by M. L. Rice
Riley noticed how her eyes lit up when she spoke about the subject. “That sounds cool. I’ve always wanted to go to the ocean.”
Beth looked surprised. “You’ve never been?”
Riley shook her head. “Nope. Landlocked near San Antonio most of my life.”
“That’s sad.”
“Well, I suppose I don’t really know what I’m missing, so I can’t be too sad, right?” Riley smiled.
“You should go. I should—” She cut off her sentence abruptly. Riley felt that she had been about to invite her to do something. “I mean, I grew up by the ocean. I could…I dunno. Tell you about it sometime. Or something.” She had grown quiet and shy again.
Riley smiled. Was this girl wanting to get to know her better? Was this an opening? God, she was bad at reading people.
“I’d like that.”
They smiled in awkward silence for a moment before Riley remembered to look at her watch. “Eleven o’clock. Shift’s over. Home time.”
Beth looked disappointed, but tried in vain to hide it. “Okay. Have a good night. Thanks again for the coffee.”
Riley smiled and gestured to the barista bar behind her. “That’s what we’re here for.”
She waved and walked to the back where she saw Koji duck back behind the door. He had been watching the whole interaction.
“Okay, what the hell?” Riley asked as she shut the door behind her.
“What? I thought you needed a little help.” He shrugged.
“Help with what? Making a mocha?”
“Oh, don’t play stupid. That girl has been coming here to see you almost every night you work for months and you’re both too shy to talk to the other. It was getting painful to watch. Someone had to do something.”
“Maybe she just likes our coffee.” She poked Koji in the stomach.
He scoffed. “I don’t know why you’re so upset. She’s cute. Why not get to know her?”
Riley leaned against a cabinet and shrugged. “I dunno. I’m not…interested…right now, I guess.” Her thoughts turned to her confused feelings about Tori. “There’s this other girl.”
Koji gasped. “You’ve never said anything! Oh my God, spill it!”
Riley rolled her eyes. “Now you know why I never said anything. And besides, there’s nothing to tell. She’s a senior violin performance major, she’s insanely cute, and she intimidates the hell out of me with her impossible coolness.”
“Does she know you like her? Does she like you?”
Riley turned to hang her apron on the designated wall peg and shrugged. “She’s hard to read. I think she likes me as a friend, but I can’t tell if there’s anything more.”
Koji tsked. “Poor Beth.”
“Who? Her?” Riley motioned to the main room of the coffee shop.
“Yeah, her!”
“Koji, I’ve spoken like four sentences to her.”
“All I’m saying is that she isn’t hard to read. It’s my professional opinion that you should give her a chance.”
Riley put her hands on her hips in exasperation. “Professional what?”
Koji smiled. “Professional, irresistible, gay Lothario.”
“Good night, Mr. Drama.”
Riley walked out of the shop through the back door, her thoughts a jumble of questions and insecurities. Surely Koji was exaggerating about Beth’s interest in her.
What was so special about Riley Gordon? She wasn’t a sexy athlete, her looks were girl-next-door at best, and there wasn’t much at all about her that she thought anyone would find in the least bit interesting. Still, a small flutter of…was it hope? Or pleasure? Tiny beats of butterfly wings tickled her stomach and she grinned to herself as she walked back to her dorm.
*
The next morning, Riley woke to a text from Tori. Riley checked the clock on her phone and sighed. It was the first morning she could have slept in all week. Brooke was staying at Chad’s and, although she normally worked on Saturdays, she had the day off since the coffee shop was booked for the day for an independent film shoot. She opened the message.
Sorry so early, but the quartet I play in is down a cellist (stomach flu). We’re playing a paid gig tonight at a wedding and are desperate. Practice in an hour in the big room. Can you help us out? I’ll owe you big time!
Riley blinked the sleep away from her eyes and sat up. She looked at the stack of books on her nightstand. Books that were required reading for her English class on Monday. Oh, what the hell. Maybe it would be worth it to have Tori owe her…something.
Sure. Be there in an hour, she texted back.
OMG, thank you! Ur the best!
Riley grinned and got up to get dressed.
*
The music the quartet would be playing wasn’t too difficult. Riley did struggle to fit in with the more seasoned musicians who all knew their parts by memory, though. She tried to ignore the irritated glances thrown her way by the second violin player. He obviously wasn’t impressed with her ability to sight-read and play professionally on short-term notice. Tori tried to smooth things over, though. It was either Riley or no cello at all. No one else they had asked had responded.
“I think that’s enough, guys,” the viola player said after three hours. He was one of the nice ones Riley had met at the party. “We’re just going to wear ourselves out.”
Riley stayed silent.
“You’re right. This is as good as it’s going to get. No one listens to us at these things anyway,” Tori offered, trying to be helpful. “Riley, you’ve done great. Don’t be nervous.”
It must’ve shown.
Riley just nodded and put her cello back in its case. She realized as she zipped the cover closed that she had forgotten one important question. “What am I supposed to wear?”
Tori smiled as she opened the door to leave. “Formal wear. We’re all in black, but it can be a dress or a nice suit. I go for the suit myself. Meet at six tonight in the Balcones Country Club main ballroom.”
