12. Chapter 12
Chapter 12
U pon returning home a while later, shivering from the cold, I encountered Jack in the small lobby of our building. I flashed him a smile, still feeling invigorated yet content from my morning interlude.
“Hi, Vivi, I’m just heading out for the meeting.”
“You left so abruptly,” I observed, my brow wrinkled in concern. “Is everything all right?”
“Of course, everything’s fine.” He looked away for a moment and then back to me. “I just had a lot to do and … well, yes, I needed to prep for the meeting. Vivi, come away from the door. You look frozen!”
I put my hands on my hips, ignoring his concern. “Is that all? You hadn’t said a word about needing to leave early until Gregory showed up.”
“Didn’t I? Well, I probably should have, but I know you prefer not to run alone. Dr. Fitz solved that problem,” he said, giving me a half-smile.
I met his eyes steadily, waiting for what I knew was to come.
“And honestly …” He paused, with a slightly pained expression on his face. “I just don’t like the guy. Sorry, Vivi. I know you do like him, but I’d rather not … spend my time in his presence.” Trust Jack to lay it out for me simply and factually, but never hurtfully. At least not intentionally.
I sighed, leaning back against the door frame. Unsurprised, I couldn’t really blame Jack. Gregory was … well, I didn’t know what he was. “That’s not really surprising. But I wondered if I said something wrong—if there was anything else bothering you.”
“No.”
I gazed into his blue-grey eyes intently. “Seriously, you can tell me if I overstepped with the comment about Irene. I was just teasing.” It was risky to bring up her name again, but I simply had to clear the air.
To my relief, he chuckled. “We’ve known each other for how many years now? This is me, Vivi. You can say whatever you want to me.” He sighed, looking at the checkered tile design on the floor before raising his eyes to mine. “I just don’t want to talk about Irene because, well, I spend enough time dealing with Irene issues that I’d rather not also spend time talking about them. Does that make sense?”
It did make sense on some level, though it’s certainly not how I would handle “issues” I was having with a person. For that matter, I still had no idea what the issues with Irene were. I had my guesses, of course.
Before I could probe further, Jack gently placed a warm hand on my chilled arm. “Vivi, I have to head out. We can talk later if you’d like. Go upstairs and warm up, will you?”
As he left me standing in the lobby, I stared after him. What were these issues he alluded to, and why was he so reluctant to talk about them? Still, I knew … I’d do what I always did, allowing him to have his secrets and just being available to talk if he wished. A dull ache lodged in my chest. His confession that he didn’t like Gregory was more than a little unsettling, even though I couldn’t blame him at all. That, I knew, made no sense.
I shook my head slightly to clear my thoughts as I turned to head upstairs, my calf muscle aching slightly as I walked. My thoughts abruptly turned to Gregory’s athletic calves.
Now there’s something more fun to think about, now that we’re actually talking and his Darcy layers are unraveling. Can layers unravel? Unlayer?
I winced before succumbing to self-deprecating laughter. And I was supposedly becoming a writer? Yet I couldn’t wait to further unlayer my leading man.
Early that evening, I encountered Jack again while returning home. “Vivi, it’s you again. Just getting back?” he asked with a smile.
“Yeah. I’m just getting back and probably going to make dinner.” I pointed to the shopping bag I was holding.
“Want some company?” he asked in his usual even tone. “Would you believe I finally have a free evening—”
“Oh, no thanks. I need ‘me time.’ You enjoy your night though.” I gave him a perfunctory smile while starting to walk past him.
“Vivi, are you OK?”
I turned back quickly with what I hoped was a reassuring smile, avoiding his discerning eyes. “I’m fine! Enjoy your night, Jack.”
“Ah—OK,” he said, frowning slightly. “I’ll see you around then.”
While walking upstairs, I felt a twinge of guilt but quickened my steps. Although hurt by Jack’s recent behavior, objectively speaking, I had no right to be upset with him, so it would be useless to try to explain why I was. If I was. And I wasn’t lying—I did need some time to myself, though not at home. Despite being a certified homebody, I occasionally felt a strong need to get out, alone, to go outside or to some public place where I could be anonymous. One of my favorite outings was to visit Bookshop, one of the few remaining local bookstores on my side of the city. Bookshop was a book lover’s dream, full of not only books but cozy nooks in which to read and escape.
