Riley
“Riley, I need you in my office.”
The voice startled me, making me jump in my chair, so I was glad it was over the PA system on my phone. The last thing I needed was for Rose, my boss, to see me make an ass of myself. I was pretty good at doing that all on my own—I didn’t need her help.
“I’ll be right there,” I managed with just a little bit of breathiness. I grabbed my iPad and headed out into the open-concept office, giving a finger wave to Rachel and Jasper as I passed them. “Lunch today?” I asked, turning and walking backward as I waited for their reply.
“Sounds good,” Rachel replied with a smile.
“Sushi day!” Jasper exclaimed, pumping one fist straight up into the air. I hated sushi, but Jasper complained that we never let him pick our lunch spots, so Rachel and I relented and let him pick a sushi place every other week. Luckily, the restaurants he chose usually had something on the menu I could force down. Nothing raw and nothing with tentacles.
I gave them a thumbs-up and then continued to Rose’s office. I could see she was alone through the glass walls, so I gently knocked and then opened the door.
Rose and I had an interesting relationship. Interesting because I could never figure out if she liked me or not. I thought, with a certain amount of certainty, that she appreciated my work and thought I was a good employee, but I could never pinpoint whether she wanted to hug me or throat punch me. She didn’t give off the violent vibe, but she always seemed restrained. Almost as though she were afraid if she let her guard down or opened up about anything, there would be no way to contain herself afterward. I thought perhaps it was feast or famine when it came to Rose, and I’d only ever experienced her when she was in famine mode. She gave us bare bones all the time; you got what you needed from her, but nothing more.
It wasn’t a problem, per se, but it was something I’d thought about more than once.
“Riley, take a seat.” She motioned with her hand to the chair across from her desk and I smiled tentatively as I sat. I’d had meetings with Rose multiple times a week since my last promotion six months before, but most of them had been scheduled. To be called into an impromptu meeting put me on edge.
I hadn’t even fully situated myself in my seat before she started talking.
“A good friend of mine is getting married this year and has asked me to personally handle the wedding coordination.”
“Sounds exciting.”
“Indeed, it is. I would like you to come with me.”
“I’m sorry, you what?”
Rose gave a little laugh, which I’d never heard her do before, but then repeated what I’d heard her say already, but just couldn’t process. “I would like you to come with me. To Arizona, where my friend lives and is getting married.”
“Why me?” I asked before I could stop myself. I wasn’t fishing for compliments, this was the ‘what in the world could you want me for’ version. I quickly tried to rephrase my confusion. “What I mean to say is that I’m just a little surprised by all this. It seems sudden and kind of out of left field. Not that I’m not grateful that you would think of me, I’m just… damn, I’m not sure what to think.”
“Riley, relax. This is my best friend, and even though I’m very proud of my business and how far it’s come and how much it’s grown, I want to bring my A-game to handle this event. It means a lot to me that she gets the best people I have. That’s you and me,” she said with a little hint of compassion in her tone. “I’ve been watching everyone closely for the last year or so, and even though there’re a lot of talented, hard-working people out there, I need the best people on this job. You’re one of those people.”
My mouth gaped open at her praise. “Thank you. I appreciate that.” I tried not to stutter.
“We would leave middle of next week and be in Arizona for a few days. This commitment would also require trips to Arizona for the next few months while we plan the event. You won’t have to go to all the meetings, but I’d like your help as much as possible. Of course, all travel and expenses will be covered.” She paused, possibly waiting for me to say something in response, but I couldn’t. My mind was reeling. “We’ll need to make travel arrangements, and the sooner the better, so I’d like to know if you’re interested in the opportunity by tomorrow morning.”
“Tomorrow?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“All right, I’ll let you know by then.”
A cool smile replaced the irritation on her face. “Good. Feel free to ask me any questions you might come up with between now and then.”
“I will, and thank you for the opportunity.” I stood and left her office, closing the door behind me, then walked to my office like a zombie because my brain was out of order. I collapsed into my chair, mouth agape, and mind completely blown. I knew I’d been doing well at work; the promotion had boosted my confidence and productivity. I was speaking up more, delivering better ideas, and backing all that up with stellar events, but never in my wildest daydreams could I have imagined Rose was going to ask me to help her put on an event for her best friend.
