Page 25 of Don’t Be A Stranger

The lady gasps. “Ricky, did you hear that?”

Ricky nods without looking away from the TV but his wife continues. “We were childhood friends as well. He’s been my one true love since we were six years old. I think it’s really important to be friends with someone first before ever being involved romantically.”

River flips his hand around to interlace our fingers. “I couldn’t agree more.”

The way River looks at me always makes the noise stop. Both internal and external. It’s almost like he can see right through me, which is both terrifying and exhilarating. My surroundings fade away and all my attention is honed in on him. It should scare me how easily my world can revolve around him but sitting in this booth, wearing my best dress and a fake wedding ring around my finger, I can’t bring myself to care tonight.

“Well.” The woman’s voice breaks through our little bubble. “I remember being a young newlywed couple once and I know how pricey things can be, especially when you’re thinking of children.” She winks and my throat goes dry. Not just because I don’t even want kids but because River and I will definitely not be partaking in the activity that makes a child. “My husband and I would love to pay for your meal.”

Ricky finally gives us the time of day and I’m fully convinced that he’s about to tell us and his wife no, but instead he leans over and places a kiss on his wife’s forehead.

“That’s fine, Darla.”

She scrunches her nose and smiles.

Tricking people into giving us free things is supposed to be fun and now all I want to do is give both Ricky and Darla a hug and admit to them that River and I are assholes. I think if I told the truth now, I would just feel worse and it looks like Lacey is bringing our food over, so how can I possibly say no to Darla’s offer?

“Thank you,” River and I say in unison.

“You’re really sweet,” River adds. “You’ve made this night that much more special.”

“Oh, please.” Darla waves us off. “This is nothing compared to the romance that will ensue later tonight, I’m sure.”

I choke on my beverage and Lacey walks up at the wrong time, only having heard the last part of the conversation. She tries to not pay any mind to Darla’s comment but her cheeks have gone red. Under the table, River nudges my leg with his foot.

He looks at me, wide-eyed, silently telling me to play it cool.

I clear my throat and try to keep a straight face. “Oh, I don’t know about that.”

“I might be old, but no need to be modest, sweetheart. It’s only natural after you say I do,” Darla explains in all sincerity.

I have to pinch my arm that rests under the table because I catch myself thinking of certain scenarios that River and I could possibly find ourselves in. Ones that involve our clothes off and definitely not around Darla, Ricky, or Lacey.

Get it together, Summer.

I’m finally hanging out with my best friend and it feels good, better than it has been these past few months. I’m not going to ruin this with feelings.

Nine

Summer

After finishing our dinner and saying goodbye to Darla and Ricky, River and I remain sitting in the parking lot, fighting off food comas in River’s car.

River groans, leaning back in the driver’s seat. “I’m stuffed.”

“Me too,” I agree. “I can’t wait to go home and just crawl into bed.”

River sits up as fast as he can after shoving his food and the rest of mine down his throat earlier. “The night is still young, Summer.”

“What’d you have in mind?”

He grins, suddenly having a newfound energy as he puts the car in drive. River says one word and one word only.

“Karaoke.”

Well, we’re just pulling out all our teenage activities. We grew up in a small town—there wasn’t much to do so we had to get creative.

“You just like getting your ass kicked, don’t you?” I ask, even though I know that I’m just as terrible a singer as River is but you know, I have to intimidate the competition.