“Hi, Michaela.”
Michaela looked up then, saw Kennedy, and said, “She knows my name?”
River laughed a little and said, “Yes. Go.”
Michaela, still wide-eyed, walked into the back, carrying the cash drawer.
“I didn’t know you were stopping by,” River said then. “I didn’t even know you were still in town.Areyou still in town, or did you drive here from LA?”
She hurried to the front door past Kennedy and turned the sign to closed before locking the door. It was five-fifty-two, but she could stand to close a few minutes early today to findout what Kennedy was doing there without worrying about a customer seeing them together.
“I’m still here. I’ve been driving back and forth the past few days, and I rented a house instead of living in a hotel. It’s small and just what I need right now. I don’t cook much, but I got tired of the hotel’s room service menu and not being able to make my owngoodcoffee. I went back and got some of my stuff from the house. Not everything, obviously, but– That doesn’t matter. It’s not why I’m here.”
“Okay. Why are you here, then?”
“Are we alone?”
“Up here, we are, and Michaela will be gone in maybe two minutes. We don’t do many cash transactions these days, so it won’t take her long to count it all and write down her totals. Then, she’ll leave out the back. Are you okay?”
Kennedy walked a little farther into the shop, away from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows and door. River pulled up two stools that she kept behind the counter for the employees to sit on if they needed to and flipped off the light switch. It wasn’t dark outside yet, and with the lights on inside, everyone outside would’ve been able to see them clearly, but with them off, they’d only make out two people sitting behind a counter. Kennedy sat first, and River joined her, wondering what Kennedy was about to tell her.
“I am okay, yes. I think for the first time in a long time, I’m okay.”
“That’s good,” River replied.
Kennedy pulled her phone out of her purse, did something with it before turning it to River, and asked, “I take it, you haven’t seen this?”
River took Kennedy’s phone and read the screen. It was an Instagram post with a colorful abstract background and a message.
“You posted it?”
“Jessie did. Well, the social media manager for our accounts did, but it’s out now. I am officially single in the eyes of the whole world.”
River read the message, and it was the standard celebrity breakup stuff that she didn’t really care about, so she handed the phone back to Kennedy.
“How do you feel about that?” she asked.
“It’s been interesting. It posted this morning, and I’ve been good. I haven’t read the comments. Jessie texted a few times that most of them were supportive or shocked that we broke up. Others were less supportive. You know, the classic ones,‘I saw this coming. Cameron threw a glass at her. #TeamKennedy.’Or,‘Cameron deserves way better. Kennedy yelled and almost hit her. #TeamCameron,’and other stuff like that, sothat’sbeen fun. I haven’t read them, like I said, but that’s what Jessie told me. Anyway, it’s out there. And while it sucks to have people think that they know the truth about things when they don’t, it still feels good, knowing that it’s done. Cam and I can finally move on.”
“I think she’s already moving on with my ex-girlfriend,” River replied.
“True.”
“River, I’m done. I’m going to head out,” Michaela said, peeking through the door.
“Thanks, Michaela. Have a good night.”
“You too. And hi,” Michaela said to Kennedy.
“Have a nice night, Michaela,” Kennedy replied with a kind smile.
“She knows my name,” Michaela whispered and hurried off.
“She’s a little starstruck.” River chuckled.
“You’re not? Did my luster rub off already?” Kennedy joked.
“No, I’m still plenty struck by you. Come into the back where no one can see.” River stood up and opened the door for Kennedy, who walked through it. “Hey, look at the positive. At least, Jessie didn’t use some ridiculous phrase to refer to you and Cameron breaking up. You didn’tconsciously uncouple.”