In fucking Arizona!
Arizona was my own personal hell.
I’d lived there for four years in high school, and once I left I never had any desire to go back. In fact, I hadn’t. It had been years since I left Arizona to go to college, and I always made my mother come to Oregon to visit me.
Arizona was the setting for four of the most tumultuous years of my life. High school was traumatic on some level for everyone, but I’d spent it living in the servants’ quarters of a mansion being treated like a second-class citizen. And that wasn’t only at home—the hell encompassed my school life as well. Since I technically lived in the district of the most affluent neighborhood, I went to a very upscale high school. That was helpful when it came to opportunities as far as school-funded programs and sports—everything was the best of the best. But it was very obvious to all the other students that I was not one of them, and they voiced their displeasure daily.
I picked up my office phone and dialed Rose’s extension. She picked up almost immediately.
“Rose speaking, how can I help you?”
“Hi, It’s Riley. I was just wondering where in Arizona this was all taking place.”
“Paradise Valley.”
My heart lurched to a complete standstill at her words, but I had to force myself to respond.
A mousy “Okay” was all I could muster.
“Any other questions?” she asked, not unkindly.
“No,” I managed to squeak out.
“All right. But let me know if any more pop up.”
“Okay, thanks,” I said before ending the call.
Paradise Valley. Of course.
For the next few hours I locked myself in my office and did my best to appear as though I was working. I clicked my mouse, typed on my keyboard, and at one point I did answer a phone call, but it was easily handled with only the quarter of my brain that was operating. When it was finally time for lunch, I couldn’t figure out if I was looking forward to lunch with Rachel and Jasper or dreading it.
Jasper popped into my office at the exact moment my phone pinged with a text.
“You ready?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I replied, swiping across the screen of my phone and reading a text from Hadley. Grabbing my purse from the bottom drawer of my desk, I headed toward Jasper and noticed Rachel waiting by the elevators.
“How’s your day so far?” he asked, passing a hat back and forth between his hands.
“Stressful.”
“Yeah? At least you’re not knee-deep in bridezillas.”
I couldn’t hold back the laugh at the image he evoked with his words. Jasper, a giant, beating away giant lizards in wedding dresses and veils.
“Hey, I did my time.” Rachel smiled as we approached and the elevator doors opened a second later. We all entered and Rachel hit the button for the bottom floor. “Do you guys mind if Hadley joins us? She’s nearby and asked if I had plans for lunch.”
“Of course not,” Rachel said.
“The more the merrier,” Jasper added.
“Thanks, guys. Same sushi place as always?”
“You know it.” I could almost hear the excitement in Jasper’s tone. He loved sushi. Luckily, so did Hadley. I shot her a text letting her know where to meet us and then put my phone back in my purse just as the doors slid open.
As soon as we stepped foot outside, Jasper placed the hat he’d been carrying on his head and it made me do a double take.
“Jasper,” I crooned. “That hat is definitely my favorite accessory of yours. Is it new?”
“You like? I just got it. I’m trying it out.”
“Oh yes, definitely a keeper,” Rachel added. “What kind of hat is it?”
“It’s called a flat cap,” he said with a haughty tone and slight British accent, which made me laugh.
“Oh really?” I mirrored his inflection. “How proper.” Laughs aside, I gave him props. He looked all kinds of dapper with the new hat and trademark suspenders. It was late spring in Portland and the sun was out. It hadn’t rained in a few days, so everyone was chipper and walking around town without umbrellas or coats—a Pacific Northwest dream. It almost made me forget about the meeting I’d had just hours before.
We made it to the sushi place Jasper preferred and found a table. Just as we’d opened our menus, Hadley walked in.
“Hey, bitch,” Jasper said, a little too loudly for my liking, but Hadley gave him her warmest smile.
“Hey, yourself.” She walked right to me and bent at the waist to wrap me in a hug. It hadn’t been too long since I’d seen her, but our get-togethers were definitely spaced farther apart now that I was with Camden. Not that she’d ever mentioned anything of the sort. “Hey, friend,” she said as she squeezed me.