Riley tried not to panic. She didn’t have many nice outfits, much less a formal black one. She nodded and waved good-bye, but as soon as Tori and her friends left the room, she called Koji. When he answered all she could say was, “Shopping emergency! I need your help!”
His voice sounded appalled on the other end of the line. “What makes you think that just because I’m gay I’m a fashionista?”
Riley said nothing.
“Just because I am a fashionista doesn’t mean that you have to assume it.” He laughed. “Okay. What do you need and when?”
“Black formal suit by six. Five, really.”
“Oh, snap. Meet me at the Barton Creek mall in forty-five.”
“Thanks, Koji.” She hung up the phone and ran as fast as she could carrying a giant cello case back to her dorm to put the cello up and grab her car keys.
*
When she arrived in the mall’s parking lot she texted Koji, hoping that he wouldn’t be late to meet her like he was late to work almost every night.
Here. Where r u?
Banana Republic. U won’t believe the amazing saleswoman I found to help.
Cool. Be there in a sec.
She looked at her watch. Two o’clock. She had plenty of time.
She entered the mall and checked the directory to find the Banana Republic. It was just around the corner. She made her way over, mulling her finances over in her head. She would have to put the suit on her joint credit card because she only had a few dollars to her name. If she was lucky, she would just break even with the money she earned playing at the wedding.
She entered the store and found Koji in the sale area at the back of the store.
“Hey. Thanks for meeting me on such short notice,” Riley said, giving him a hug.
“No worries. You never have to twist my arm to go shopping. And look”—he held out a black suit jacket and matching pants—“I already found a nice-looking suit for you in your size and the saleswoman is in the back checking for
a white shirt.”
“How do you know my size?” Riley asked, reaching for the jacket.
“Natural gift. Some people are a good judge of character; I’m a good judge of size and age. I could be a carny.”
Riley turned the price tag to face her. “A hundred and thirty dollars! Just for the jacket? Koji, I can’t afford that!”
Koji’s face fell. “But it’s on sale. It was originally two hundred and seventy-five.”
Riley felt ashamed. “I mean, it’s just that I don’t have that kind of money. I was thinking that I would spend fifty dollars max. Isn’t there anywhere cheaper?”
Koji shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. I just automatically go to places that have…you know…good things. I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”
“If it helps, you can use my employee discount.” The voice came from behind them.
Riley turned to see Beth from the coffee shop smiling and holding a folded white button-up shirt.
Koji elbowed Riley in the ribs. “See? I told you I found a nice saleswoman for you.”
“Oh!” Riley smiled with embarrassment. “I didn’t know you worked here. Did you?” she asked Koji.
“Nope. For reals!” he said when Riley looked at him skeptically.
“I just started last week, actually,” Beth said. “Needed some extra money for school and a pretty hardcore coffee habit I’ve picked up. But yeah, I have an employee discount if that helps.” She smiled sincerely.
Riley couldn’t believe how nice this girl who she had just met was being. “Thank you! I mean, I still don’t think…I don’t know if I can afford it even then, but…”
Koji interjected, “Don’t you need a nice formal outfit for your orchestra concerts?”
Riley nodded. “I was going to pick up something secondhand.” She immediately regretted saying that out loud.
He shook his head. “No. You need something nice that’s yours and that will last you a long time. You need this.” He held up the suit. “I’ll even donate to the cause. In exchange for you working a couple of my shifts, of course.”
Riley smiled. Maybe he was right. She did need something nice to wear after all. And with friends as generous as this, how could she possibly say no?
“Okay. But I really can’t thank you guys enough.”
The two stood side by side and smiled. Beth said, “Koji told me that this is for a quartet or something and that you play cello. I’d love to hear you play sometime.”
Riley was happy to do something for Beth in exchange for her generosity. “You name the time and place and I’ll be there.”
Beth flushed and handed the shirt to Riley to try on.
*
After she had paid for her suit and was leaving the store, Beth stopped her. She stumbled over her next words apprehensively. “Will you be at Metro Haus tomorrow? I mean, I hope you don’t mind my asking.”
“I don’t and I will be. Eleven a.m. to six.”
“Okay. I might see you there then. I need a caffeine fix when I study Ancient Roman Civ. So…yeah. Just wondering.”
Riley smiled. She wasn’t used to people being interested in her whereabouts or interests at all. “I’ll have your mocha ready. On the house. I’ll even throw in my favorite apple fritter. Thank you again for helping me out with this. It really means a lot.”
“Just have a great show tonight. Or wedding. Or whatever. Break a leg I guess I’m supposed to say.”
“Maybe it should be break a string,” Riley offered as Koji snorted. She threw a shut up glance his way. “Anyway, I have to get ready. Thanks again and I’ll see you tomorrow. It’ll be nice to have you there. The day shift is boring.”
Beth’s face lit up as she waved good-bye.
They left the store and Koji burst out laughing.
“What?”
“Oh, girl, she has it bad for you. And you like her back.” He poked her in the ribs.
“What? No! Koji, she was just being nice. I’m just being appreciative.”
