Chapter 5
River had spent a considerable amount of time imagining Brianna in her workout gear, hot and sweaty as she lifted weights. She heard the familiar sounds of banging and clanging when Brianna finally arrived back home. With a tedious amount of care River got out of bed. She managed to navigate her trip into the kitchen carefully.
Brianna was cooking meat and eggs over the stove. She wore her sports bra and Adidas workout pants. River wanted to faint on the spot. Was there anything more sexy than a scantily clad woman cooking? There was if that woman was covered in muscles the way Brianna was.
“Oh hey. You want some?” Brianna asked with a wide smile.
That smile might be the death of River. There was something about it that made River want to smother it with her own lips.
“Please,” River managed to get the singular word out. She sat in a chair in the living room. It allowed her to keep Brianna in her line of sight. A guilty pleasure at this point.
Brianna’s muscles flexed as she flipped two strips of bacon over in the pan. River felt her core tighten. A bead of sweat rolled down Brianna’s neck and between her breasts. River wanted to moan. What was going on with her? Not once had the sight of Brianna in her sports bra had this effect on her before. Today, it made her weak in the knees.
Brianna brought a plate over with silverware and set it in front of River.
“Thanks,” River smiled.
“Of course. Anything for you,” Brianna smiled back. River felt a sudden flutter in her heart. This was ridiculous.
Brianna plated her own food and brought it to the living room. She sat in the chair adjacent to River’s.
“Have you heard any more from Tiff? Is she coming back over tonight?”
Brianna’s words shattered whatever spell had been holding River captive. That was right, she had a girlfriend. A serious girlfriend who had talked about rings and weddings last month.
“Not tonight,” River frowned.
She had texted back and forth with Tiffany trying to convince her to come over tonight. It shouldn’t be this hard to convince her girlfriend to come over after a major accident. But Tiffany had been unyielding. Brianna frowned too.
“I’m sorry. I guess I expected her to want to stay with you more.”
River knew that Brianna didn’t mean the statement in a judgmental way. Still, she couldn’t help measuring Tiff’s actions to Brianna’s words. Any way she sliced it, Tiff had come up lacking since her accident. Meanwhile she had a gorgeous, half-dressed roommate with amazing muscles cooking her breakfast. It was hard not to make comparisons.
“It’s okay. I’m sure that Tiff’s busy with work. Plus, she knows that I have someone here to help me.”
Brianna nodded.
“Of course, you do. River, you have lots of friends that love and care for you. Any one of us would be here in a second to help you.”
Why did hearing Brianna use the word friends suddenly so hurtful? That was the truth, she and Brianna were friends. Weren’t they?
“You’re right. I’m lucky to be surrounded by so many good people.”
“Oh hey, speaking of friends. I have to go into the office today. Willow is going to come over and work from my office area.”
River breathed a small sigh of relief. Willow was coming over. Which meant she’d have someone who she could open up to about her current predicament.
“You didn’t have to go through the trouble of finding a stand-in for me,” River laughed.
Brianna waved her off with a chuckle.
“Don’t be ridiculous, it wasn’t any trouble. Besides, Willow was excited.”
That much River believed. Willow had been texting her pretty much nonstop since the accident. She knew that her friend had been worried about her. It was only Willow’s polite nature that had kept her from barging into their home.
“Okay. As long as it wasn’t any trouble then I appreciate it.”
“No trouble at all,” Briann smiled again.
Brianna ate her breakfast in a rush. River had always thought Brianna’s morning routine resembled a chicken with its head cut off. She was constantly running from one side of their home to the other or forgetting her belongings. River had often wondered how the woman got anything accomplished. Today was no exception. Except today, River didn’t have anywhere that she needed to be. So instead of moving out of Brianna’s way she made herself make the walk to the kitchen. She got out Brianna’s protein shake, energy drink, vitamins, water, and an energy bar for lunch. She lay everything out along the countertop where Brianna would be hard pressed not to see it.
“What’s this?” Brianna asked.
“This is everything you usually take with you. Or at least I think it is. Do you need anything else for the day?” River gave a shy smile.
“No, you covered everything. Did you do this for me?”
“Of course, I did,” River laughed.
Brianna closed the distance between them. She looked at River as if she were a puzzle she needed to solve. Brianna put her arms around River in the softest hug she’d ever experienced.
“I’m not that breakable.” River teased.
“I know. I just don’t want to hurt you,” Brianna answered.
River’s heart melted in her chest. Brianna’s words had touched her somewhere deep and dark. With Brianna’s touch things were a little brighter.
“You’ve been taking such good care of me that I wanted to do something nice for you.”
“I’m happy to take care of you. But thank you. I appreciate the gesture,” Brianna smiled.
