Unlike him, I felt awkward and needy about the whole thing, as evidenced by the fact that I just self-consciously fluttered my eyelashes in the hopes that he’d notice.
“I found a new state forest to check out,” River said. “Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction. We rented a winter cabin, a few weekends from now.”
“You and your husband?”
River turned us down a quiet side street and steered us toward the sunlight. “Leo, that’s right. How about you? Did you move to Pittsburgh with a sweetheart?”
“Me?” I asked, like it was a surprising idea for me to have a partner because in my head it kind of was. “No, I haven’t really dated. I just came out of the closet recently, actually.”
“And you’re rocking that absolutely gorgeous mascara? I’m sure you’ll find someone soon, if you want to.”
My heart jumped. Just having him acknowledge the fact that I had put the mascara on felt like an accomplishment. Getting that wrapped up in a compliment, too, made my cheeks warm.
“Thanks,” I said. “Your lipstick is nice, by the way.”
River pursed his lips. “Leo kissed most of it off,” he laughed. “I guess he’ll look pretty at his meetings today. I have a rule for myself that I always add a little something extra before I go to any work events.”
We paused at a corner, a small park spread open in front of us with the December sun shining down on a row of evergreens. My eyes caught on River’s smooth, golden skin and his killer cheekbones, as well as the curve of his pink lips.
He was pretty, which wasn’t exactly true of me. I didn’t think I was unattractive or anything, but I definitely didn’t look like River. If anything, I looked like my brothers, who were all much more masculine and rugged.
“You really pull the look off,” I said. “I’m jealous.”
River scrunched his mouth to the side. “Jealous? Hello, new friend Russell, but I’m sure you could pull off any look that you wanted to as well. Anyone can, as long as you own it.”
Butterflies danced around my stomach when he called me hisnew friend. “I guess that’s true,” I said, then gestured to my face. “But I’ve got this square jaw, and my brow is heavy, just like all the men in my family, and I just realized that I’m listing my insecurities to you.”
River laughed. “You think people with square jaws can’t pull off pretty? Tell my high school crush on Angelina Jolie that.”
I grinned, excited to be having a conversation like this with someone who would actually get what I was talking about. “Okay, so some people can pull of a look like you can. I’m not trying to look like Angelina Jolie, though.” I shrugged, not really sure how to explain it. “I just like to feel a little bit…”
“Softer?” River asked.
I nodded. “Yes. Exactly. And since I’m happiest when I’m playing around with tools and getting dirty, softer doesn’t really make sense, you know?”
River tilted his head softly to the side as he studied me. “Makes sense if you want it to,” he said with a smile. My heart was beating, the conversation making me nervous and excited, but then he pulled his phone and glanced down at it, breaking the moment.
“You have to go!” I said quickly, embarrassed for myself. “I dumped all my feelings on you. Sorry!”
River shook his head. “Don’t apologize! You’re fine. We do have to get back for the movie, but I was just thinking. What are you doing next weekend?”
“Next weekend? I don’t think I have anything planned.”
“I’ve been meaning to cull my makeup. Why don’t you come by? Maybe I can teach you a few tricks, show you how to take advantage of that face of yours.”
“I really don’t know the first thing,” I said. “You might be wasting your time.”
“Trust me,” River said. “I’ve been missing having a friend to talk makeup with for too long. It will be fun.”
My pulse jumped. “Cool,” I said. “It’s a plan.”
