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If only they knew how far I’ve fallen in life.
The girls and Bernard grab their things and leave.
My spirits lift when Eden approaches the door. We’re going out to dinner and some much-needed catch-up time.
“Hey, girl.” She leans against the door frame, and her long black hair swishes over her shoulder.
“Hey, there. Great to see you.” I go over to give her a quick hug.
“You, too.”
I haven't seen or spoken to her in the last two days because she's been away on a four-day trip with her students. We have a lot to catch up on because she doesn't know I've seen Jericho yet. I wasn't going to tell anyone, but I think talking to someone about him will help relieve my mind of the added stress.
“How was your trip?”
“Amazing, and I met this guy.” She brings her hands together in delight and laughs. “We’re going out tomorrow night.”
“Yay, that sounds great. I want to hear everything about him.”
“Believe me, you will.”
Of course, I will. She’s been serial dating for the last five months and has been studious enough to tell me about every single one of her many dates and conquests.
It’s enough action to live vicariously through her.
“Give me five minutes to change, and I’ll be all yours.”
“Cool, meet you downstairs.”
“Alright.”
I grab my things and head to the teacher’s changing rooms. I have three hours before I need to head to the club. I’ve been dividing that time across the week so I can touch base with everyone or catching up on lesson plans for class.
I try to see my father a few times, and Eden, but I always go home to check on Gina before I go off to the club.
I get changed and meet Eden, then we set off to our favorite restaurant. A diner on Main that serves fattening comfort food like triple-sized burgers and house fries with giant chocolate shakes. We order exactly that before she starts telling me about her latest guy.
I’m thankful we’re seated in one of the booths at the back because Eden has a flair for the dramatic and her sexy adventures are real sexy adventures that are of the X-rated variety.
I listen and laugh at her jokes, waiting for the right moment to tell her about Jericho.
I don’t get an opening until we’re nearly finished with our food. When I tell her, she has the precise reaction I expected. Her face becomes a sea of shock, amazement, wonder, and mischief. The latter is always a worry with her because I never know what craziness she’s going to tell me. Sometimes, it’s good and can get me out of a funk, but when it’s bad, it’s bad.
“I can’t believe you ran into Jericho Grayson at the club.” She blinks several times, then bites the inside of her lip.
“I’m still in shock. Talk about coincidence and a twist of fate.”
“No, girl, that’s not how coincidence or fate work.”
I roll my eyes. I totally forget Eden is the girl who lives by her horoscopes and monthly psychic predictions. You can’t mention concepts like fate and coincidence to her and not expect a deep dive on her truths about how the world works.
“It seemed to work exactly like that with me,” I say in a matter-of-fact tone.
She sighs with exasperation and tsks at me. “For God sakes, River. Think of what the universe could be trying to tell you.”
“Nothing.” I cut her off before she can continue with usual her mumbo-jumbo universe crap. “The universe is telling me nothing except to stay far away from the man. This is just one of those unfortunate embarrassing-as-hell things you hope never happen.”
“I hear you, but he’s Jericho Grayson.” She sounds exactly the same as when I first told her about him. Like most people, she knew who he was from the media attention the Grayson family has always garnered. “He’s a freaking billionaire and one of the most eligible bachelors in the country.”