He shook his head. “I know flirting when I see it, and you”—he wagged his finger at her—“were flirting.”
“Was not!”
“Were too.”
“I don’t even know how to flirt.”
Koji put on a high-pitched voice that was supposedly an imitation of Riley. “I’ll have your mocha ready. And an apple fritter. And my phone number. And I’m sooo glad you’ll be there tomorrow! I do miss you so when you’re gone! Every day of work without you there I feel a giant hole eating away at my soul.”
“Yeah. That’s exactly what I sound like and exactly what I said. Funny and an impressionist? How can you be this good at so many things?” Riley said sarcastically.
“Mom always said I was special.”
“She got that right.”
*
The wedding performance went off without a hitch, and even the second violin player congratulated her before they said good-bye to each other in the parking lot.
“I still don’t know how to thank you for doing this on such short notice, Riley,” Tori said sincerely.
Riley decided that it was better to not offer up alternative payment suggestions.
“I enjoyed it. I’ve never played in a quartet before. I’m sorry I messed up that one line. I misread the repeat.”
Tori shook her head. “No one would notice that except you. You found your place again really fast. Anyway, thanks again.” Tori turned to her car before remembering something and saying, “A few of us are going to the staged concert version of Candide on Tuesday night if you want to join. There’s a guest tenor in it who’s supposed to be really good.”
“I don’t think I can. Money’s a bit tight.” She smiled apologetically.
“Psh. Don’t worry about that. I’ll cover you as an extra thanks for tonight. We’d love to have you there.”
Riley smiled. “Yeah. Okay. Sounds fun.”
“Perfect! We’re all meeting at the music building at six p.m. to carpool.”
Tori pulled Riley into a tight hug, and Riley tried to not go completely stiff. Her heart raced as she felt Tori’s body pressed firmly against her own.
“’Night, Riley,” Tori said as she pulled away. “See you at rehearsal Monday.”
Riley didn’t trust herself to speak, so she just smiled and waved good-bye.
Chapter Ten
Riley leaned against the counter at the coffee shop, daydreaming about the feel of Tori’s body on her own, thankful that the shop was almost empty. Koji had the day off, and her only other coworkers were the weekend manager and a new girl who was more interested in flirting with him than in making a good cup of coffee.
A loud thump next to Riley caused her to jerk her head from her hands quickly as she looked toward the noise.
“Sorry!” Beth said with embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Riley smiled. With all of her musings about Tori, she had completely forgotten that Beth was going to drop by that day. Her stomach flip-flopped when she saw her. Beth’s light brown hair was tied back in a ponytail and a few strands had come loose. Beth tucked them behind her ear in irritation. Her glasses had traveled a bit too far down her nose as well, and she used her finger to push them back into position. Her cheeks flushed as books she had set on the counter toppled to the floor. The look on her face mirrored how Riley felt when she embarrassed herself in front of Tori. On Beth, however, the consternation was downright adorable.
Riley’s eyes crinkled in absolute delight. All thoughts of Tori were swept from her mind as Beth picked up the books and then fumbled to get settled on the stool at the counter where Riley stood. Riley couldn’t peel her eyes away. She wanted to watch her all day, no matter what she was doing. This wasn’t a feeling like she had with Tori. Tori was sexy and alluring, out of reach and intimidating. Beth was the kind of woman she could see herself snuggling on the couch watching a movie with, going on adventures with…spending the rest of her life with.
She swallowed hard and s
aid cheerily, “Hey! Let me get that mocha ready for you. And the apple fritters were just dropped off from Ken’s Donuts, so they’re still super fresh.”
“You really don’t have to do this.”
Riley turned around to make the drink because she really wanted to hide her shaking hands. “I want to. You helped me out of a tight spot yesterday.”
As Riley made the drink Beth asked, “How’d it go? The quartet thing.”
“Pretty well, actually. Made a bit of extra cash. Cash that will go to that suit, of course, but it’s money well spent, I think.”
Riley finished the mocha and set it and the fritter in front of Beth. “Go ahead. Try it.”
Beth bit into the apple fritter and her eyes shut in pleasure. With her mouth full, she managed to get out, “Ohmygod.”
“I know, right?”
“Best apple fritter ever.”
Riley beamed as if she had created the recipe herself.
Beth swallowed and then pushed the book she had accidentally slammed onto the counter toward Riley.
“I brought this for you. It’s a history of music at sea. It talks about how sailors used music to alleviate boredom while away from land for so long, the types of instruments used, sea chanties”—she shrugged—“stuff like that. Anyway, I thought you’d like it since you’re a musician. Gives us a common topic.”
Riley picked up the book and leafed through it. “This is really cool! When do you need it back?”
Beth took another drink of her coffee and swallowed. “I don’t. I have a huge collection of books like this already. I’ve been collecting since I was a little girl. Mom works in a maritime museum. I won’t miss it.”
Riley was impressed as she flipped through a few more pages. “This actually does look really interesting. I love anything having to do with music.”
“Besides…” Beth paused, “it may teach you something you don’t know about the ocean and sailing and, well, I think you should go some time.”
“To the ocean?”