Stuck With You, page 5
‘Yeah,’ I say, leaving the walk-in fridge and closing the door behind me. ‘He’s up to his ears in medical terms.’ Yes, I’m lying to my best friend. But only because everyone I know warned me about this, and I’m not ready to say they’re right. It’s been one day, and he’s excited to be back. I’m sure he’ll settle down the longer he’s there.
6
JADE
On the walk to my car after work, I called Conner three times. No answer. If it’s three in the morning here, it’s six there. He should be home and perhaps asleep but ultimately available to answer for his fiancée – but nothing. Three phone calls are my limit, as I’m not about to beg someone to talk to me. Disappointment floods through me like a tidal wave.
Suddenly my phone buzzes in my hand, and I rush to answer, only to realize it’s a text – from Conner. Finally! I tap the notification box and stare at his message. Thumbs up. Clock. Zzz smiley. Purple heart.
Emojis? Are you fucking kidding me? He won’t answer, but he’ll send emojis? What are we, twelve? I frustratedly shove my phone into the pocket of my fur coat. Is this how he’ll act when we get married?
Don’t overthink it, Jade. Maybe he’s just tired? Or… what if he’s not the guy you thought he was? No. He couldn’t fake it for two months and he definitely wouldn’t have proposed if he wasn’t truly interested. Would he?
As I reach Riverfront Park, I decide to drown my worries in the rain. Because of the weather, few people are hanging about other than several homeless folks sleeping under trees, but I’m keeping my distance. I walk this path nightly, and never has anyone even so much as spoken to me. Could it be because I announce I’m armed (with mace) if anyone gets close? Possibly, but it works.
I glance up at the dark sky, raindrops hitting my face softly. The moon shines behind the clouds in clear spots, and although it’s the middle of the night, it’s lovely out here, rain and all. It’s not like a monsoon or anything, just a steady drizzle, so I lie down on the ground, wholly bundled up tight, so only my face and fingers are hit by raindrops as they fall. This same sky used to hold the answers to help me clear my head, so why not try now when most of the city peacefully sleeps in their beds and cannot witness me crying in the middle of a public park?
When Laney and I were kids, we’d sit at the computer or in front of the TV for hours. Eventually, Mom would kick us out of the house and force us to play outside ‘like she did when she was a kid’. Laney would take off across the street to her best friend’s house, and I’d wander around the property for a bit, looking for anything to do. But every single time, rain, shine, or snow, I’d end up lying in the middle of our backyard, staring at the sky.
I don’t know what Conner is thinking. Do I text him back? And if so, what the hell do I say? Words or emojis? Ugh. If I replied now, while I’m mad about it, those emojis would undoubtedly make this situation way worse. Why are relationships so complicated? You go into them thinking it’s all bliss and rainbows, then the tiniest pebble in the path trips you up, and you fall right off the cliff. Will you break something? Might you die? Who knows – you only find out after you’ve taken the risk.
‘Hey. You alive?’ Someone kicks my foot.
Please don’t let it be someone with ill intentions. I’m afraid to look, so I spew my usual threat instead.
‘At the present moment, yes, I’m alive. But be warned, I’ve got no money. I have mace and am not afraid to use it. If you’re here to rob me, you should know that my purse has old receipts, hair ties, tampons, and ChapStick – no cash. So, if you could just go away and leave me be, I’m trying to drown; thank you very much.’
The male voice chuckles. ‘You’re trying to drown by way of raindrop? Why take an entire season when the river is right there?’
How dare he! I snap my eyes open at this stranger suggesting I jump into the river. He’s smiling wide, his shoulder-length blond hair pulled into his usual bun at the back of his head, headphone wires hanging from his ears. River. This is the first time I’ve ever encountered him outside the bar.
Propping myself up on my elbows, I glance at my Apple watch. ‘It’s three thirty in the morning. Why are you stalking the city at such hours?’
He yanks the headphones from his ears. ‘I got a bat signal earlier so I was out fighting crime.’
I laugh.
‘If I can’t sleep, I run,’ he says honestly.
