“You like Kennedy, River. It felt wrong to let me see you naked when you like her and want her to be the one to share that shower with you.”
“Lace, no. That’s not–”
“It felt that way when you walked in on me tonight.”
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t want you to see me, either, River.”
“Because of Cameron.” River nodded. “God, this is so weird.”
“Tell me about it.”
“We’ve been together for a year and a half, but they’ve been together for a lot longer than that, and it felt more like I was with Kennedy, and you were with Cameron all weekend. Lace, I didn’t know what to do. I still don’t know what to do. I know I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I don’t want to hurt you, either, and you like her.”
River nodded and asked, “Cameron?”
Lacey nodded back, and her phone dinged on the table.
“Is thather?” River asked, seeing Cameron’s name appear on the screen. “Wait. Didn’t you go over there for their couple’s massage?”
“I did, yeah. I didn’t actually do it, though.”
“Why not?”
“Well, I never should’ve agreed to do it in the first place, but it felt strange to be there, in their house. I like Cameron, and I knew you liked Kennedy, but they’re together, and you and I are together… So, I told her I needed to go, and then, Kennedy showed up, and I left.”
“What’s their place like?”
“Like Kennedy threw up on it.”
River laughed and said, “Yeah? She likes things a certain way, doesn’t she?”
“Are you prepared for that? You like things a certain way, too, River.”
“Prepared for it? No. Why would I need to be? I might like her, but it’s not like anything’s going to happen.”
“River, they broke up,” Lacey shared. “That’s why Cam has been texting me. Kennedy left. She’s in a hotel somewhere, I guess. It’s over.”
River leaned back against the sofa and said, “They broke up?”
“I don’t have all the details, but I think they’re going to be friends. I hope you and I can be friends, too.”
“Of course. I mean, you didn’t do anything wrong here, and neither did I, Lace. Hanging out with you is one of my favorite things to do. I may not want to be your girlfriend anymore, but I’ll always want to be your friend.”
“Same for me,” Lacey said and smiled her actual smile this time.
“Do you want to answer that?”
River nodded toward Lacey’s phone.
“Yes.” Lacey laughed. “But I’m not going to. This is too important.”
“What if she’s asking you out on a date?”
“On the day she broke up with her girlfriend and when she still thinks I have one? I doubt it. I told her I was here to talk to her if she needed a shoulder to cry on. I’m sure that’s what it’s about.”