River watched as Brianna walked out the door. She took a deep breath. What was Brianna doing to her? The truth was that Brianna wasn’t doing anything to her. Brianna had always been wonderful and considerate. Until now River hadn’t needed to rely on Brianna’s kindness. It had been there when she’d needed it, but River had never depended on Brianna before. Now here she was, injured. River couldn’t go out any time that she wanted. She needed someone to help her. And it had been Brianna, not Tiff, who had stepped up to the challenge. Could she really blame herself if she was looking at Brianna in a different way.
An hour later Willow came over. She brought ice cream with her, which made River’s heart happy. Willow wrapped River up in another careful hug,
“What is it with everyone giving me these delicate hugs today?” River laughed.
“We’re afraid to break you,” Willow answered sternly.
River considered making a sarcastic remark about bouncing off the car that hit her. Ultimately, she decided it was too soon for such jokes.
“Sit down while I make the ice cream.”
River secretly loved it when Willow took charge and told her what to do. It was nice to turn off her brain and be taken care of some times. Not that she would ever let Willow know that. River did as Willow directed and sat down on the couch. After a few minutes Willow sat beside her. She held River’s bowl so that she could scoop spoonfuls of ice cream out. River had never realized how difficult it was eating on someone else’s rhythm. Several times Willow accidentally bumped her in the teeth with the spoon. The process was clumsy and uncoordinated. Though River did appreciate her friend’s efforts.
“What’s new with you and Mel? Have you decided on a big day yet?” River asked.
“We want to wait until next fall to get married. That will give us a chance to save up.”
“How are things with Mom?”
“Mom is good. She’s living in her own place. And she’s keeping out of my business for the most part,” Willow laughed.
“How about Sushi? Where’s my fur nephew?”
“I was afraid Sushi might be a little too rough and tumble for you in your current state,” Willow cringed.
Sushi was Willow’s dog. He and River shared a special bond, where River gave him everything he wanted. Much like an actual aunt.
“How about you? How have you been adjusting since you came home from the hospital?”
River smiled as Willow stumbled through the question. She knew that Willow’s heart was always in the best place, but River still appreciated her awkward approach to most things.
“I’m actually really glad that you’re here, and that we’re alone,” River began.
Willow leaned in a little, paying extra close attention.
“Tell me everything,” Willow smiled.
“I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I actually don’t know what to do about this.”
“Then you’ve come to the right place. I’m sure between the two of us we can figure anything out.”
“I think I’m developing a little bit of a crush on Brianna.”
River shut her eyes tightly. She waited for Willow to have a big reaction. When Willow said nothing, River opened her eyes and saw her friend giving her a quizzical look.
“What? Didn’t you hear me?” River asked.
“I definitely heard you. I guess I’m just not sure what the big deal is.”
River’s shoulders sank. She should have known that Willow was too practical for this conversation.
“But Brianna is my roommate and my friend. I can’t have a crush on her.”
“Why not? She’s kind, funny, smart, and I bet she’s taking great care of you.”
“It’s inconvenient and I have a girlfriend,” River retorted.
“Do you? I haven’t seen Tiff since your accident.”
“She came over once.”
No matter how hard she tried to talk Tiff up the woman had fallen woefully short of expectations.
“Well in that case let me nominate her for girlfriend of the year.”
Willow rolled her eyes. River hated how right Willow was.
“I’m honestly surprised that it’s taken you this long to develop some kind of feelings for Brianna. I’m not saying cheat on Tiff. But I wouldn’t shut things down with Brianna just yet.”
“Okay. But how do I know if Brianna feels the same way for me?”
“You don’t know for sure. But I’m telling you she definitely does,” Willow smiled.
“How could you know that?” River asked.
“Oh please. You two were made for each other. You’re both just too blind to see it. But maybe this accident opened both of you up to what’s been staring you in the face this whole time.”
River’s thoughts took over and she gave way to them. What if this feeling was mutual? Would she want something with Brianna? River’s heart beat a little faster at the thought. Something between her and Brianna could be amazing. Or it could be a disaster. Every bone in River’s body told her that having Brianna as a girlfriend would be amazing.
“Earth to River. Where did you go?”
“Sorry. I was trying to figure out what it would mean if Brianna liked me too,” River said honestly.
“It isn’t as if I can just ask her,” River added. Willow nodded her head in agreement.
“That’s fair. Has she been treating you any differently?”
“Not really. Brianna has always been wonderful. And she’s still wonderful.”
“Just pay close attention. See if you feel like she’s looking at you differently.”
“And what about Tiff?” River asked.
“Tiff isn’t even showing up for you. That’s honestly a red flag even apart from Brianna.”
River clicked the TV on, desperate for any distraction. Willow turned her attention towards the TV. River considered what Willow had said. She wasn’t even close to bringing her shift in feelings up to Brianna. She would wait and see how things developed between them. Only time could tell if friends were all they were meant to be.