I blamed the cursed haze in my mind for what I said next. “If you want company, I was planning to grab a snack too. Not hungry enough for a full dinner.”
Surprise slid across Vivian’s face, followed by a hint of pleasure. “Sure. East sitting room in five?”
I gave a curt nod.
Luckily, Greta wasn’t in the kitchen when I returned. I grabbed another bowl of soup and joined Vivian in the east sitting room.
The chicken broth was rich and hearty enough to comprise a full meal on its own. We ate in silence for a while until Vivian spoke again.
“How’s Luca? After…you know.”
“He’s fine. He’s been through worse.” Though I should check on him again just in case. “He once got mugged by a monkey in Bali. Almost died trying to get his phone back.”
Vivian spluttered out a laugh. “Excuse me?”
“It’s true.” My mouth curved, both at the memory of my brother’s indignation over the crime and at her smile. “Obviously, he got out okay, but some of those temple monkeys are ruthless.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for our trip.”
We were leaving for Bali in three weeks to see my parents for Thanksgiving. I was already dreading it, but I pushed that aside for now.
“And you?” I dropped all pretense and fixed my gaze on Vivian. “How are you doing?”
Vivian’s amusement disappeared in the wake of my question.
The air shifted and condensed, squeezing out the earlier lightheartedness.
“I’m okay,” she said quietly. “I’m having some trouble sleeping, hence the naps, but it’s more shock than anything. I wasn’t hurt. I’ll get over it.”
Maybe she was right. She was much calmer now than the first night, but a niggling thread of concern still unraveled in my stomach.
“If you want to talk to someone, the company has people on hand,” I said gruffly. Our contracted therapists were some of the top practitioners in the city. “Just let me know.”
“Thank you.” Her smile returned, softer this time. “For the other night, and for this.” She nodded at the half-empty bowls between us.
“You’re welcome,” I said stiffly, unsure how to handle whatever the hell was happening here.
I had no frame of reference for the strange fog clouding my brain, or the twinge in my chest when I looked at her.
It wasn’t wrath, like with Brax.
It wasn’t hatred, like with Francis.
It wasn’t lust or dislike or any of the other emotions that had shaped my previous interactions with Vivian.
I didn’t know what it was, but it unsettled the hell out of me.
CHAPTER17
Dante & Vivian
DANTE
Vivian did end up speaking to one of our therapists after the Lohman & Sons incident. She never discussed her sessions, but by the time we arrived in Bali, her sleep had improved and she was mostly back to her normal witty, sarcastic self.
I told myself my relief had nothing to do with herpersonallyand that I was simply glad she was in the right headspace to meet my parents.
“Are you sure your parents live here?” Vivian stared at the villa in front of us.