Charlotte takes her in with crossed arms and forgets to respond. Riley’s lifted eyebrow promptly startles her into action and she shifts in her seat, nodding. “Yeah. Yeah, sounds good.”
“And maybe you can do Gabi’s before that? Sometime after the holidays?”
“Sure,” she agrees, slurping her coffee. Despite herself, she finds it comforting Riley is taking initiative, steering the conversation.
“I just— I have no idea how these things work, Riley,” she admits. “I don’t have a fucking clue what to do.”
“Well, that’s why we’re here, right?” Riley gives her a quick wink, and the calm she was beginning to feel dissipates immediately.
“Do you have a plan?” she fires back, like a shield before the wink can reach her.
“Actually, I do. I have this really fun idea for a workshop in mind—”
“A workshop?” Charlotte cackles. “What, like cooking? Or painting?”
A mischievous flicker appears in Riley’s eyes. “Yeah… Something like that.” She raises her eyebrows innocently and takes another sip of her espresso.
“Whatever, it’s your party. Literally.” Charlotte dismisses it with a wave of her hand. She stares out the window for a few seconds before realizing that, if she’s here for Riley’s help, she could maybe do with a little bit more friendliness.
“I’m sure it’ll be fun.” She looks back at Riley, trying hard to sound genuine. “Any ideas for Gabi?”
“You already mentioned a stripper, why not do that?”
Charlotte scoffs. “That sounds so… tacky.”
“Not if you do it right,” Riley leans in and lowers her voice. “There’s a very fancy place downtown. It’s on the upper floor of one of the skyscrapers there. They don’t doany advertising. It’s the kind of place with a whole ass employed person inside the elevator, pushing the buttons for you.”
Charlotte purses her lips and looks down when she sighs: “Well, I certainly don’t need to pay someone to push my buttons. You seem perfectly happy executing that job for free.”
Riley doesn’t respond, and Charlotte lifts her eyes to steal a look from under her lashes. They stare at each other for a few awkward seconds before they both lose their composure, full on belly laughing at the same time.
Something thaws in Charlotte’s chest. It feels like someone has put her on oxygen after having been in a tight space for a long time. The tension in her stomach loosens, and she feels herself relax for the first time since walking into the coffee shop. Catching Riley off guard definitely helps too; watching her wall of coolness break to make space for genuine laughter.
“You know what, fair point, I guess,” Riley shrugs, a smile still on her face. “But I’m serious, this place—it’s classy. The girls are so talented, they’re treated well, and they have an excellent bar.”
“Sure,” Charlotte muses. “You go there because you like the bar.”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” Riley replies, a faint blush creeping up from the collar of her jacket all the way to her cheeks. “Just trust me, it’s a good option. Even if the both of them are there, going to a strip club as a couple usually really sparks up the—”
“What do you mean? Gabi and Lou are going to be there foreach other’sbachelorette party? So why are we planning two?!”
“Well, yeah, I mean... have you met them? Of course they each want their own day.”
“Hm. Now you make a fair point.”
They sit in silence for a moment, but it’s a comfortable one this time.
“So what’s your work thing?” Charlotte asks, curiosity getting the better of her. When Riley gives her a confused look, she adds: “You said you have a work thing, before the wedding. What do you do for work?”
“I’m... a psychologist,” Riley replies, uncharacteristically shy.
“And you have a lot of clients in the spring?”
A dry chuckle. “I’m a psychologist, Charlotte. Not a therapist. A therapist works with clients and I... I just do a lot of research. I’m going on a business trip to Switzerland in March.”
“Ah. A scientist." Charlotte nods at the tweed jacket.
“Of the brain, yes.”
