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River’s head snaps her way, horror on his face. ‘You named him Phoenix? Seriously?’
She nods her head with a confused look. ‘Just because we broke up doesn’t mean I didn’t still love the name.’
He nods exaggeratedly. ‘Right yeah, that makes sense, ’cause using a name your ex suggested isn’t weird at all.’
Caitlin shakes her head as if River is an annoying child. ‘You didn’t invent the name Phoenix, Riv. Plus, it was so long ago. Who’s even still thinking about that?’
As a witness of this not-so-welcome reunion, I’d say River’s still thinking about whatever the ‘it’ she’s referring to is. While he’s stunned into silence, she turns her attention to me.
‘Who’s this?’
‘This?’ River asks as if he’s so distracted in his own head that he’s forgotten I’m even here. He motions my way. ‘This is uh…’
Based on his reaction to her I’d say things didn’t end well between them, and they were serious enough five years ago to name their future children. Also, they don’t run into one another often. He needs my help here.
‘Hi!’ I chirp, extending a hand her way. ‘I’m Jade, River’s girlfriend.’
His eyes meet mine, and although a hint of panic is visible at first, his shoulders drop as he relaxes.
‘Girlfriend?’ Caitlin asks, suddenly interested, shaking my hand over the table.
I realize I’m a lady, and handshakes aren’t really my ‘thing’, but this woman’s hand went limp as she took mine as though she was expecting me to kiss the ring she’s wearing. You’re not the Pope, sweetheart.
‘I was beginning to think you’d never move on,’ she says, nudging River’s shoulder with hers playfully but the way leans away from her like she’s got a contagious disease says he’s not in a playful mood around this woman.
‘Because I’ve spent five years circling you like the sun?’ he huffs. ‘No. You’re not even a thought in my mind, woman, just old news no one wants to read. For the record, I’ve had plenty of girlfriends over the last five years. Double digits, easy…’ His speech slows as he realizes this probably isn’t the look he was going for.
‘It hasn’t been that many, hun,’ I interrupt. ‘By the way, did I just say girlfriend? Ugh, I’ll never get used to this,’ I lie. ‘I mean fiancée. Darling River proposed recently, but the ring didn’t fit. We’re picking it up next week, and I can’t wait. He designed it specially for me, spent a fortune, and it is to die for. Emerald cut, a full carat, and absolutely flawless.’ I gush over the ring I hoped I’d be wearing by now – the one I expected Conner to be interested in buying. I have a photo of it on my fridge. You know what they say, manifest the things you want. I’m desperately trying.
River’s face lights up with a grin and he gives me a slight nod, encouraging me to continue the act.
‘One carat?’ the woman asks, slowly removing her hands from the tabletop. Her barely there glare of a diamond on her finger inspired me to go big and River looks relieved I did.
‘Yep,’ he says. ‘Only the best for the most beautiful, amazing woman on the planet,’ he says, taking my hand and pulling it to his lips, kissing the exact spot an engagement ring would go, just like Conner did the day he proposed. But this feels different. We’re just acting out a scenario here, yet it feels more real now than it did when Conner did it. How’s that possible?
‘That’s great,’ Caitlin says, obviously not meaning it. ‘I’m so glad you finally found your person. If anyone deserves happiness, it’s you. Shall we make this reunion interesting and have a little double date?’
‘No,’ River practically barks, making Caitlin jump and the baby behind me fuss. ‘No, no, we uh, we’re celebrating our first anniversary.’ He motions between us frantically. ‘It’s kind of a big deal, and the last thing I need is to be staring at your faces.’ His gaze shoots towards the irritated man sitting directly behind me.
‘If you don’t mind…’ He scoots Caitlin’s way, practically shoving her out of the booth and onto the floor, but somehow she saves it. ‘We’re going to finish this at the bar. Where no children are allowed, and it sounds like yours needs you…’ The baby fusses louder, and Derek looks completely clueless as he glances back at Caitlin.
While she’s preoccupied, River starts grabbing things from our table. His drink, his fries, the pie plate, nodding for me to grab my stuff too. If he breaks into a sprint, I’m going to insist on hearing this story.
‘Sorry,’ I apologize. ‘We didn’t realize they’re playing, uh…’ I glance through the transparent wall overlooking the bar area. Every television is filled with some game. ‘SportsCenter,’ I say. ‘Wouldn’t want to miss that.’
‘You’re going to watch SportsCenter during your anniversary celebration?’ Caitlin asks, her eyebrows shooting up her forehead.
‘Of course I am. I’m his soon-to-be wife. We do everything together,’ I say, bumping my hip to his.
River nods, our hands now full of food and drinks. ‘She does all the things – clean, dirty, and then some,’ he brags, leading us away from our original table and into the bar, somewhat walled off from the rest of the place.
‘It was good to see you,’ Caitlin calls after us.
‘Pffttt… It was better not seeing you,’ River says under his breath. ‘I can’t believe we just ran into that woman.’ Once we’ve got our food back in front of us and are seated at the bar, he turns my way. ‘Or that you just did what you did. How did you know…?’
I’m a little surprised at what I did too, honestly. It was one of those follow-your-gut moments, and I went with it.
I hold up my fork, going for more pie. ‘When you lost all color to your face, I figured she was a person you weren’t on the best terms with, and it was quite obvious she was an ex. Running into exes is like hell on earth. I couldn’t let you go down like that.’
