‘All that and she named you River?’
‘That was my father’s choice. His grandfather and great-great-grandfather were Rivers too. My mom wanted to call me Wayne.’
‘I’m glad she didn’t.’
‘Me too.’
I nudge him with my shoulder. ‘Hey, what if you didn’t show up here to help me get Henry back? What if you showed up here soIcan teach you how to swim?’ I tease in a bid to lighten the tension. ‘I mean, I’m a great swimmer. Well. I’m not bad. At breaststroke. My front crawl is a bit gnarly.’
River huffs a laugh. ‘Yep. It’s entirely feasiblethisall happened so I could take swimming lessons from a writer who is “not bad” at swimming.’
‘Imagine if it was, though.’ I giggle. ‘The total pressure we’d be under to get you doggy-paddling.’
River chuckles softly and studies me. ‘So you’re not great at swimming. Whatareyou great at?’
I shrug, hyper aware of the fact that my swimming costume is possibly a little bit small these days. My boobs are all squished upwards. I notice him noticing, the steam of the jacuzzi thankfully accounting for my red cheeks. I dip down so I’m more covered by the bubbles. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘I noticed last night, those nerves? Around Henry. Like you’re, I don’t know, intimidated by him.’
‘I’m not intimidated by him! Of course I’m not! It’s just the situation. Don’t know if you noticed, but there’s kind of a lot at stake here.’
River laughs darkly. ‘Oh, sorry, anyone would think you were the one possibly trapped in a parallel universe.’
‘Hey, we don’t know that that’s what’s happening.’
‘What else could it be?’
‘Like I said, we don’t know!’
‘Well, whatever it is, we really gotta get a handle on these nerves of yours. The first rule of flirting is confidence.’
I bite the corner of my lip. ‘I’m just genuinely desperate for him to come back home. Plus, I don’t know if you noticed, but Henry is pretty perfect and way out of my league. You know, he once surprised me with a trip to Paris because he wanted to tell me he loved me at the top of the Eiffel Tower! He once wrote me a love poem. An actual honest-to-God love poem, which he read out in front of everyone at the restaurant we were at and they all applauded because the poem wasthatgood. I need to show him why I’m worth it and that’s what’s making me nervous.’
‘You think he’s too good for you?’
‘Yes. Of course. He’s blatantly amazing. He’s very clearly too good for me.’
River laughs. ‘No, Gertie, he’s not.’ He sits up a little straighter. ‘Come on. Tell me what else you’re good at. What else you like about yourself. We need to get that self-confidence way up. No point you being gussied up in prettydresses and the like if you don’t see what you bring to the party, what makes you stand out, what makes you worth sticking around for.’
‘Okay,’ I muse. ‘That makes sense.’
I try to think about what I bring to the party.
I really try.
‘This is hard …’ I mutter after a few moments. ‘I suppose I’m quite normal, to be honest. When you grow up with a sister as dazzling as Josie, you very quickly see where you fall short. And I don’t say that in awoe is me, oh my sister took all my attentionway. Just in an honest one.’
‘I’ll start you off then,’ River says. ‘You’re kind.’
I wave him away. ‘Most people are kind.’
‘Not in my experience. Everyone acts all sweetness and light to get what they need from you, but a lot of the time it ain’t coming from a real place. I may not have known you long, but I can tell your kindness is genuine.’
‘People are more genuine than you think they are, River. I’m certain of it.’
‘That’s another good thing,’ River says, glancing down at me. ‘You’re earnest. You wear your heart right there on your sleeve. Most people can’t do that. Can’t show their feelings so … so openly. I sure can’t wear my heart on my sleeve that way.’
‘Well, that’s becauseyoudon’t have a heart.’
