Page 16 of Don’t Be A Stranger

River walks up to us and throws his arm around my shoulders with a shit-eating grin on his face, as if he knows what he’s doing.

Honestly? I know he does. We’ve had conversations about Cruella multiple times. I’m sure that the moment he walked up to the reception counter, he knew who she was.

Cruella huffs. “Just go take your boyfriend somewhere else.”

“Oh.” I feign disappointment. “I guess you’re right. It would be entirely inappropriate for us to make out right here.”

I lean into River’s side and rest my palm on his stomach. His abdomen tightens as if the contact caught him off guard. That or it’s the comment that leaves my mouth next. “We’ll just go screw each other in the break room.” I smile. “Thanks, Amanda.”

I drag River away from the lobby and down the hallway toward the break room, ignoring River’s sharp inhale. The cool air in here is a stark contrast to the hot kitchen. My eyes close and I purposely stand under the air vent so I can take advantage of the cool air soothing my warm skin.

“Thanks for that by the way.” I lean back against the counter but keep my head tilted back. “Now she’s going to have more of an attitude today.”

River laughs.

I hear the scratch of a chair against the laminate tile. He shuffles around and then a thud shakes the table. I open one eye to see that River is now sitting down, digging through his backpack.

“So what?” River says. “It’s not like she’s going to be in the kitchen.”

I snort. “Yeah no, she wouldn’t be caught dead back there. The humidity might ruin her hair.” I push off the counter to take the seat across from River. “So, what do I owe this pleasure to?” I ask like I didn’t show up at Metric’s unannounced just a few days ago.

“I wanted to see you.” He shrugs, as if that admittance doesn’t make my heart do a backflip.

Any annoyance I’d been carrying is now left behind with Amanda and the Handsy Husband.

I really don’t know how River does that.

“Oh, yeah?” I smile, resting my chin on my palm.

“Yeah.” He nods, the answer coming out in a split second but then he’s pulling my lunch out of his bag. “And you forgot your lunch.”

Beth was outside waiting for me this morning, and I’d left what I’d packed the night before in the fridge.

Cheese. Prosciutto. Grapes. And wheat crackers. He even remembered to grab my protein shake.

I’d eat way more than this if it were swim season. Or if I was actually training like I said I was going to do.

River reaches into his backpack again. The black fabric is all worn and frayed. He’s been carrying the thing around since middle school. I’m not even exactly sure what he keeps in there. Well, other than a sketchbook and art supplies.

“I didn’t pack that.” I gesture to the pile of food that’s now lazily resting on the table.

Besides the protein bars, River came bearing beef jerky, pixie sticks, and a share size bag of cheddar jalapeño Cheetos.

I look at him, deadpan.

“What?” He shrugs. “I didn’t think that little box would fill you up.”

“Well it will and I know that because I packed it.”

He scoffs, apparently not believing me.

“Okay, well this wouldn’t do anything for me anyway.” I gesture to the junk food. “It’s just sugar and carbs. I’d crash within the next hour.”

“Hey, swimmers need carbs.”

“Yeah. Complex carbohydrates."

“Oh.” River leans back in his seat, seemingly defeated but then he dramatically reaches into his backpack yet again.