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I exhale and ignore her question.

“Okay, jeans and a sweater it is. He also said no fancy shoes.”

“Hold on,” River says and walks to her room.

When she comes back, she’s holding her favorite pair of dark brown suede boots. They’re soft and warm and so comfortable, they feel like being barefoot. I can’t believe she’s letting me borrow them.

“Okay, you can borrow these, but I expect you to name your firstborn after me.”

I reach for them before she changes her mind, but she pulls them back just as my fingers graze the soft as butter suede.

“Better yet, you have to name all of your children after me. River the Second, River the Third, River the Fourth, and River the Fifth. It’s a very versatile name. It will fit both boys and girls.”

“I’m having four kids?”

“Yes. I want lots of nieces and nephews since I plan on having none myself. I can be the fun auntie who spoils your kids rotten and then returns them to you sugared up and cranky. They’re gonna love me.”

It’s not the first time I’ve heard River say she doesn’t want to have kids, but every time she sees a baby, she goes all mushy over them. I’m not buying it.

“Okay, got the outfit and the boots. What else?”

“Make sure to put on some sexy underwear. Even if he never sees it, it will make you feel sexier and confident.”

I riffle through the dresser drawer.

“I need to go shopping.”

“Nope. I have it covered.”

She reaches under my bed and pulls out a shopping bag.

How long was that there?

“Here.”

River hands me two wrapped boxes.

“I thought we weren’t exchanging any gifts. You said—”

“I know, we’re saving to buy a second car, but you’re only twenty-one once.”

I don't point the flaw in her logic that we're only any age once.

“Well, in that case, here.”

I grab a box from my nightstand and give River a gift of my own.

“We’re terrible non-gifters.”

“I don’t think non-gifter is a word.”

“It is now. I’ll even submit it toWebster’sif it makes you feel better, Miss Proper English. Come on, open the bigger box first,” River instructs me.

I rip the paper off to find a familiar looking pink box. “Victoria’s Secret?”

River laughs.

“I had a hunch you’d need it. Go ahead. Open it.”