Page 83 of Committed to You
“If you like Greek food, you can come to Sunday dinner. It’ll be at noon.”
“Yeah? Your parents will be okay with that?”
She laughs. “Of course. They can grill you then.”
My nerves start to take off again. “What will they grill me on? How can I prepare?”
“I’m just teasing.”
I scan her eyes.
“Hey, you don’t need to be nervous.”
“Sorry. I haven’t met or hung out with anyone’s parents since I was twenty-two.”
Vivian is about to say something and stops.
“What?”
“Was that Jennifer’s parents?”
I jerk back. “Yes. What do you know about her?”
She runs her fingers through my hair. “I know you bought a ring and caught her and Matt together.”
My gut flips as I think about it, but I remind myself that it was a long time ago, and I need to get over it. I stare at Vivian and don’t say anything.
“That must have really hurt,” she says quietly.
I clench my jaw, trying to shove down the hurt rearing its ugly head, even though I told myself to get over it.
Vivian positions her body over mine and turns my face toward her.
“It wasn’t only about her. He was as close to me as Jamison is,” I admit.
She nods. “Betrayal hurts. You’re allowed to hurt.”
I look away from her. Her eyes are too intense.
What the fuck is wrong with me? Why does this still affect me?
“Hey.”
I slowly look at her.
She cups my face. “I won’t ever betray you. I promise you.”
A wave of emotion hits me, and I blink back tears. I already know Vivian is special and loyal, but her promise chokes me up. I can’t talk, afraid I might fall apart. Instead, I kiss her, allowing myself to love her and let her love me back.
The nagging voice in my head that’s told me all these years not to trust anyone, not to get close, not to feel, pops up. I push him down and tell myself Vivian is different.
Slowly, my walls start to come down.
19
Vivian
Chaseand I spend all morning looking at commercial buildings with my colleague Tracey. Chase writes offers on two of them. When we are done with the commercial buildings, we hop in an Uber and head back to the downtown area.
