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“I remember. I’m Willow.” Willow extended her hand to Brianna. For half a moment Brianna simply stared at her hand before finally giving it a shake.

“Like I said, Mel should be out in a second.”

“That’s okay. Just tell her I stopped by with her clothes,” Willow smiled. She had turned and was walking away before Brianna had a chance to say another word.

Willow closed her front door and laid her forehead against it. She could feel River’s eyes on her. River waited patiently for her to speak. When she didn’t, River cleared her throat.

“I guess that means it was a success.” River laughed.

Willow turned her face and met River’s eyes. River walked up and wrapped her arms around Willow.

“What happened, friend?”

“The woman that was with Mel at the dog park opened the door. In her pajama shorts.”

“Well, now I wish I had gone with you,” River chuckled. Willow glared at River, her eyes piercing.

“What? Her friend was hot,” River chuckled.

“But I can understand how that might have thrown you off your game. What did Mel say?” River asked.

“Nothing. She was in the shower. I just handed the clothes to her friend and fled the scene.”

“You didn’t even wait to talk to Mel?” River asked.

“No,” Willow groaned.

“You live in the same neighborhood. I’m sure you’ll see her around,” River offered. But Willow didn’t find her words comforting.

“I’m going to get ready for the day,” Willow said simply. It was enough for River to catch her meaning. River offered one final hug.

“Text me if you need anything,” River smiled. Willow squeezed her a little tighter.

River opened the door and started running. Willow marveled at River’s stamina. River turned and gave her a wave before sprinting away. Willow closed the door. Sushi followed beside her as she walked back to her bedroom and plopped on her bed. Willow didn’t know what to make of Brianna opening the door that morning instead of Mel. But Willow had no desire to think about it anymore than necessary. She let her eyes close and allowed sleep to come.

Chapter 11

Mel often gathered her thoughts for the day in the shower. After her encounter with Willow this was especially the case. She turned the water on as hot as she could stand it and stood underneath the shower head. The world around her faded blissfully away. When she was finished she got dressed and found Brianna in the kitchen. Mase was outside running from one end of the yard to the other.

“You had a visitor while you were in the shower,” Brianna grinned.

“So early in the morning? Who was it?”

Brianna laughed and pointed to a stack of clothes on the kitchen table.

“Willow?” Mel asked. Her heart fluttered in her chest.

“Yes. But I don’t think she knew what to do when I opened the door. She seemed very thrown off,” Brianna said with her typical easy grin.

“Did you answer it in your pajamas?” Mel asked with a smirk. Brianna looked down as if noticing what she wore for the first time.

“Oh,” she laughed.

“Willow is probably trying to figure out if we’re really only friends or if you and I are together,” Mel chuckled.

“How could anyone think we’re together?”

“Well, we both prefer women and you’re at my house almost every day. It’s an easy assumption to make.”