind you see in movies. Just a couple tears sl

River's Pov.I was halfway through a bowl of cereal I didn’t want when my phone buzzed across the table.Noah: We’re at practice. Get your lazy ass here.Charming as always.I stared at the message for a second, spoon still in my mouth, and then sighed. It wasn’t even a full sentence—just a command. Typical Noah.I dropped the spoon into the soggy mess and wiped my hands on my shorts. The cereal had already gone soft anyway. Didn’t matter. I wasn’t hungry.Grabbing the hoodie off the back of the chair, I pulled it over my head and headed for the door. “I’m heading out!” I called toward Ethan’s room as I slipped on my sneakers.His door cracked open and he peeked out, toothbrush in hand. Foam was collecting at the corners of his mouth. “Where?”“Field.”He nodded once and ducked back in without another word.I grabbed my keys and stepped outside before I could change my mind. There was always the option of staying in. Laying around. Letting the day pass. But then I’d be alone with my t

Noah's Pov.I barely made it two steps inside before the weight of what almost happened hit me again.River.His face.His damn lips—so close I could’ve counted the freckles on them. I’d almost kissed him. I should’ve been disgusted. I should’ve pulled away, laughed it off, blamed it on the moment.But I didn’t.Instead, I froze, staring at his mouth like it meant something. And now, here I was, heart thudding in my chest over some guy whose mouth I can’t stop picturing.“What the hell is wrong with me?” I muttered, dragging a hand through my hair.A knock broke the silence.I blinked, turning toward the door. Another knock. Lighter this time, and quick — like whoever was on the other side didn’t want to seem too eager.I opened the door.And instantly forgot how to speak.She was leaning one shoulder against the doorframe, wearing tight black gym shorts that clung to her hips like sin itself. A grey sports bra hugged her breasts so tightly it was impossible not to look and trust me,

Noah's Pov.I showed up at River’s place about twenty minutes later, carrying a grocery bag full of snacks I wasn’t sure he’d like, my favorite hoodie just in case, and a head full of thoughts I couldn’t quite shake.I wasn’t myself.The whole walk over, I kept replaying what happened in the shower. I told myself to stop, to let it go, to forget it but it clung to me like heat under my skin.The door opened before I could even knock properly. Karden was there, leaning against the frame with that same look he always gave me, somewhere between suspicion and boredom.“River said you were coming,” he muttered.“Lucky you.”His eyes dropped to the bag in my hand. “Is that popcorn?”“Maybe.”“Don’t eat it all.”“No promises,” I said, stepping in before he changed his mind.River’s apartment was a mess. Not in a gross way. Just… cluttered. Notes and cables everywhere. The lights were dim, and the laptop screen glowed in the center of it all like it was holding the universe together.And ther

Karden's Pov.I had just finished the last of my internship papers.The stack of research, citations, and sleepless nights was finally over. I stared down at the printed pages sitting perfectly in their folder, crisp and clean, like they didn’t just suck out every drop of energy from my soul for the past two weeks.It didn’t feel real yet.Still, a strange calm settled in my chest. The kind that only shows up after pushing through something hard. I checked the folder again, even though I knew I didn’t need to. Twice. Okay, maybe three times. Just to be sure everything was where it should be.Then I tucked it under my arm and started walking down the hallway toward Daniel Wellington’s office.The building was quiet. Almost too quiet. Most students were already in class or long gone. The air felt still, like the walls themselves were tired. My boots made soft, hollow sounds on the floor, echoing a little more than usual in the silence.Daniel’s door was unlocked.Not unusual.I pushed i