‘You couldn’t sleep?’
River nods, his hands on his hips as he talks through a heavy breath. ‘I’ve got one of those minds that sometimes don’t stop. Running tires it out. I was just headed home when I saw what I momentarily thought was a body wrapped in a fur rug and that I’d stumbled onto a crime scene.’
‘You thought I was a body that someone dumped yards from the river?’
He lifts his shoulders. ‘This isn’t exactly the safest place to be at this hour. Did you fall?’
‘No,’ I answer, lying back down.
‘If I help you up, you won’t mace me, will you?’
I forgot I told him that story. ‘Just let me drown in peace,’ I moan. Obviously, I’m kidding, but do you know what he doesn’t do? Leave. Instead, he gets down onto the wet ground next to me and lies on his back, allowing the rain to fall onto him the same way it is me. I look over at him, lying there with his hands on his chest, staring at the sky.
‘This is the opposite of letting me drown in peace.’
‘I just ran seven miles and could use a rest and a cool down. Plus, there are a lot of weirdos downtown at this time of night. I wouldn’t feel right leaving you here alone. If ya made the news in a bad way later, I’d have to live with that shit forever. Can’t have that on my conscience.’
‘You are such a gentleman.’
‘I have my moments,’ he says, glancing over at me with a wink. ‘Wanna tell me what could be so bad you want to drown the hard way?’
‘Oh, it’s nothing much, just that men suck.’
He laughs. ‘All men, or just one in particular?’
I roll my head his way. ‘Conner rushed out this morning and hardly even said goodbye, and now he’s out partying with his douchey friend who totally insulted me earlier without ever having even met me. It’s been less than twenty-four hours since he left, and things are going downhill quickly.’
‘How’d he insult you if you’ve never met?’
‘Via telephone. He was such an ass, and now I’m a little worried Conner was on his best behavior while here, and his Boston bestie, Masterblake, is a true view into his real personality.’
‘Masterblake?’ River repeats with a chuckle. ‘That’s something I would say.’ He holds a hand my way to celebrate my dirty nickname, and because I’m proud of it, I high five him. ‘Let me get this straight; Conner couldn’t wait to get back to Boston to his friend Blake and that made you feel like the third wheel?’
‘Pretty much.’
‘I don’t know if you know this, but I’m the king of third-wheeling things. Everyone I know is coupled up.’
‘But Conner is partnered with me, and he didn’t even say he loved me before he hung up tonight, then after calling him multiple times, he sent back a text with emojis.’
The streetlight above us is illuminating River, and I’m only just noticing the hint of freckles that dot the bridge of his nose. He’s not hard to look at, that’s for sure. Very male model-ish with bright blue eyes, the color of the tropical oceans I dream of, a strong jaw, and eyelashes women pay money to achieve.
‘Emojis huh? I suppose that’ll buy him some time.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean, if I’m sending someone emojis, I don’t want to talk. A smiling pile of shit will shut people up pretty quickly. Am I in a shit mood? Or am I sitting on the throne in misery? No one wants to ask.’
‘That’s an image,’ I say, trying not to picture it but laughing at his thought process.
‘Truth be told, you don’t really know Conner that well, do you? What’s it been, three weeks?’
I sigh. ‘Two months.’
‘Shit, you’ve known me longer. Maybe we should get married?’ River jokes then looks somewhat frazzled by his own statement.
He’s right, though. I have known him longer. He and Mercy started coming in about six months ago. His question flashes through my head like a news headline in all caps. Breaking News. Does Jade really know the man she’s engaged to? She’s agreed to spending eternity with him so, she probably should.
‘I’m kidding,’ he says, obviously concerned about my silence. ‘In all seriousness, why did you say yes after only two months?’
‘I love him,’ I say meekly.
River raises a single eyebrow as if my answer doesn’t convince him. ‘So, you’re super serious about a guy who proposed without a ring, hasn’t made that a priority, your family hates him, and he’s currently texting in emojis? I’d say even without words, he’s saying a lot.’