I wasn’t prepared to have a breakdown in public, but Hadley’s words and her affection made something inside of me snap. She pulled away and immediately knew something was wrong—all three of them did. My chin was quivering with the strain of trying to keep the tears at bay and I was gnawing the hell out of my bottom lip. None of it worked though, because a rogue tear slipped down my cheek anyway.
“Oh my gosh, babe. What’s wrong?” Hadley asked, taking the open seat next to me but keeping her hand on my arm, rubbing it up and down gently. Rachel swiped two napkins from the dispenser on the table and held them out, and I took them gratefully.
“I’m sorry. It’s nothing. I’m crazy, obviously.” And I felt a little crazy. I was laughing as we came in the door and now I couldn’t stop the tears.
“Did something happen with Camden?” This came from Jasper and he sounded so concerned, his voice soft and worried. Double damn, the tears just continued.
“No, nothing like that.” I wiped the tears from under my eyes and sniffled.
“Then what is it?” Rachel asked softly.
“There’s just a lot going on.”
“You’re overwhelmed?” Hadley asked, her hand still moving soothingly up and down my arm. I nodded in response, using the napkins to dry my face.
“Is it the wedding planning? Because obviously, we can help with that,” Rachel said.
“No, we haven’t even really started planning anything.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Jasper asked softly.
I took in a deep breath and thought about his question. Did I want to talk about it? Yes and no. I knew if I told them about everything happening I would feel better, but I didn’t want to tell them my list of complaints because I knew they wouldn’t see them as such. The issues weighing heavily on me were problems some other people would kill to have. But I couldn’t keep my thoughts to myself any longer, and my friends wanted to take some of the burden.
“Last night, Camden surprised me with a house.”
“What?” Hadley exclaimed, her hand stilling against me.
“Yeah. It’s a beautiful house and he really loves it.”
“Wait, you bought a house yesterday?” Rachel asked, equally as shocked at Hadley.
I nodded as I blew my nose. Loudly. “And Rose just asked me to go to Arizona with her for a work thing.”
“Arizona?” Hadley repeated, a knowing tone to her voice. I turned and gave a weak smile while I nodded. She knew all about Arizona. “Well, no wonder you’re freaking the fuck out.”
“I know,” I cried as I threw my hands up in the air. “I can’t deal with all this at the same time. House, wedding, Arizona, Camden. That man,” I said with a huff. “He just tells me to meet him at an address and then dazzles me with a beautiful house, telling me he wants our babies running around in the backyard.”
“That asshole,” Jasper said with no small amount of sarcasm. “I hate it when sexy-as-fuck fiancés threaten to buy me houses.”
“Hey, he’s not buying me a house. We’re buying a house. I’m contributing.”
“Good for you,” Rachel added.
“You know what I mean,” Jasper said, shrugging. “Camden wants nothing in the world but to make you happy. There’s not one selfish bone in that man’s body when it comes to you. Well, aside from just wanting you all to himself, but who could blame him?”
“He’s right, you know,” Hadley said, her hand finally falling away. “If he brought you to a house and convinced you to buy it, it’s because he thinks it’ll make you happy.”
“Well, to be honest, I had a big case of sticker shock.” I leaned over the table and my friends followed suit. I dropped my voice to a whisper. “It’s a two-story colonial. In Laurelhurst.”
“No,” Rachel gasped.
“Yes,” I said, nodding empathically. “How am I supposed to say no to that?”
“Clearly, you’re not.” Jasper laughed.
“So, it’s beautiful, then?” I didn’t have to look at Hadley to know she had a smile on her face.
“It’s gorgeous,” I groaned.
“Wait, what in the world does Rose need you in Arizona for?” Rachel asked, clearly catching on to the other piece of information I’d dropped.
I shrugged one shoulder. “She said her best friend is getting married, and she’s bringing me along to help handle the event.”
“Rose’s best friend? Where in Arizona? What’s the theme? Budget?” Rachel asked, leaning forward with interest.
“I don’t know, I didn’t ask a ton of questions.” I took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. “Okay, I’m sorry for the breakdown. I’ve just been holding in all this stress and it just found a strange time to make its presence known.”
“It’s okay,” Rachel said, reaching out and patting my hand softly. “That’s what we’re here for.”
“I’m here for sushi,” Jasper added, making me laugh.
I had the best friends.