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“I ran into this woman,” Willow said, already frazzled before the story even began.

“I don’t understand. Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Usually, meeting a pretty woman is a good thing. In this case Sushi tangled her up in the leash. I was going to get us free, but this woman wouldn’t stop moving. So, we fell in the mud. Oh, and my brand-new dress is completely covered in mud.”

“So, she was pretty?” River laughed.

“Really? That’s what you got out of that story?” Willow folded her arms across her chest.

“Well, you’re the one who mentioned it,” River smirked.

“Fine. Yes. Mel is pretty,” Willow said. The more they talked about Mel, the more flustered she became.

“I think you liked this Mel,” River accused. River’s lips curved into a smirk.

“I don’t think we’re going to find out if I would like her or not. Since I never intend to see her again,” Willow said, with a sigh. River’s face fell.

“Why not? So your dog knocked her over. Big deal. These things happen.”

“Yeah, but then I was flustered and upset about my dress. I’m pretty sure I basically bit her head off. Then I was soembarrassed that I just ran off without even offering to help her pick up her bags.” Willow watched as River’s smirk turned into a grimace.

“Okay. I admit you could have done a little better,” River chimed in. Willow watched as her friend paused for a moment.

“You should bake her cookies and take them to her place,” River suggested.

“What?” Willow asked in confusion.

“There’s no better way to apologize for making a bad first impression than by making a good second impression. And there’s no better way to make a good second impression than by bringing that person cookies,” River explained.

Willow couldn’t stop staring at River. She folded her arms across her chest and tapped her foot against the floor.

“Why are you here?” Willow asked. The words came out sharper than she’d intended. She could tell because River recoiled slightly at her tone.

“Sorry. All I meant is that I wasn’t expecting you,” Willow said, evening out her tone. River’s expression softened; she was always quick to forgive a trespass.

“Everyone is wanting to get together for dinner tonight. At Autumn’s place. They sent me to see if I can coax you out of your house,” River admitted proudly.

“Oh, come on. I haven’t been that bad,” Willow scoffed.

“Friend, you haven’t hung out with us all in a month,” River said. She crossed her arms over her chest and gave Willow a hard stare. Willow could see this was one argument she wouldn’t be winning.

“But I just started a book,” Willow whined.

“I promise to get you back home at a reasonable hour so you can read before bed,” River smiled.

“Promise?” Willow held up her pinkie finger. River smirked as she hooked her own pinkie to Willow’s.

“You have my word,” River promised.

“Fine. I’ll go,” Willow said with a roll of her eyes.

It wasn’t that Willow didn’t love her friends, she did. And she knew she would have a blast at dinner with them. It was just that convincing herself to leave the comfort of her own home was never easy. What could be better than reading on her couch, with her dog right by her feet? Still dinner once a month wasnot an unreasonable request for her friends to be making and Willow knew that. River plopped onto the couch.

“Are you just going to wait here?” Willow asked.

“Of course. I’m a full-service operation. I’m going to drive you there and back,” River grinned. River leaned her head back on Willow’s couch.

“You’re impossible. You know that, right?”