Page 14 of Passionate Hearts

“Just pay close attention. See if you feel like she’s looking at you differently.”

“And what about Tiff?” River asked.

“Tiff isn’t even showing up for you. That’s honestly a red flag even apart from Brianna.”

River clicked the TV on, desperate for any distraction. Willow turned her attention towards the TV. River considered what Willow had said. She wasn’t even close to bringing her shift in feelings up to Brianna. She would wait and see how things developed between them. Only time could tell if friends were all they were meant to be.

Chapter 6

In the weeks since River’s accident Brianna had developed a schedule. Every morning they woke up and Brianna fixed coffee for both she and River. Then rain or shine she and River would load up and go to the local park. Brianna would push River in her wheelchair around the pond in the center of the park. River would complain about the humidity, but Brianna could tell her friend enjoyed the daily outing.

Today, they saw four different turtles sitting on rocks in the morning sun. Brianna wondered if there was a way to keep this ritual in her schedule even after River healed. She had come to enjoy the walks every bit as much as River did.

“I don’t have much longer until I can get out of these casts.”

Brianna nodded her head in agreement. The excitement in River’s tone was palpable. Brianna’s lips curved up at the ends. She would be happy to see River regain some of her independence. River had been a trooper while she recovered, but Brianna knew the woman missed being able to do certain things in solitude.

“I really don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay you for all you’ve done for me.”

“There’s nothing to repay,” Brianna smiled genuinely.

“Okay. But there definitely is.”

“Nope. I’m sorry. You’re my friend and you needed me. So, I’m here, it’s that simple. You’d do it for me.”

“I would, for sure. But I’d rather you didn’t get run over by a car.”

“How would you prefer I injure myself,” Brianna teased.

“I’d rather you didn’t injure yourself at all. But from personal experience, pick something other than getting hit by a car.”

River gave a deep throaty laugh. Brianna had always loved the sound of River’s laugh, it was like she was laughing with her whole body.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Brianna had been trying to keep some space between herself and River. Ever since the telltale signs that she was developing a crush started to come through. It was nothing that River would be aware of. Her pulling back wasn’t an act of unkindness. Instead, Brianna pulled back so that she could avoid giving River any feelings of discomfort. For the most part her efforts had been successful. While her crush on River remained, she did feel capable of handling the feelings objectively.

Brianna parked River’s wheelchair beside the park bench that overlooked the pond. She sat on the bench and watched a family of ducks swim past. She felt very much like those ducks. On the surface she was perfectly calm, underneath it all she was paddling like her life depended on it. She couldn’t imagine what would happen if River ever found out that her feelings for her were starting to grow. That they were starting to deepen. That wouldn’t be fair to her friend, or to her own heart.

In a desperate attempt to move on with her life, Brianna had been going out more. She knew that the move seemed sudden. She could tell that her change in habits had thrown River off. There was no way to explain to River how painful it was spending so much time with her, but only being considered a good friend. Meanwhile Tiff was growing more and more MIA by the moment. Last week Tiff hadn’t even come over to see River at all.

River deserved far better than what Tiff was giving her. But the sad truth was, that wasn’t Brianna’s decision to make. River had to decide for herself that enough was enough and break up with Tiff.

“Brianna,” River said.

River’s voice sounded like it was searching for something.

“Yeah,” Brianna answered.

“Do you think something is going on with Tiff?” River asked.

“It’s hard to say. I don’t know Tiff very well.”

Brianna tried to answer the question honestly, while still remaining objective. River nodded her head, considering.

“It’s just that I can’t help noticing that while I’ve been hurt, she hasn’t been around much.”

Brianna’s heart thudded in her chest. The sound echoed in her own ears.

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