There was another loaded pause before an amused Zora said, “How, exactly?”
“I don’t know. She’s nice. She’s not… interested in all the bullshit.”
“Wow. First person anyone in your family has brought around that isn’t ridiculously fixated on marriage ever after?”
“I guess. River’s partners aren’t usually that bad.”
“Not usually this good either.”
“I suppose.”
“And we’re sure she’s actually with River?”
“I mean, I haven’t asked directly, but yeah, pretty sure.”
She hummed skeptically. “Well, what’s she been like with you?”
“Uh…” How did Audrey even begin to explain that? “Considerate. She’s pretty vocal about the fact that she doesn’t like my family’s comments.”
“Good. You and they both deserve that.”
“Yeah, maybe… And she, uh, brought travel cutlery to breakfast today.”
“She did what?” Zora asked with a laugh.
Audrey’s insides squirmed and she wasn’t sure why. It was just a kind gesture. It didn’t mean anything untoward. “Apparently, I wasn’t as careful with my cutlery thing as I thought. Either that or my family’s been talking. It could easily be that one, let’s be honest.”
“Babe, do you need to come home?”
Audrey laughed sadly. “Yes, but we both know that’s not happening before Sunday.”
“I guess… Suppose it’s a good thing River’s new girlfriend is looking out for you.” She laughed lightly. “And, just for the record, bringing cutlery for your girlfriend’s cousin isn’t exactly screaming that you’re in love with the girlfriend…”
“Yes, it is. She’s considerate and caring about the people around River. It saysexactlythat.”
“No. If anything, it suggests more than a passing interest in you.”
“What? No.”
“Babe, come on. Run it through that big brain of yours. That’stotallythe kind of thing you do for someone you’re dating—or want to date—not the cousin of someone you’re newly dating.”
Audrey shuddered and hoped it was just the cold. “You already planted the idea in my head that those two might be faking and ruined my first impression of them as a couple. Let’s not start… whatever it is you’re trying to do.”
Zora laughed, loud and free. “Just saying, you could end up with someone worse than the person who tells your family off and considers your needs.”
“Ending up with my cousin’s girlfriend actually sounds as bad as it could get.”
“Fake girlfriend.”
“We don’t know that.”
“We will if she keeps paying more attention to you than River.”
“I didn’t say she wasn’t paying attention to River.”
“Is she?”
Audrey gulped painfully. Hadn’t that been the whole thing that started her down the path of believing their relationship might be fake? They didn’t orbit around each other like couples did. They didn’t seem absorbed in each other like couples were. “Probably.”
