13. Chapter 13
M y fingers shook a bit as I unlocked my phone, cursing my poor choice to wear a casual, thin-cotton yellow dress today.
Today was a bit colder than I’d expected, but April in Minnesota was notoriously unpredictable.
By the time I’d realized how cold it was, I was already on my way to Target and didn’t feel like returning home to change.
Charlie was fairly well adjusted at this point, but leaving him was still tough—I’d rather not do it again so soon.
Scanning the notes app on my phone, I opened the shopping list. I needed supplies as part of my book club project, specifically the publicity part.
I’d decided against asking Hakeem for a budget for such things, wanting to show him I could do a lot with a little.
I scanned the crafting aisle, a bit bewildered.
Maybe I should start in the paper aisle instead?
Where was the posterboard anyway? Why didn’t I think to go to an office supply store? I palmed my forehead in regret.
Be reasonable .
I could pick up a few things here and then head over to the office supply store later.
Maybe I could rope Rainn into coming along; surely he had some experience with this sort of thing.
With that in mind, I started browsing and grabbing a few things that caught my interest. Before long, I realized this was kind of fun.
“… Besides, he has her now. Oh—oh no, Jane, I’ll have to call you back.”
I knew that voice.
I took a deep, calming breath and walked toward the voice. “Viv!”
Viviana inhaled sharply and made a face that wasn’t quite a smile. “Annie … hi.”
“I’m surprised to see you here,” I said, giving her a friendly smile. I felt nervous, somehow sensing that this was my opportunity. We were alone. In a public place, but not among our friends.
“Why?” Viviana demanded, eyes flashing. “Can’t I shop like anyone else?”
Whoa, I bring out the worst in her.
I stepped back. “Of course, sorry, I just meant that it’s a strange coincidence because, well, I was just thinking about calling you.” I smiled a little. “And here you are.”
Likely realizing she was overreacting, Viviana bit her lip and lowered her eyes slightly. “Sorry. I … didn’t mean to be so defensive.”
“It’s fine. I get it. Things did not end well between us.” I sighed.
Just own up to it, Annie .
“I was a total jerk, actually.”
Viviana burst into laughter. “Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh. That was just so blunt .”
“Yeah, that’s me.” I shrugged and then grinned.
She looked down and said quietly, “I miss that.”
“You do? I’ve been realizing of late that it’s not one of my better traits. I can’t believe it took me this long to figure that out.”
“Well, bluntness has a time and place. Sometimes I wish …”
“You wish what?”
“I wish I could be like that. Sometimes.”
“Oh. Well, maybe I could teach you.” I smiled hesitantly. “I could be the mentor for once.”
Viviana actually smiled in return. “I’d like that. ”
I wasn’t sure what to say next. My female friendships had usually just fizzled out with little to no effort to revive them. What did one do next? So, I looked into Viviana’s eyes with the most sincere expression I could muster. “Can you forgive me, Viv?”
She nodded, her eyes hopeful. “Only if you forgive me .”
“I was the awful person, not you. It’s the damn redhead temper, right? No, I don’t have an excuse. You were just looking out for me and trying to protect me from another jerk, as always.” With a heavy shrug, I let out a long exhale. “I sure know how to pick ’em.”
“But I could’ve tried to get in touch with you after that. Instead of giving up on us so easily,” Viviana said.
That’s true , I thought. That’s cool she can admit that.
She swallowed visibly and continued, “I just … I don’t know.
Maybe I needed space. Not from you necessarily, but from everything.
Things weren’t going well with Gregory, and that ended terribly.
I’m sure you know that. They both played us for fools, and I was just as gullible as you were, maybe more so because Gregory made it pretty obvious from the start that he was not a good person. And—”
“Viv, I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you and that I pushed him on you. I was a little too wrapped up in myself to see what was happening or what could happen with a guy like that.” I frowned.
Wow, I owe her an apology for lots of things. More than I thought.
I squeezed my hands together, trying to refrain from jumping at her with a huge hug. “I wasn’t being a great friend either.”
“OK, so … let’s stop being crappy friends. Deal?” Viviana smiled, sticking out her hand.
I laughed, putting both arms out to pull her into a hug. “Bring it in.”
Even though I could feel the tension in her body as well as my own, the hug was immensely calming.
It struck me how much I’d suffered from having little contact—physical or emotional—for weeks with anyone other than occasionally my roomies.
