us through the kitchen and into the living room, where I found every single piece of furniture missing, and my friends waiting.
“Welcome home!”
Of course, River, who had only just stopped crying, started up again. I barely noticed their apologetic cringes as I looked around in awe. The living room hadn’t been left bare. Instead, the furniture had been replaced with decorations to welcome River home.
Blue, green, and silver balloons covered the floor and even floated like centerpieces in each of the four corners. It was the only constant in the room.
The left side of the room had been decorated in what was clearly a nautical theme. Hung between the windows was a large ship wheel and the words Ahoy, Captain River! The small table covered by a navy and white striped cloth held refreshments, which included a three-layered cake in the center that was actually shaped like a ship. The life ring hanging in front read Welcome Home, and there was a banner strung across made of little red anchors.
The right side of the room had been turned into a tiny farm. A cardboard red and white barn along with a green tractor had been erected. There were even real bales of hay in front of yet another short table, but this one held wrapped gifts and cardboard cutouts of sheep, pigs, chickens, cows, and even a dog.
The third and longest wall resembled a football field. A green rug with yard lines, two field goal posts, and footballs at each end adorned the floor. A realistic scoreboard hung from the wall that read #TeamRiverRees on top. White wooden chairs, the only seating in the room, had been placed against the wall below it. Each one had jerseys of varying adult sizes with River’s name hanging from the back, and I knew they were meant to be party favors for our friends.
The fourth and final wall was the shortest since it had been cut out to make an entryway to the kitchen. It was the most confusing of all the themes but not because of the top hats, bow ties, and mustaches decorating the wall. But because of the empty table covered by a black tablecloth.
“So, what exactly is the theme?” I asked to keep from crying. This was more than I expected, more than I deserved. My friends were the best, and I’d been ready to give them all up over my broken heart. I knew now that a piece of it had remained all along and intact—because of them.
Vaughn looked sheepish as he scratched the back of his neck. “We had creative differences.”
“But which one do you like best?” Jamie asked as he swaggered over holding a cane and wearing a black tux, top hat, mustache, and round spectacles with the words Oh, baby on the top of the rim. His mahogany hair had even been slicked back with gel and oil. It was apparent which theme had been his. Bee was dressed identically, even going so far as wearing the mustache. The two of them made an intriguing yet perfect combination.
“Give it a rest, Jameson,” Lou said as she came to stand beside him. I wasn’t at all surprised to she was dressed like Olive Oil, making me immediately search the room for Wren. My eyes nearly fell out of my head when I saw him wearing a black collared shirt, red ribbon tied around his throat, light blue chinos, and a white sailor cap. It was impossible not to shed a few tears after seeing the broody, ex-gangbanger wearing a costume. “Yours doesn’t even make sense. His name is River. Obviously, going full nautical made the most sense.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Ever deadpanned as he joined our circle. “It’s obvious as fuck.”
I almost choked when I realized he was dressed in a rooster costume. I couldn’t help gaping at the former king of Brynwood, who’d made a reputation for being unapproachable. Four wasn’t far behind him, and of course, she wore a white feathered skirt with a white long-sleeve bodysuit, yellow chucks, and a red cone on her head. They were all dressed in costume despite it being the middle of April.
“As opposed to the unoriginal farm animal theme?” Lou sassed back.
“It’s classic.”
“It’s cliché.”
I turned to peer up at Vaughn, who was ignoring them all as he unbuckled River from his car seat. “So, I suppose the football theme was your idea?”
Vaughn glanced at me before shrugging, his lips turning up in a crooked smile. River stopped crying