Chapter 6
In the weeks since River’s accident Brianna had developed a schedule. Every morning they woke up and Brianna fixed coffee for both she and River. Then rain or shine she and River would load up and go to the local park. Brianna would push River in her wheelchair around the pond in the center of the park. River would complain about the humidity, but Brianna could tell her friend enjoyed the daily outing.
Today, they saw four different turtles sitting on rocks in the morning sun. Brianna wondered if there was a way to keep this ritual in her schedule even after River healed. She had come to enjoy the walks every bit as much as River did.
“I don’t have much longer until I can get out of these casts.”
Brianna nodded her head in agreement. The excitement in River’s tone was palpable. Brianna’s lips curved up at the ends. She would be happy to see River regain some of her independence. River had been a trooper while she recovered, but Brianna knew the woman missed being able to do certain things in solitude.
“I really don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay you for all you’ve done for me.”
“There’s nothing to repay,” Brianna smiled genuinely.
“Okay. But there definitely is.”
“Nope. I’m sorry. You’re my friend and you needed me. So, I’m here, it’s that simple. You’d do it for me.”
“I would, for sure. But I’d rather you didn’t get run over by a car.”
“How would you prefer I injure myself,” Brianna teased.
“I’d rather you didn’t injure yourself at all. But from personal experience, pick something other than getting hit by a car.”
River gave a deep throaty laugh. Brianna had always loved the sound of River’s laugh, it was like she was laughing with her whole body.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Brianna had been trying to keep some space between herself and River. Ever since the telltale signs that she was developing a crush started to come through. It was nothing that River would be aware of. Her pulling back wasn’t an act of unkindness. Instead, Brianna pulled back so that she could avoid giving River any feelings of discomfort. For the most part her efforts had been successful. While her crush on River remained, she did feel capable of handling the feelings objectively.
Brianna parked River’s wheelchair beside the park bench that overlooked the pond. She sat on the bench and watched a family of ducks swim past. She felt very much like those ducks. On the surface she was perfectly calm, underneath it all she was paddling like her life depended on it. She couldn’t imagine what would happen if River ever found out that her feelings for her were starting to grow. That they were starting to deepen. That wouldn’t be fair to her friend, or to her own heart.
In a desperate attempt to move on with her life, Brianna had been going out more. She knew that the move seemed sudden. She could tell that her change in habits had thrown River off. There was no way to explain to River how painful it was spending so much time with her, but only being considered a good friend. Meanwhile Tiff was growing more and more MIA by the moment. Last week Tiff hadn’t even come over to see River at all.
River deserved far better than what Tiff was giving her. But the sad truth was, that wasn’t Brianna’s decision to make. River had to decide for herself that enough was enough and break up with Tiff.
“Brianna,” River said.
River’s voice sounded like it was searching for something.
“Yeah,” Brianna answered.
“Do you think something is going on with Tiff?” River asked.
“It’s hard to say. I don’t know Tiff very well.”
Brianna tried to answer the question honestly, while still remaining objective. River nodded her head, considering.
“It’s just that I can’t help noticing that while I’ve been hurt, she hasn’t been around much.”
Brianna’s heart thudded in her chest. The sound echoed in her own ears.
“The truth is I’m glad you’ve been here.”
River let the statement stand on its own.
“I’m glad I was able to be here,” Brianna offered a smile.
“But Tiff isn’t any busier than you are. It’s true she has a demanding job, but technically you have a day job, and you moonlight as a deejay. Your schedule is just as hectic. But you’ve been here every step of the way.”
Brianna allowed the words to hit her in the heart. She met River’s dark brown eyes and smiled.
“I mean I live with you, so I have to be there.”
They both laughed, diffusing the situation in a pleasant way.
“Okay. But even though we live together you’ve gone above and beyond for me. You moved your entire schedule around. You’ve been working from home. I can’t help but look at Tiff and be a bit disappointed by her lack of effort.”
“I’m sorry if I’ve sort of overstepped.”
“No. No. Thank goodness you did step up. I’ve really needed you. Remember when I tried to brush my own teeth that first time?” River asked.
“That was a disaster,” Brianna laughed, remembering the moment.
“I guess I can’t help noticing that Tiff has been absent.”
“Have you talked to her about it?” Brianna suggested.
Brianna didn’t like Tiff. Actually, she couldn’t stand the woman if she was being honest. But she wasn’t the type of woman to cause problems in another person’s relationship. Whatever problems River was having she needed to get them sorted out with Tiff.
“I have. I talked to her about it on the phone last night.”
“What did she say?”
“She just keeps giving me the standard line that she’s busy. But that she misses me and wishes she could come around more.”
Brianna felt her jaw clench. There was no way Tiff couldn’t squeeze out a little more time for River. Considering, the amount of time she was currently giving was almost zero.
“It’ll all work out the way it’s meant to.”
