Chapter 10
Willow stretched under her covers after a night of fitful sleep. It was far too early to be awake, but sleep seemed impossible. She reached for her phone and sent River a text. River was an avid runner. Not only would she likely be awake, she was probably in the area.
Willow: Hey are you close to my place?
River: Yeah, I’m close. What’s up?
Willow: Want to take a tea break?
River: Sure. Give me fifteen minutes.
Willow’s feet were cold on her wood floor. She made her way clumsily down the hallway to the kitchen. She had two mugs of tea ready by the time River made it to her door.
“Now that’s service,” River laughed. She walked in the front door and took an immediate assessment of Willow’s face. Willow handed her a mug and tried to smile. She could tell from River’s expression that this caused her friend more concern.
“Okay. What’s going on?” River asked. She arched her eyebrow and gave Willow a look of suspicion.
“Plenty is going on,” Willow admitted. She released the tension in her shoulders and let them fall.
“Oh no, buddy. What happened?”
Willow sighed and walked into her kitchen. She sat at the dining room table. River followed her. They usually sat on the couch, but this was the last place that things had made sense for Willow. The kitchen table was where everything had gone right and wrong last night. River didn’t question the change to their usual flow, she was naturally easy going. Willow took in one more deep breath before she started.
“I slept with Mel,” Willow began.
“You what? How? When?” River’s expression showed her obvious confusion.
“Last night. Sushi got out of his fence. I was running around in the rain trying to find him when Mel pulled up. She offered to drive me around looking for him.”
“That was nice of her,” River offered.
“Yes, it was. We found him on the beach of all places.” At their feet Sushi gave an exaggerated yawn.
“I see he’s still tired from his travels,” River laughed. Willow gave Sushi a stern glance but when he licked her hand she couldn’t help but smile.
“Okay. So Mel helped you find Sushi. How does that lead to the two of you having sex?” River asked.
“I was feeling… Well, I don’t know what I was feeling. But I didn’t want her to go. So I invited her to come over for dinner.”
“Sounds nice so far.”
“It was meant to be. Then I kissed her. Which led to sex.”
“Okay. I mean you’re both consenting adults. How was it?” River asked.
“Honestly, it was pretty fantastic. I have no complaints,” Willow admitted.
“Okay. Then why don’t you seem happy?”
“Because I think I said something to offend her. But I’m not sure why it offended her. Or how to fix it,” Willow said.
“What did you say?” River asked, the worry was clear on her face.
“She asked me what our time together meant. And my mind went blank for a minute. I didn’t know what to say. I’m sure it was overwhelming for her, but it was overwhelming for me, too.”
“So what did you say?” River pressed gently.
“I said that it didn’t have to mean anything,” Willow gave a bleak smile. Now that she was removed from the interaction she could hear how the phrase sounded.
“That could have been said a little better,” River said with a slight cringe.
“I know. There’s just something about Mel. I just got so nervous,” Willow sighed.
“I think that’s kind of cute,” River admitted.
“No, it isn’t. I look like an idiot. I can only imagine what Mel must think. And now I have to deliver her clothes from last night. I have no idea what I should even say,” Willow groaned and lay her head on the kitchen table.
“Try radical honesty,” River suggested with a grin.
“What?” Willow asked. She lay her head on her arms and gave River an appraising look.
“Tell her the truth.”
“Why in the world would I do that?”
“Because you aren’t suave. And I think seeing you be vulnerable will probably be disarming.”
“Disarming?” Willow asked.
“Yeah. You’ve been kind of harsh with her in the past. So admitting that she makes you nervous and you have no idea what to say to her will probably be endearing,” River laughed.
“I hate everything about that,” Willow admitted.
“Sure. But you don’t have a better idea.”
Willow hated it when River was right about something. In truth, she didn’t have a better idea. Willow gave herself a moment to consider what was being proposed to her.
“So, what do you think I should say to this woman?” Willow asked.
“I think you should apologize for the way you answered her last night. Then say something sweet like, you just make me so nervous . Then ask her out on a date.”
“Wait a minute. I’m not sure that I want a date.”
“As your best friend, trust me. You want a date. You just don’t realize it yet.”
“River,” Willow said, her tone wearing at the edges.
“What? You clearly do.”
“How can you know that?” Willow asked.
“Because if you were done with her you wouldn’t be obsessing over what she thinks of you,” River declared.
River was batting a thousand this morning, and Willow hated it. Willow frowned to herself. River gave her a puzzled look.
“What’s wrong?”
“It just feels too exposed,” Willow admitted.
