Chapter 13
River waited intently for the doctor. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind. She had gone from a big cast to smaller braces. She had started physical therapy and was already making amazing progress. River loved progress. Her foot and ankle were gaining range of motion every time she went in for a session. Her arm was also regaining movement.
Today, she was back at the orthopedist for X-rays. This would tell her if she could get rid of her braces. The alternative would be more surgery. Her doctor was a tall man who was balding and had no bedside manner. She supposed there was a benefit to being an orthopedist who told people things in a simple and direct way.
The nurse knocked once then came into the room, X-rays in hand. River watched as she set the X-rays up on the viewer. The nurse scurried away to find the doctor. River had to hand it to the office staff, everything ran like clockwork. The doctor came in two minutes later. River was given the all clear to function in her day to day life without the braces.
River couldn’t stop smiling as she walked out of the doctor’s office. Brianna was waiting for her beside the car. She was surprised that Brianna hadn’t tried to go inside with her. But Brianna hated doctors, she had assured River that she’d be waiting for her when she was done.
Things between her and Brianna had been cozy lately. There was much more incidental touching than there ever had been in their friendship before. A brushing of their fingers as Brianna handed her coffee in the morning. A scratch across the back as River walked past Brianna in the hallway. They hadn’t spoken about their feelings for each other, not since her breakup with Tiff. But things seemed headed in a particular direction.
River had told herself she wouldn’t make any moves until the doctor gave her the all- clear. An all clear which she had just gotten. She couldn’t be one hundred percent sure that Brianna shared her feelings. There were signs that she did. Brianna hadn’t been on a single date since she’d gone out with Logan that one time. They spent most nights cuddled up on the couch watching a movie before bed. That had never been their habit before.
River was determined to ask Brianna out. Now that there was nothing holding her back, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Brianna’s smile widened as River approached. The smile gave River an electric charge in her heart. A shock that sent shivers through her whole body.
“I see we’re brace-free,” Brianna laughed.
“I’m finally free,” River smiled.
“We should go celebrate,” Brianna suggested.
River’s heart leaped in her chest. She could swear it was doing somersaults. River imagined going out for a celebratory lunch with Brianna and asking her out. Years from now maybe they would laugh and call it their first date.
“I would like that. What did you have in mind?”
“It’s your celebration. Where do you want to go?”
“Let’s go to that brand new sushi place,” River suggested.
“Your chariot awaits.”
Brianna bowed, extending her arm towards the car. River covered her mouth with her hand and laughed. She hopped into Brianna’s car, ready for the adventure ahead. As they pulled out of the parking lot River’s phone buzzed with a message. She pulled it out to check her unread messages. River gasped as she read Tiff’s name on the screen. She and Tiff hadn’t spoken since the night she caught her with another woman. Since then, Tiff had the good sense not to reach out to her.
“What’s the matter?”
Brianna’s face twisted into an expression of concern.
“Nothing. I’m sorry. It’s just that Tiff sent me a message,” River answered.
“Tiff? What does she want?”
River read the message and rolled her eyes.
“She wants to clear the air between us. Which I’m sure is code for, I left some stuff at your place and I want it back, ” River laughed.
“What are you going to say back to her?” Brianna asked. There was a note of concern in her voice.
“I’m not sure. Right now, I’m going to go grab sushi with you.”
Everything inside of River wanted to reach over and take Brianna by the hand. Brianna who had shown up for her in all the ways that mattered most. Brianna who had helped her feel safe in her new reality. She willed her hand to stay frozen on her lap. But the desire didn’t leave. Brianna’s cheeks flushed pink, as if she was reading River’s mind.
Kawaii Sushi was without a doubt the cutest restaurant River had ever seen. It was like walking into a dream, nothing felt real. The walls were covered in the most adorable kawaii style posters. They ordered at the front counter then went to find a seat. Their table had an adorable decoration of a kitten in kawaii style.
“This place is almost too cute for words,” Brianna said, her eyes widened to take in everything around her.
“I agree. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
River’s eyes landed on Brianna. She couldn’t help but take in the sight of her. The bow shape of her full lips. The cuteness of Brianna’s lopsided smile. River couldn’t deny her feelings anymore. When it came to Brianna she was smitten.
“I wanted to come here for another reason.”
River’s heart felt like it was lodged in her throat. She didn’t know whether she wanted to confess her undying love, or just jump out of the window.