‘How do you know my family hates him?’ I ask suddenly, not remembering telling anyone that part because it’s humiliating that my family isn’t on board with my recent engagement.
He blinks, looking back up at the sky. ‘I, uh, I’m pretty sure you mentioned it once.’
Did I? I guess it’s possible. Sometimes I talk more than even I remember.
‘What would you do?’ I ask.
‘I’d dump him.’
‘Really?’
‘Hell yeah. If your relationship is troubling you this much so early on, it’s not right. Never settle, is what I say.’
‘Is that why you’re single?’
He clears his throat. ‘Sure, that’s why.’
‘So men and women suck.’
River shakes his head. ‘Boys suck. Men don’t get all douchebauchery about a woman they love enough to propose to.’
‘Douchebauchery?’
‘Definition: excessive indulgence in being a douche. I may have struggled with this trait in my younger years, but I’m growing out of it.’
I reach over, patting his hand at his side. ‘Some guys take a long time to hit puberty, but don’t worry, it’ll happen,’ I joke.
His gaze meets mine. ‘You’re a funny lady, Jade. Your taste in coats is a bit questionable. But I can promise you, I’m well past puberty,’ he says proudly. ‘Maybe Conner’s being weird because he’s secretly married with a family, and you’re the side chick across the country?’
I groan, not wanting to even think about that. ‘No way…’ But now the scenario is playing through my head and making my doubt worse.
River gets to his feet as the rain picks up, extending a hand to help me. ‘How about you stop trying to un-alive yourself via raindrop over some idiot dude and allow me to walk you home before we both get pneumonia?’
Taking his hand, I let him to pull me up. ‘I’m parked in the garage across the street.’ I motion in that direction.
‘Then let me walk you to your car after your rough day.’
I agree, walking next to him through the park. ‘Will you answer something honestly? No matter how much you think it might hurt my feelings?’
We stop on the sidewalk, looking for traffic that’s sparse at this time. ‘That’s kind of my life’s motto.’ He steps into the street first, me following at his side.
‘It’s also one of the reasons I like you. Do you think Conner is telling people he has a fiancée?’
He shakes his head. ‘Nope,’ he says without hesitation.
‘What makes you say that so confidently?’
‘He let his friend insult you. If I were in love with a woman, I’d never let my friends diss her. Not to mention he’s sending you emojis. That’s a total cop-out. Grow a pair and talk to your lady.’
I bite my lip to hide the smile growing on my face. ‘You’re sweet, Riv. I’ve never ended a conversation with you without feeling better. That’s talent. Thank you.’
‘The pleasure is all mine. For the record, and keeping myself honest, I think you’re dating a boy, Jade. Maybe you should ask yourself what you truly want in a man and decide if Conner has any of those qualities. It’s not too late to say no to his proposal.’
How do I figure that out while he’s hardly speaking to me and across the country?
River stops with me in front of my bright blue Mazda.
‘This is me,’ I say, avoiding letting those last words he’s just said sink in. I click the unlock button on my keys, and River opens my driver’s side door for me.
‘Your chariot awaits, madam.’ Before he closes me into my car, he leans down to look me in the eye. ‘If you ever need to talk, I’m always available. I’m a fun guy too; hang out with me and I’ll lead you astray, far from all your worries.’
He says it with a wink, a hint of flirtatiousness in his voice. My heart may have also done a little dance with the playful way he approaches life. This is why I like River, he seems fun. That’s dangerous considering the situation I’m in. But we could totally be friends while I figure my relationship out. ‘Platonically,’ I suggest, partially to remind us both that I’m an engaged woman.
‘Right,’ he says, lifting his hands as though he wouldn’t dare make it anything more. ‘Platonic is my specialty. How else do you explain nearly thirty and single? Let me distract you from your current boy problems – in a completely non-romantic way.’
I grin. ‘It’s a plan, and I even have your number already,’ I tease.
He shouted his number to me as he left the bar one night after he’d said all the right words when I was having a rough go of things. We’ve never talked about that night, and I assumed it was because he was so intoxicated he didn’t remember. But based on the look on his face right now, I’d say he may remember more than I thought he did. Life got so busy and traumatizing that I never brought it up, and neither did he.