After the outing, I lugged my bag of new books that was far too heavy and far too expensive over to my couch, where I planned to happily sift through my new treasures as soon as I found something to satisfy my growling stomach. As I strolled to the kitchen, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
Annie
Viv, please tell me you’re not going to be a homebody all this week
Viviana
Depends on what my choices are :)
Annie
You, me, two rich hotties, and the hottest new restaurant in St. Paul!
Viviana
That or my boring apartment? Hmm …
Annie
It shouldn’t be a hard choice
Viviana
I’ll think about it and let you know
Annie
Srsly??
Viviana
No. I’ll be there. ;) Friday night?
Absently putting the phone down next to me, I grinned sheepishly. I hadn’t even hesitated about saying yes to Annie. After all, things with Gregory were becoming more promising. I could even call him Gregory, he had conceded, albeit reluctantly.
Feeling a surge of inspiration, I decided to write.
Janice walked her out, complaining all the way about her latest row with Carl. As they neared the exit, the doors opened, and in walked Fitz and Charles. Janice instantly perked up.
“Fitz, Charlie, we were just talking about you!”
Liz looked at her with narrowed eyes but decided not to question the lie.
“All good, I hope. Good morning, ladies,” Charles said with a smile, nudging Fitz.
“Good morning.”
As Janice made chitchat with them, well, with Charles, Liz looked down at her watch, seeing Fitz doing the same.
“I need to head out for a run before it becomes too sweltering out there,” Liz said, fanning her face. Like an idiot. Everyone in this conversation knew what it meant to be hot outside, right? She shook her head.
Janice turned to Fitz and opened her mouth, but before she could speak, he said, “Elizabeth, right?”
Pursing her lips, she nodded. As if he didn’t know her name by now!
“Elizabeth, would you like to run with me? I am eager to start today’s training run too, as it happens.”
She hardly knew what to say, so shocked she was. She simply nodded, and he followed her outside as Janice shouted after her to text her later.
They agreed to meet by the trail in 20 minutes. She was already in her running clothes, but he needed to change at his hotel, which was just a block away from the office. As she waited, she decided to do a light warmup lap, not wanting to get too sweaty but also not wanting to start the run feeling achy and stiff.
When he joined her, the pace was a bit faster than was typically comfortable for her, but she managed to keep up. She started making conversation, first chatting inanely about the weather and then asking him about his plans for the upcoming holiday.
“Elizabeth, I am British. I do not celebrate July 4th.”
She died a little inside. “Of course, how silly of me.”
“Do you talk by rule, then, while you are running?”
She looked at him then, feeling a shiver for a reason she couldn’t name. “I, uh …” She shook her head to clear the feeling. “I suppose I do. One must speak a little, you know.”
As I reclined against the nearly flat desk chair cushion, I reflected on the Austen quotes I snuck in. How satisfying to combine my old love of Austen with my new love of writing—and even running. Today, the words were just flowing out of me, and it was glorious. But before I could return to my writing, my phone buzzed.
Jack
Hey, I hope you’re OK. Sorry for ditching you on the run.
Viviana
It’s fine, really. I get it.
Jack
Lunch tomorrow? Make it up to you?
I mean, on Wednesday? Big deadline tomorrow.
My stomach growled. What? How did I forget to eat?
Viviana
You don’t have to make up anything, but sure. Your treat? :)
Jack
Of course. See you around noon Wed.?
Viviana
Sure.
Most likely, I was being overly sensitive, and Jack was just being Jack, right? But I didn’t feel like analyzing it further. I had a story to write (and to live!), and a minor disagreement with a friend did not fit into that story. Or did it? Perhaps Jack was Charlotte Lucas. Oh, that was a little unflattering . I cringed and then chuckled.
But where the bonnet fits, right?