Four

RILEY COULD BARELY contain her excitement as she jumped off her bike. As soon as classes had ended, she had cycled here as fast as she could, and this had Riley barely catching her breath as she burst inside the cafe.

All eyes were on her in that instant, but all Riley saw was the woman working behind the counter.

"Hey there," Vixen greeted her with a smile.

It was all she needed to hear, and her heart was immediately free of all worries.

They were okay, Riley thought in relief, and if luck was on their side, things could get even better because...

"Are you and Dad going to start dating soon?"

A hush of silence swept over the entire cafe, and it was only at that moment Riley realized how everyone had been looking at her the entire time.

"Oops?"

Laughter and the merriest kind of chaos ensued, with Juno and the locals ribbing Vixen mercilessly about Riley's dad, whom most people referred to as Lavender Cove's "Most Eligible Bachelor."

Huh.

Riley had never thought of her dad as "eligible". And she certainly hadn't once thought him "attractive". It was hard to think along those lines when she had grown up hearing Beatriz sobbing and screaming at him the entire time while her dad simply listened in stoic silence.

She glanced back at Vixen, who was still surrounded by people like a celebrity hounded by the press. They were all asking her about the hows and the whens, but Vixen only laughed everything off with a shake of her head.

"I'm sorry, but we're just friends for now."

Everyone groaned, and Riley wanted to groan with them. Just like the others, she already knew that Vixen was one of those people you could trust to always say the truth...no matter how painful or awkward.

And speaking of...

Riley still couldn't help feeling a little self-conscious when she found herself alone with Vixen in the aviary. Doubts and insecurities plagued her heart once again, and Riley found herself wondering if Vixen might be too nice to turn her dad down.

People might think her dad was attractive, but he was also a single dad, and most women—-

"A penny for your thoughts?"

Vixen's tone was friendly like usual, but Riley now had her guard up...and she suddenly didn't know how to make herself feel comfortable again with the other woman.

Vixen looked at her in concern. "Hey. Is everything alright?"

No.

Everything's not alright.

Because I'm suddenly scared my dad and I are forcing ourselves on you.

But instead of saying any of those things, Riley was surprised to hear herself ask, "Can you give me a verse?"

"Oh, um, okay." Vixen looked at her curiously. "But what for?"

"Fear."

"Then something from Isaiah," Vixen answered promptly.

Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Riley's fingers curled into fists. The words were exactly what she needed to hear, but she found it comforting and terrifying to admit this.

Are you really real, God?

"If you tell me what you're afraid of," Vixen suggested gently, "then maybe—-"

"It's you," she blurted out.

Vixen blinked at her. "Me?"

Riley squirmed on her feet. "How do you really feel about my dad? And...me?"

"Oh, Riley."

Vixen's tone was tender, and her smile affectionate. Riley couldn't recall ever using such words to describe anyone in her life. Not even her own dad. But she knew there were no better words than those to describe the other woman.

"You don't need to worry about these things—-"

"Is that your way of telling us not to hope for anything because you're too nice?"

"Wh-what—-no, of course not!" Vixen looked at her for a moment, and Riley was astonished to see the other woman's cheeks slowly turn pink.

"This feels embarrassing to admit, but I'm very attracted to your dad."

Riley was tempted to start jumping for joy—-

"But ...I can't date him just yet."

—-only to feel deflated the next moment.

"Why can't you date him?" Riley forced herself to ask.

"Because I made a promise to God."

Knew it, Riley thought glumly. Vixen had standards, as she should have. And obviously, Riley and her dad—-

"I can only date the man God wants me to marry."

—-still had a fighting chance, yeeeeees!

Riley couldn't help it. She did start jumping for joy this time, which in turn had Vixen laughing since Riley's contagious enthusiasm had both Salt and Light chirping like mad.

Riley insisted on helping around in the cafe for the rest of the day, and seeing this set off another round of teasing. Even Riley this time wasn't spared, with everyone asking her about whether she thought Vixen would transform into a villainous stepmother like often seen in films.

Vixen covered Riley's ears at that, complaining, "Stop trying to corrupt her, you guys!"

But this only had everyone patting Riley's head in sympathy and telling her she had their sincerest condolences. Vixen already has you working in her cafe, unpaid! She'll soon turn you into Cinderella if you're not careful!

Memories of such banter had Riley working hard to keep herself from grinning while she waited for Vixen to lock up. All her life, it had always been just her and her parents. But living in Lavender Cove was like being part of this huge family, and she loved it.

Vixen turned to her with a smile. "All done. Thanks for waiting. Can I drive you home?"

"Only if you also promise to have dinner with us?"

"Um..."

"Please?"

"Shouldn't you check with your dad first?" Vixen asked.

Riley rolled her eyes. "Duh. My dad wants to date you. Do you really think he'd get mad if you join us for dinner?"