His eyebrows shoot up his forehead, a hint of humiliation on his face. I’d think he was blushing if it wasn’t so dark in here.
‘You need a ride home?’ I ask.
He shakes his head. ‘I’m only a couple blocks that way. Lock your doors, and do not call him again. Make him call you. He needs to work for it to prove he’s really into you, ’cause, as of now, I’m not convinced, and I think you deserve better. Trust me, I’ve fucked up enough with women to learn all the lessons.’
‘I find that hard to believe, but there you go with the sweet words again. Thank you.’
The way he bows as though he’s proud of himself is cute. He backs away from my car as I pull out, shoving his headphones back into his ears and doing a little dance, swaying his hips and waving his arms in front of my car, making me laugh, before running out of the garage towards the street. He is a good distraction.
7
RIVER
I am again at Mr. Tux for wedding suit fashion show number three. It’s getting a little old. They’re suits; how many options could there be? I don’t see the difference in any of them, and I’m not allowed to bring my style into this because Hollyn thinks my attraction to all things colorful is ridiculous. I say she’s just dull.
I’ll never know how I snuck this velvety blue masterpiece in without her demanding I put it back, but I did, and now that I’ve got it on, I’m in love with it. I’ve paired it with the black slacks of the previous suit, and I have to say, it looks as good on me as it did on that Chris Evans fella. I pull my hair into a ponytail to look more put together, glancing at myself in the mirror from all angles. Damn. This blue brings out my eyes so much, even I can see it, and that’s a good pitch point. If I want to wear the suit jacket Hollyn’s banned, I’m gonna have to sell it.
The fitting rooms here are three separate curtained-off rooms within one large room, with a sitting area in the middle so parties have a little privacy from rando shoppers. I’m in one fitting room, Dax is in another, and Jake is in the third. Jake is a good friend of Dax’s who will be playing the part of groomsman alongside me as the best man. Hollyn sits outside our rooms, impatiently waiting for us to impress her.
‘This one is nice,’ Jake says confidently from his dressing room.
‘You’ve said that about all of them,’ Dax mumbles.
‘Well? It is nice,’ Jake defends himself. ‘What do you think, Riv?’
‘I think I fucking love it,’ I say, straightening my tie before exiting the room to answer questions. To get Hollyn’s approval, I gotta look perfect.
‘You love it?’ Hols asks, sounding relieved. ‘These are the ones; I just know it,’ she says without seeing what I’m wearing.
She uses that ‘these are the ones’ line each time she coaxes us out of the dressing rooms. They’ve yet to be the ones, but I feel like I’m about to change that. The three of us guys exit our dressing rooms simultaneously, and immediately both Jake’s and Dax’s heads snap my way.
‘What the hell?’ Jake’s gaze lands on my suit jacket. ‘I thought we weren’t allowed colors? If that’s changed, I want that plum jacket we saw when we walked in.’
Hollyn stands, looking me over. ‘How did you get this past me?’
‘As your little brother, I get a lot of shit past you,’ I say, admiring my reflection as I adjust the jacket. ‘I love this one.’
Hols runs her fingertips over the fabric at my bicep, then glances at Dax, a clenched-tooth grin on her face. ‘Jeesh, first he picks my wedding dress, now this? Have you ever considered being a wedding planner?’
‘Not once.’
‘I like it,’ she says to Dax, her tone perplexed as if I’m not good at picking out anything, as she lifts her shoulders.
‘I know you’re not supposed to steal the show from the groom, but dayum, I look hot as hell.’ I do a spin, catching Dax rolling his eyes.
‘Ew,’ Hols says. ‘You’re my brother, so hot as hell isn’t in my vocab when it comes to you. However, I do like the blue. It pops.’
‘Perfect, ’cause I’m buying it, and I plan on wearing it to the wedding whether you like it or not.’
Hollyn bites her bottom lip, glancing at Dax, who lifts his shoulders. They have a lot of silent conversations these days.