“What’s that?” Brianna asked.
“I’ve been thinking a lot since my breakup with Tiff. I’ve been thinking about us,” River locked eyes with Brianna and she felt warmth spreading through her chest.
“Us?” Brianna asked. River could hear the hesitation in Brianna’s voice. She knew that Brianna wasn’t sure what direction she was about to take.
“Yes. I’ve been thinking about the decisions I made. I’ve been thinking about how I wish I had chosen you. And not just because of how things ended with Tiff, but because my feelings for you are so much stronger than they ever were for her. Brianna, I love you. I am in love with you. And I don’t know if you reciprocate those feelings. Or if you can ever forgive me for not choosing you to begin with. But if you can, I promise to choose you every day from here on out.”
The words came so naturally to River that she almost didn’t have to think about them at all. She was, quite literally, speaking from her heart. Brianna’s face was unreadable. A wave of anxiety crashed into River’s heart. Had she waited too long? Had Brianna decided to move on to other love interests? River didn’t have to wait long for her answers. Brianna reached her hands across the table and took River’s in her own. River felt the softness of Brianna’s skin, the warmth as her hands closed around River’s.
“You will always be my choice. I wanted to wait. I wanted to give you a chance to get over what happened between you and Tiff. But I am in love with you, too. And I cannot wait to start building a life with you.”
River’s heart was a five-alarm fire in a fireworks factory. Happiness buzzed through her entire being. Her smile was so wide that her face was sore, but River couldn’t wipe it from her face. It had taken them a long time, too long. But she and Brianna had worked everything out, and they had found their way to one another. River couldn’t take her eyes off of Brianna. A heat formed low inside her core, causing an ache to form between her thighs.
The look in Brianna’s eyes told River that she was feeling the same way. River let her foot slide up Brianna’s leg. She smiled as she watched Brianna bite her lower lip. They ate the rest of their meal quickly and practically ran back to the car. River still wasn’t in running shape, but she hobbled quickly.
Brianna’s foot was heavy as she put it on her gas pedal. It occurred to River that there was no more reason to hold back. She laid her hand on Brianna’s thigh and squeezed. They jolted to a stop at a red light. River let her hand slowly creep up Brianna’s thigh, closer and closer to her core.
“River, I can’t,” Brianna protested.
“You can’t what?” River teased.
“I can’t take what you’re doing to me right now,” Brianna moaned.
River leaned in until her lips brushed Brianna’s ear.
“Good.”
River heard Brianna swallow hard. She smiled and laid a kiss on Brianna’s neck. Her hand squeezed Brianna’s leg in time. River’s fingers found Brianna’s core and teased her over her jeans. She watched as Brianna fought to maintain control. Brianna screeched into a spot. River wasn’t ready to let her go. She grabbed Brianna and crushed their mouths together. Brianna moaned into her mouth. It only made her want to go deeper.
Brianna reached across River and pushed her seat all the way back. River felt a jolt as her seat moved. The next moment Brianna was mounting her. River laughed at the sight of Brianna’s knee riding the center console. Space was limited, but River knew they could make it work. Brianna’s hand found its way between River’s thighs. Brianna slid her hand down the front of River’s athletic pants and found her clit. Now it was River’s turn to moan. She locked eyes with Brianna who was giving her a wide grin. River supposed turnabout was fair play.
River felt her eyes rolling to the back of her head as her pleasure mounted. Brianna began kissing her neck as she teased her clit. It was enough. River jumped off the ledge as her pleasure swallowed her up like a riptide. Brianna landed a kiss on River’s lips and lingered there.
River’s hands travelled down Brianna’s body. For weeks she’d wanted to touch Brianna. She’d been yearning for this moment, and here it was in front of her. River slid her hands up Brianna’s shirt and bra. She rotated between pinching Brianna’s nipples and palming them in her hands. Brianna’s kisses grew more feverish, as if she was hoping to spur River forward. River ran a hand down Brianna’s body and inside her pants.
Brianna whimpered as River slid two fingers inside her. River kept pace with the rocking of Brianna’s body, curling her fingers as they went deeper inside. She could feel Brianna’s body tighten around her, unwilling to let her fingers go. River allowed her thumb to swipe Brianan’s clit. Once, twice, and on the third time Brianna groaned as her orgasm overtook her. They smiled at one another, solidifying the moment. They had both waited for so long, and River wanted to savor this time for as long as she could.