Chapter 18
With the way Brianna’s day was going there was only one person she wanted to talk to. She was in luck since this was Mel’s day off. Brianna called Mel from her car. She offered to swing by and pick Mel up. It was clear from her tone that Mel was aware that Brianna was having a rough day.
Mel was waiting on her front porch for Brianna. She met Brianna with a wide smile. Brianna wished she could reciprocate, but her mouth refused to turn upward. Mel gave her a concerned glance and reached over to squeeze Brianna’s knee.
“Buddy, what happened?” Mel asked.
“I honestly don’t even know how to answer that question.”
Brianna absolutely meant every word she was saying. How had she gone from the best day ever, to the worst in a matter of moments? She pulled into the coffee shop but stayed put. Her hands didn’t want to reach for her seat belt or the door handle. Mel noticed her reluctance and smiled.
“Why don’t we have a car talk?” Mel asked. She patted Brianna on the shoulder.
“Thanks, buddy. I think I’ve had enough coffee today anyway.”
Mel gave a sympathetic nod of her head and waited for Brianna to continue.
“Do you know that thing I do? You know when things are going really well, so I convince myself that something bad is going to happen at any moment.”
Brianna glanced over at Mel expectantly. Mel offered her a sweet smile.
“Yes, I am familiar with that cycle in your life,” Mel said in the most diplomatic tone Brianna had ever heard her friend use.
“I have been having that feeling with River. Things have been so good, how could they not go wrong?”
“Well, I don’t know if I love that approach to your love life,” Mel grinned. Brianna couldn’t keep in a chuckle.
“This morning I went over to Lez Getaway. I had coffee with Allison. We talked about how I’ve been feeling that way.”
“What did Allison say?”
“Allison reminded me that life is unexpected. She said that I should enjoy the good moments while they last.”
“Sounds like good advice,” Mel stated with a smile.
“It was good advice. So good that I stopped and bought flowers to surprise River on the way home.”
“Buddy, that’s so sweet. I’m sure River loved that.”
“I honestly couldn’t tell you if she did or not,” Brianna sighed.
“Oh no. What happened?”
“The door was already open, so I was about to step inside. But then I saw Tiff right inside the door.”
Brianna paused to give herself a chance to catch her breath.
“I wish that woman would just leave River alone,” Mel growled.
“Buddy, I walked in on Tiff proposing to River.”
Even Brianna thought her own voice sounded distant. It felt like she was listening to herself in a cave. Her words bounced from one cave wall to the other until they finally landed in her own ears.
“What?” Mel gasped.
“Tiff full on proposed to River. Not only that but she was talking about how River would never be happy with someone like me.”
Brianna lowered her head and started checking out the floorboards.
“Eh, what does Tiff know? She certainly wasn’t equipped to keep River happy.”
“You aren’t wrong. But what if Tiff knows what she’s talking about?” Brianna asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t think River would ever go back to Tiff. Not even if I wasn’t in the picture. But what if she’s right, and River won’t be happy with me?”
“First of all, I’ve only ever heard River tell me how wonderful you are. I’ll wager that you make her very happy.”
“I want to believe that. But what if I just don’t see it?”
“You don’t have to see it to believe it,” Mel suggested.
“Mel, this isn’t Hallmark. Give me something I can use,” Brianna whined.
“Okay. Okay. What did River say when Tiff proposed?”
“I have no idea. But she looked pretty shocked. That could have been because I walked in at an inopportune moment though,” Briann admitted.
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Mel asked.
“I ran away.”
Brianna felt silly about her reaction now. At the time the entire scene had felt very overwhelming. She had been convinced she was about to witness River accepting Tiff’s proposal and that had been too much for her.
“Oh no, buddy. You must have been really upset, I’ve never seen you run away from anything.”
“I know. I was really afraid I was going to watch River get engaged right in front of me.”
“Listen, we don’t know what we don’t know. But I am almost one hundred percent certain that River did not accept that proposal.”
“You really think so?” Brianna asked, her voice was a whisper.
“B, yes! I definitely don’t think River is going to accept a proposal from Tiff.”
“But Tiff is so cultured and successful,” Brianna interrupted.
“Don’t forget that she’s an inattentive liar who cheated on River while she was recovering from a major accident,” Mel insisted.
Brianna brightened for a moment. What Mel said was absolutely true. Tiff could be suave and intelligent and successful. But would those things make up for being an awful girlfriend? Probably not, at least where River was concerned. Brianna leaned her head against the car seat and breathed a loud sigh.
“Do you know what you need?” Mel asked.
Brianna didn’t move her head but slid her eyes to the side in order to look at her friend.
“No, what?” Brianna smiled.
“Comfort food. Forget this coffee nonsense. You need to sit down with a big bowl or plate of something warm and filling,” Mel suggested.
Brianna’s stomach grumbled in agreement. She smiled at her friend.
“You know, you have pretty good ideas in a crisis,” Brianna laughed.
“I have pretty good ideas all the time. You only ask me about them during a crisis,” Mel teased. Brianna rolled her eyes in mock frustration.
“So, here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to go to Mallie’s. I’m going to have Brynn fix you up one of her personal favorites. We’re going to eat like queens. You’re going to start feeling better. Then you’re going to find River and resolve this whole mix up.”
Mel crossed her arms across her chest. She arched her eyebrow and pinned Brianna with an expectant look.
“Hard to argue with that. Especially when you’re giving me that look,” Brianna teased.
“I’m practicing for one day when I have kids,” Mel laughed.
“I mean, I’m not a kid,” Brianna pouted.
“Of course not. But you’re still fun to practice on,” Mel smiled.
“Plus, I know you secretly like it,” Mel grinned.
Brianna would never admit it, but she did like having a friend who knew what she needed when she was at a loss. And the fact that Mel wasn’t afraid to be a little bossy was certainly a plus.
“Thanks, Mel.”
“Of course, buddy. That’s what I’m here for.”
“I just haven’t ever had someone that I’m this afraid of losing before. Well, not a girlfriend anyway.”
“Coming to terms with possibly losing someone this important to you is hard. But it can also pinpoint to you how great it is to have River in your life,” Mel suggested.
“It’s still uncomfortable realizing how much I’ve grown to care for her in such a short time.”
“You might not have been together as a couple for long. But you already cared for River in that way as your friend. Now the stakes are just a little higher because romantic love is also involved,” Mel smiled.
“I think you’re right.”
“I know I’m right. Now drive the car, I’m hungry,” Mel laughed.
Brianna sighed loudly in mock annoyance, but she put the car in drive.
“Everything is going to be okay, friend. You just need to decompress then go smooth things over with River,” Mel said matter of factly.
Brianna’s smile widened. It was nice to have a friend there to comfort her. Mel always knew how to point her in the right direction.