Page 37 of Right Where You Left Me
“I would’ve just done it.” He says with a wink. “But no take backs on the cat food!”
I roll my eyes. “You’re lucky I love you.” I grumble and he just laughs at me again.
“Wait. What are we making?” I ask, staring in horror at River who is meticulously picking through the cuts of meat at thegrocery store. We’ve been standing here staring at raw meat for the past fifteen minutes. Apparently choosing the cut of meat isincrediblyimportant to my best friend.
“Beef Wellington.” He says absently as he reads the label on the package of tenderloin he’s holding.
“You think that I, the woman you thought was going to give everyone food poisoning from cupcakes, can makeBeef Wellington?!”
He scoffs. “No. I think thatIcan, and thatyoucan lie and say you made it.”
“Couldn’t have picked something simple that I could actually pass off as food I can make, but sure. Beef Wellington.” I scoff. “How do you even know how to make this?”
“I’m French.” He says absently flagging down the employee behind the meat counter. The two discuss what other cuts of meat they have back there and I tune them out. I should be grateful that he’s going through this much effort to make this dinner tonight, but I’m just getting more stressed. This has to go well. Ithasto.
“Alright, they had the perfect tenderloins hidden back there so I was able to sweet talk the guy into giving them to me.” He plops the meat in the cart and huffs when he sees my tense frame standing next to the cart, my hand grabbing the handle so tight my knuckles are blanching. He grabs me by the shoulders gently, urging me to look at him. “Sage.” He says softly. “I don’t have the words to explain to you how jealous I am that you have someone that you can cook for.” He giggles and I try to shove him, but can’t because well, he still has my shoulders in his giant fucking hands. “Well, that you can pretend to cook for. It’s such an expression of love and affection. Cooking for someone you care about—” He pauses and I can tell he’s trying to collect his thoughts.
River always shows off his goofy and ridiculous side, but no one really gets to see this part of him. The sensitive and tender side. He’s been through so much shit, and hasn’t ever let it harden him. He’s sweet and thoughtful and he has so much love to give. I know he’s going to find that special person to give his heart to some day. He deserves it more than anyone I know.
“It’s just really special.” He says quietly. “And so, I’m going to make this fancy ass meal for you to show off, and to show Emma that you care in a way that speaks to her too.”
“Yeah, okay Riv.” I say and squeeze his hand. He’s right, and isn’t that what Emma said too about why she loves baking so much? He loves to express her love and care through food? “What else do we need?”
He guides me through the aisles— picking up all the herbs, mushrooms, and puff pastry we’ll need. We’re scoping out the vegetables for what River deemed ‘the perfect green beans’, when a throat clears behind us. I turn and find River’s blonde crush standing there, a basket of groceries hung on his arm. He’s wearing another one of those colorful button ups, but he’s wearing a denim jacket over it today. His hair is swept back showing off his blue eyes that are locked on River.
River, who is staring wide eyed at him, like a fish out of water with rosy cheeks. I nudge him with my elbow and he lets out a breath. “Oh. Hello.” He wheezes.
“River, right?” He smiles, eyes crinkling with the movement and I hear River’s breath hitch.
“Uh. Yes. Yup that is me. And you— You’re Levi Moreland.”
Levi chuckles. “Most people don’t full name me, but yes.”
River’s cheeks get even darker at that. “Are we in your way?” He asks shuffling me and the cart away from the produce he was just diligently pilfering through.
Levi’s eyes twinkle with mirth. “No. But you never texted me and I saw you over here and felt bold. I wanted to ask if you’d want to grab a bite to eat and a drink with me tonight.”
“Oh, I—” River looks down at me and then back to Levi. “I promised my friend I’d help her cook dinner tonight, but maybe another time?”
“He’d actually love to.” I say and bump him in the side. “He’s just here helping me pick out the perfect produce, but then he’s free as a bird.”
Levi’s grin is bright as he looks back up at River. “Perfect, text me later? So we can hammer out the details?”
River nods, a dopey and adorable smile on his face, as the two say their ‘see you laters’, and as Levi walks away River sags against me. “Sage, I really don’t mind meeting him another time. You’ll need my help with this dinner tonight.”
I wave him off. “You have been pining over the man formonths, River. Do not put this date off because of me. Just, give me this recipe and I’ll be fine.”
He looks unconvinced, but nods in agreement. We check out and once we’re back at the apartment he heads straight to his room to get ready for his night out, and I sort through all the food we just bought and grin when River comes out of his room. He’s dressed in a nice pair of chinos, a black button up with the sleeves rolled up his forearms and his hair is tied back. “You look very handsome.” I coo at him and laugh when he flicks me off.
He walks up behind me, looking over my shoulder as I lay out all the food in a way that makes sense to me. He lets out a choked groan and I turn to make a face at him. “What?” I snap. “Do you not approve of the way I’m organizing?”
“Sage… are you sure you don’t want me to stay and help? This meal is?—”
I scoff. “I can read, River. You gave me explicit written instructions. I’ll be fine.” I wave him toward the door. “Now, go. You’re going to be late for you daaate.”
He hesitates, but nods. “Alright… text me if you have questions okay? I promise I’ll answer.”
“You better not.” I say, and mean it. I’m not about to let this meal take away from River’s date with Levi. He deserves this night out. I watch him leave and turn to the paper he wrote out for me settled neatly on the kitchen counter. Seems simple enough, and I mean, how hard can it be to follow a recipe?
