Page 27 of The Cheerleader is Off Limits

Hopefully, I will.

But he is never going to find out I lied about my age.

And even if he does, it’s not a big deal.

I’m nineteen. I’m of legal age.

Yes, okay, I’m still in high school, but that’s only because I’ve been homeschooled.

I technically should be in my first year of college.

There’s no way he’ll find out.

By the time I’m back in school in two weeks, this thing with River will have fizzled out.

It’s just harmless fun.

Live a little, Sloane.

CHAPTER 6

RIVER

“So it looks like Iamholding off on setting you up because it seems like you’ve already got a date with a girl you really like if these cute little texts are any indication,” Ellie says while we sit on their back patio, and she scrolls through the text conversation with Sloane. As promised, I came over the next day to hang out with Isla and SJ after they got out of their respective summer camps. Isla is upstairs briefly, probably changing into a swimsuit to get in their pool, so I take it as a moment to talk to Ellie about Sloane and whoever she’s trying to set me up with. Her brown eyes flit to mine, full of curiosity, once she gets to the selfies that Sloane had sent just an hour ago. “And she’s definitely cute. But are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?”

“Which is?” I ask, knowing what she’s going to say.

“Rowan told me how old she is.” She blinks her eyes at me a few times. “I thought you were starting to think about settling down. Is she interested in something serious?”

“Okay, so first of all, it’s just dinner. We haven’t discussed any of that. Just because we’re going out doesn’t mean I can’t also go out with any one of your friends… for the record. Am I not allowed to eat?”

She eyes me warily before putting her hands under her chin like she’s studying me. “So you can see yourself getting serious with this girl?”

“What?”

“I’m just saying if you don’t think she’s someone you could settle down with, then this kind of seems like a waste of time.”

“Ellie…” I start, already knowing what’s coming.

“Yousaid you didn’t want to keep doing this anymore, remember? No more one-night stands and random hook-ups? No more going out with women you can’t actually see a future with?” I slide my sunglasses back over my eyes and lean back in the chair because I do remember this conversation.Barely.

I’d come over for dinner and played a way too competitive game ofMonopolywith Rowan, Ellie, SJ, and Margot that lasted well past midnight, which led to me staying over and a liquor-fueled heart-to-heart with my brother and future sister-in-law.

“I know that, but… I haven’t met anyone, and I can have fun until I do.” I lean forward on the table. “I’m open to your candidates.”

She rolls her eyes and is about to respond when Isla comes skipping outside, dressed in a pink bathing suit, pink heart-shaped sunglasses, and goggles hanging from around her neck.

“Uncle River, can you get in with me?”

“I didn’t bring a bathing suit, but I’ll sit here with you.”

“Will you toss me in!?” she asks while bouncing back and forth between her feet. She was turning into a little fish just like her brother and was already practicing her backflips off the side, much to Ellie’s distress.

“Uhhhh…” Ellie protests.

“Ellie, he does it all the tiiiiime.” She tilts her head to the side and juts her hip out, and I want to chuckle at the sass that is apparently the cause of a few new gray hairs on my brother.

I glare at Isla because, while she’s correct, I try to refrain from doing that while Ellie is around. Kind of like getting donuts or ice cream after school and letting her and SJ stay up far too late when I’m babysitting.And maybe the horror movie I let her watch last weekend, but she handled that like a champ and hasn’t ratted me out for that,yet.