Brianna gave River a pat on the shoulder.
“Thanks, friend. I’ll invite her to come over for dinner tonight. If that’s okay with you?” River asked.
“Of course. I won’t be in tonight anyway.”
Brianna thought she saw River’s jaw tighten. Within a second her friend seemed back to herself.
“Oh yeah, where are you off to?” River asked, her tone playful.
“I met a girl at my dee-jay gig last weekend. We’re going to watch a band that her friend plays in tonight.”
“And do we like this girl?” River asked.
“Hard to say. This is only the first date. But I’m sure you’ll get all the updates regardless of how it goes.”
“Well, I better,” River laughed.
There was a difference in River’s tone, though Brianna couldn’t put her finger on it.
“You know that you’ll be the first person to hear all about it.”
They sat in relative silence for a few more minutes before Brianna’s alarm went off. A clear sign that she needed to get back to her workday.
“You ready to go?” Brianna asked.
“I am,” River smiled.
That evening Brianna pulled too many clothes out of her closet to try on. She settled on something simple, black jeans, a white T-shirt, and her favorite flannel. It was the kind of outfit she knew would fit in at just about any show. She was meeting Miranda, a cute blonde woman with a fun sense of humor. With her feelings for River evolving, it was nice to be going out on a date with a viable option.
River was sitting on the couch on her way to the door.
“You on your way to your date?” River asked.
“I am. Is Tiff coming over?”
River gave her a shy smile.
“She is.”
“Good, I’m glad she can make it,” Brianna said genuinely.
“Me, too. Have the best date, friend,” River smiled.
Whatever connection was forming between them, Brianna was glad they still wanted what was best for each other.
“Thanks, friend.”
Brianna opened their front door and almost collided with Tiff.
“Sorry about that,” Brianna laughed.
Tiff gave her a look that was somewhere between boredom and annoyance.
“Where are you off to?” Tiff asked.
“Brianna’s got a hot date,” River shouted.
“Must be nice. Going out on the town,” Tiff answered low enough that only Brianna heard her. Molten lava flooded Brianna’s veins, but she quickly calmed herself.
“I don’t know. I think it would be nice to have someone to stay in with,” Brianna retorted quietly. Tiff gave a half-hearted shrug before walking through the door. Tiff closed the door behind her, clearly Brianna’s cue to leave.
Miranda was waiting for her at the bar. Her face lit up when she saw Brianna. That was always a good sign on a first date. Brianna put in her order at the bar. She grabbed her beer from the man serving the bar customers and opened up her tab. Miranda directed her to the row of tables outside on the patio.
“My friend should be playing her show out here in a bit. But this gives us a chance to talk first.”
Brianna’s smile widened.
“I would like that. How was your day?” Brianna asked.
“Pretty good. Today was my light day as far as classes go. So, I only had to be at school for a few hours.”
“Oh, are you a student?” Brianna asked.
She had met Miranda at a show, which had been too loud to exchange much information.
“I am. I’m taking business classes.”
“Are you at WaterColor University?” Brianna asked.
“I am. This is my third year.”
Brianna nodded, trying to do quick math in her head. That would make Miranda, around twenty- three?
“I’m twenty-two,” Miranda said with a laugh. Brianna knew her cheeks were turning a dark red.
Age was just a number, and Brianna was just twenty-eight. She would be careful to treat Miranda with as much kindness as she would anyone else.
“What do you do?” Miranda asked.
“I’m a travel consultant with Lez Getaway. It’s a travel agency that focuses on helping queer women have positive travel experiences.”
“Oh, wow. That’s such a big girl job,” Miranda tilted her head to the right then back to the left.
She tried not to allow the comment to bother her. But she wasn’t sure what spirit the comment was meant from. Miranda’s friend, Sue, arrived and started setting up her sound equipment.
“Come meet, Sue,” Miranda encouraged.
Sue, was short with dark hair gelled into spikes. The sides of Sue’s hair were shaved. Brianna had to give it to her, she looked about as punk rock as one could get. Sue played her first set and Miranda was ecstatic. Brianna tried to get into the music, but it just wasn’t her scene.
As the night wore on, Miranda spent more and more time with Sue and her other friends. And less and less time with Brianna. Two hours in, it was apparent that there was no reason for Brianna to be hanging around. Miranda had danced with five of her friends but had yet to ask Brianna if she’d like to join. This was the part of dating that Brianna hated. She patted Miranda on the arm and mouthed the words I’m going to go on home. Miranda pulled her in for a big hug and gave the thumbs up. Brianna waved bye to Miranda and her friends, then disappeared through the bar’s double doors. Miranda was fun and she’d definitely go to a show with her if she were ever invited. As far as dating went though, Miranda simply wasn’t her cup of tea.
Brianna was thrilled when she pulled into her buildings parking lot. She wondered if Tiff would be spending the night. She wouldn’t know until she came upstairs.