“Well, this is playing out like a scene in a Hallmark movie,” Viviana said. “And we’re in the Hallmark aisle. ”
“Oh, the horror,” I said with a giggle. “At least it’s not a Christmas movie. Speaking of horrors, you have heard about poor Ellen, right?”
“ Poor Ellen?” Viviana’s tone was doubtful.
“I know she kind of took advantage of us, and she didn’t take my quitting very well. But I feel bad for her, don’t you?”
Her face clouded over with resent. “Why would I?”
My eyes widened. “Oh my—you didn’t hear? Have you been on social media, like, at all?”
Viviana shook her head. “I needed a break. I didn’t even read any of my emails or messages from Ellen as I was so furious at her.”
My jaw dropped. “I’m in awe … I tried to go off the grid for a while, but I was too weak.
” It had been easy to avoid social media when I didn’t care about anything and had been holed up in my room, but once I’d returned to the living, avoidance wasn’t as easy.
I’d heard about Ellen’s self-destruction by texting another Bolder editor I’d occasionally gone drinking with in the past. “OK, but anyway, so she was having an affair with some no-name guy at the gym. Her husband found out and not only confronted the gym guy but also got in touch with the gym guy’s wife.
The wife just happened to be one of those influencers on Instagram and TikTok with literally millions of followers.
Within hours, the story was everywhere. Ellen had to resign, and she’s said to be taking a spa vacation somewhere.
Can you believe it? I mean, I feel for her, but … I also don’t.”
“Wow, that is insane. I actually wondered if there was a gym guy on the side. There was a weird late night in the office one weekend … but anyway, just wow. She kinda sold me out to Greg by telling him my dad was a famous writer, but still, I do feel sorry for her. That’s a hefty consequence for one bad decision.
” Ah, so that’s why Viviana was furious with Ellen.
I was just relieved that she didn’t suspect m e of divulging her father’s identity to Greg—I might not get the friendship thing right all the time, but I knew better than to do that .
“No kidding. If only all the two-timers paid such a price. Like the jerks we dated. But let’s not go there …
Hey, are you ready to ch eck out too?” When she nodded, I added, “Good, because I need to update you on my life. I finally found a good guy, if you’ll allow me a humble brag.
It’s been hell not being able to talk to you all this time!
” I smiled. I couldn’t wait to tell her about Charlie, because he was surely better than any boyfriend.
But my friend suddenly looked pained.
“Viv? Are you OK?”
Shaking her head, Viviana sputtered, “Yes—I mean—no. That is, yes, I’m OK, but I just remembered I’m not done shopping.”
I offered a gentle smile, trying to set her at ease. Something was off. “Oh, no problem. I can tag along while you finish and gush about my new guy.”
“No!” She looked truly alarmed now. “I mean, I would love that, but I, well, it’s just not really the right time. I still have a lot of things to buy.”
Realizing I was staring at her small shopping basket, Viviana mumbled, “I should probably go get a cart, actually. Since I need a ton of stuff.”
I spoke slowly, trying to keep my tone even. “It’s fine, Viv. You can just tell me if you don’t want to talk. Remember, bluntness? You can start now.”
“No, it’s, it’s not that … I just—it’s not the best time. It’s hard to explain.” She looked flustered.
I stepped forward and enveloped her in another hug. “It’s fine , Viv. We’ll catch up another time, I hope. I’m just glad we got to talk. Really glad.”
She offered a small smile. It looked painful, but she was trying. Really hard. And that’s what mattered. This might not be easy, but we were both trying and that mattered. I smiled back in relief—our friendship might not be great right now, but we would be OK.
I smoothed my skirt as I strolled down the hallway, giving one last smile to Rainn as we approached the HR offices.
For this interview, I’d elected to wear the navy-blue pantsuit, but I’d sprung for a new pair of heels.
It was a professional investment, I’d told my roommates (and myself).
I looked amazing. Well, as amazing as anyone could look in a business-style suit that was almost never flattering to anyone.
“You’re going to kill it, Annie,” Rainn said, turning to grin at me as we stopped outside the room where I’d be interviewing. He pointed to a small waiting area with several chairs.
“I think I’ll stand, actually,” I said, smoothing my skirt again. I was a little nervous. Confident but nervous. If this job didn’t pan out, there would be other opportunities.