Taking the Leap (River Rain 3)

“You told me I could tell my story,” Peri accused. “I flew all the way out here to tell my story. Rix won’t listen to me, his buddies are messing with me, and you told me I could share my side.”

“I think what you don’t understand, Peri, is that your side doesn’t have very many dimensions. You’ve already shared it.”

Peri started to look pissed.

Elsa turned to the camera, and it closed in on her.

“Now, with that, my wonderful watchers, I think we’ve all learned so, so much that is very important. So I think for now we’ll call it a wrap. Until our next exchange, keep it positive. Elsa is signing off.”

She then winked, blew a kiss, and the video ended.

Rix sat with it for a second, then he went back to the email, hit reply and typed, Don’t air it.

And he hit send.

After that, he picked up his phone and sent two texts.

The first, to Jarrod: You’re an asshole, but you look good on camera. It’s not gonna air. Leave P alone. It’s done for me. Tell the guys to lay off. Sorry to kill your bid to score pussy through a gossip show. Fuck off but let’s get a beer.

The second, to Nic: It’s not gonna air. Love you, beautiful. Tell that ugly mug you married he’s safe. You won’t leave him for me now that I’ve found my own woman. And stop it. Both of you sleep. I’m happy.

He’d just put his phone down when he got a three-word email reply from Elsa.

Understood. It’s dead.

At that, Rix had to sit for a minute because he had a feeling all of what he just saw was not about Elsa developing a conscience but giving something to Rix she thought he needed.

And he did not want to like that woman.

But there it was.

The first text back was Nic.

Love you too.

The second was Jarrod.

I don’t need a gossip show to score pussy. I’m a way bigger stud than you ever were. Brats and beer at my house Saturday. Fuck off until then and bring Alex.

Rix smiled.

Got up.

Opened his door.

Returned to his big, important desk.

And with the only thought in his head being a mental note to remember to tell Alex they had plans on Saturday, Rix got back to work.

“It’s crazy,” she declared.

They were sitting in line behind two cars at the window at Scooter’s, waiting to roll up and get their coffee. It was Saturday morning, and they were heading to Cottonwood to hike the Jail Trail.

Well, they’d be doing that, just not right after coffee, like Alex thought they were.

“It isn’t crazy,” Rix replied. “I know you don’t have a lot of experience with shit like this, but this is normal.”

“It’s normal for someone’s father and sister to show the week of Thanksgiving, commence occupation of the six thousand square foot, five-bedroom, six-bath monstrosity they’ve rented, and do that until the first week of January?”

He grinned at her. “Six thousand square feet for two people, no. Family wanting to be around family for holidays. Yes. Your sister doesn’t have a job, so she can be anywhere she wants to be for seven weeks. And your dad needs a break.”

Because she knew he was right, she did a visible if not auditory huff and looked forward.

Then she mumbled, “Go, honey.”

Rix looked forward too, saw the car at the window had taken off, the next one was up, so he inched up a car length.

“Blake insists on making Thanksgiving dinner, and that terrifies me,” Alex went on complaining.

It terrified him too, especially since this was Blake’s new thing. Alex had told him she’d never cooked before. Now she’d thrown herself into learning and had decided to show off her new skills on the most important cooking day of the year.

“We’ll keep an eye on it, we’ll make sure there’s plenty of snacks stocked and backup shit we can do if things go south, and who cares if it sucks? It’s just a meal,” Rix returned.

“A meal your mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, you and me will be eating,” she retorted.

He turned and grinned at her. “Yes, that’s what’s happening next Thursday, Thanksgiving, where family gets together and stuffs their faces.”

“Ohmigod, it’s gonna be a disaster,” she grumbled to the windshield.

He stopped teasing her, getting the feeling she was actually concerned about this regardless that Blake was getting her shit tight. And regardless her dad was doing this because he was far from stupid, he saw his opportunity to have a deeper bond with both of his girls, so he was taking his shot. And regardless that Rix’s family liked everyone, especially Alex. Which meant, even if they didn’t get along with her dad or Blake, they’d still love Alex and make the most of whatever they could build with Alex’s family.

But they’d get along.