Page 45 of Passionate Hearts

“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.

Chapter 19

River was in a panic. She had been sure that Brianna would be getting coffee with Mel, but they were nowhere in sight. She wondered if Brianna could be at Mel’s home. River sped towards Mel and Willow’s home. She could just call Willow and ask, but she was so close. And if they weren’t there, River could have Willow help her find them.

Mel’s car was still parked in the driveway, but Brianna’s car was nowhere to be found. Fuck. River parked her car on the road and walked to the front door. Willow answered her on the first knock. River watched as her friend scanned her quickly then ushered her inside. Willow would already know that something was wrong, she had a sixth sense about those things. At her feet Sushi and Mase were excitedly sniffing River, waiting for their pets. River couldn’t deny them and leaned down for kisses and to give them each a pet.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Willow asked.

River had to laugh. She knew that this was Willow’s attempt at subtlety.

“I have a long story to tell you,” River sighed.

“I’ll put on some tea,” Willow offered.

River sat on Willow’s plush couch and waited for the familiar sound of the kettle. When she heard it, the tension inside of River eased. Willow brought out two mugs of tea and handed one to River. Willow sat beside her on the couch. She crossed her legs and waited for River to talk. River took in a deep breath.

“Do you know where Mel and Brianna went?” River asked.

“They went for coffee as far as I know,” Willow offered.

River sighed again. She’d already checked their favorite coffee place, and there hadn’t been a sign of Brianna or Mel. She would have to wait a little longer to resolve things with Brianna.

“What’s going on, buddy?” Willow asked with obvious concern.

“Tiff came by today,” River started.

“Gross. What did she want?”

River loved that Willow had that reaction to the mention of Tiff’s name.

“She wanted to tell me that she missed me. She was sorry. She’s pretty sure she can do better in the future.”

“Double gross,” Willow laughed.

“It gets worse.”

“With Tiff I would be surprised if it didn’t,” Willow laughed.

“She proposed to me.”

Willow spewed her tea out of her mouth. The liquid landed all over her coffee table. River had to laugh.

“She proposed? How the hell did Tiff go from cheating on you to a proposal?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. But the worst part is that Brianna walked in mid proposal.”

“No, that’s awful.” Willow shook her head in disbelief.

“Exactly.”

“What did Brianna say?”

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