“That’s the point,” River sighed.
“You aren’t going to win Mel over by playing hard to get,” River encouraged.
“Let me get this straight. You want me to go over there and tell Mel that I’m sorry. That I made a fool out of myself because she makes me nervous. And then ask her on a date. Is that right?” Willow asked.
She arched her eyebrow at her friend hoping she could see how ridiculous the whole thing sounded. Instead, River smiled at her pleasantly. Willow gave her a begrudging grin.
“You really think that will work?” Willow asked.
“I have no idea what will work. I think it has a really good chance. And I think getting back out there might make you happy.”
“You think so?”
“Willow, you barely get out of the house anymore. It’s time for you to open yourself back up to life. Like it or not, Mel has been the only person to bring those feelings out of you.”
Willow could only nod her head. Her thoughts swirled in her mind. She could feel the weight of her own apprehension. Willow stood from the table and stretched.
“Okay,” Willow announced.
“Okay, what?” River asked.
“Okay, I’m going to give it a try,” Willow said, she gave River a wide smile.
“That’s the spirit. I’ll stay here and wait. I want to hear everything once you get back.”
Willow laughed and shook her head. She loved the way River wanted to see this adventure through to the very end. She had folded Mel’s clothes that morning and put them on the back of her couch. Willow grabbed the clothes and shot River one more smile as she walked out the door. The walk across the street to Mel’s place may as well have been a five-mile trek. The distance seemed to loom in front of her. There was nothing Willow hated more than awkward encounters. The idea of forcing herself into an awkward situation seemed ridiculous.
Willow knocked loudly on Mel’s door. She heard a loud scramble coming from inside Mel’s home. From the other side of the door someone cursed and it sounded as though a piece of furniture fell over. The door flew open with such force that Willow took a half step back.
The woman in the doorway was not Mel. It was the woman that Willow had seen her with in the dog park. Mel had insisted the two were just friends but the woman wore a tank top and sleep shorts. It was pretty clear she had spent the night at Mel’s place. Willow tried to keep her mind from jumping to conclusions. But Willow couldn’t help considering the worst case scenario. Maybe Mel had lied about having a girlfriend. Maybe this woman and Mel were together. Or maybe they were just friends. Willow didn’t have the mental equity to figure it out on the spot.
“Can I help you?” the woman asked. Willow simply handed her the folded clothes.
“I was bringing these back to Mel,” Willow said. She didn’t like the shaking in her own voice.
“Oh, thanks. Mel is in the shower but she’ll be back in a minute if you want to wait. I’m Brianna. We sort of met the other day at the dog park,” Brianna gave a sheepish smile as she mentioned the dog park. Willow could appreciate that none of them had been at their best that day, with the exception of Mel. It had been Mel who had set the moment aside in favor of peace.
“I remember. I’m Willow.” Willow extended her hand to Brianna. For half a moment Brianna simply stared at her hand before finally giving it a shake.
“Like I said, Mel should be out in a second.”
“That’s okay. Just tell her I stopped by with her clothes,” Willow smiled. She had turned and was walking away before Brianna had a chance to say another word.
Willow closed her front door and laid her forehead against it. She could feel River’s eyes on her. River waited patiently for her to speak. When she didn’t, River cleared her throat.
“I guess that means it was a success.” River laughed.
Willow turned her face and met River’s eyes. River walked up and wrapped her arms around Willow.
“What happened, friend?”
“The woman that was with Mel at the dog park opened the door. In her pajama shorts.”
“Well, now I wish I had gone with you,” River chuckled. Willow glared at River, her eyes piercing.
“What? Her friend was hot,” River chuckled.
“But I can understand how that might have thrown you off your game. What did Mel say?” River asked.
“Nothing. She was in the shower. I just handed the clothes to her friend and fled the scene.”
“You didn’t even wait to talk to Mel?” River asked.
“No,” Willow groaned.
“You live in the same neighborhood. I’m sure you’ll see her around,” River offered. But Willow didn’t find her words comforting.
“I’m going to get ready for the day,” Willow said simply. It was enough for River to catch her meaning. River offered one final hug.
“Text me if you need anything,” River smiled. Willow squeezed her a little tighter.
River opened the door and started running. Willow marveled at River’s stamina. River turned and gave her a wave before sprinting away. Willow closed the door. Sushi followed beside her as she walked back to her bedroom and plopped on her bed. Willow didn’t know what to make of Brianna opening the door that morning instead of Mel. But Willow had no desire to think about it anymore than necessary. She let her eyes close and allowed sleep to come.