Chapter 6
Victoria
The curiosity was eating me alive. If Bridget was a hacker and foreign instigator, I didn’t think I’d even hold it against her at this point, I just desperately wanted to know. peachykeen didn’t feel like a good name for an agent of a foreign dictator, though.
I could have looked it up, and it hung in my mind all day—the mall in the morning, and then a breakfast where she seemed distracted with something but brushed it off when I asked.
Disappeared for a while back into her room after, and I took the opportunity to sit in the living room for a bit, because my idea of a weekend was to do work in the living room instead of at the desk in my bedroom, and I spent a good ten minute with peachykeen narration typed into my search bar, but in the end, I didn’t hit enter.
Felt like a breach of privacy, especially given she clearly didn’t want me to see what was written on the package and had no idea I’d seen it earlier.
I wondered if she narrated something like…
raunchy romance novels. The type with a shirtless man on the cover and some sexy forbidden trysts.
She had a friend who’d narrated an audiobook, and it had sounded a little suggestive, talking about the POV character looking over this woman on a chaise with her legs doing something.
She’d been a little fast to turn it off.
I didn’t have such delicate sensibilities as to be offended by romance novels. I’d never actually read one, but… it hardly seemed like the worst thing in the world. Maybe I’d look her up and listen to one of them, just so I could drop it on her and see how mortified she’d look.
The thought passed through my head that she had a nice voice for it, before I realized how strange the thought was—like I was thinking my roommate had a good bedroom voice.
Bridget didn’t seem like the type to have a problem with my sexual orientation, but I felt like the whole thing would be easier if I didn’t bother coming out, since I wasn’t likely to be dating anybody of any gender as long as I was here, and I definitely didn’t need to come out by saying I thought her voice was… sexy.
I’d probably just been too repressed. It had been a long time, to put it lightly. I was too busy, was the nice and tidy reason I would give people if they asked. The real reason? That was a whole other can of worms.
I almost went through with the search, but I got a text in the last instant, Kevin’s name on it, and I took it as a sign, clearing the search bar and closing my laptop, opening the message.
I hear you’re bringing Bridget around tomorrow?
I typed in quickly. Mom was weirdly insistent on inviting her, and Bridget said yes.
You don’t sound too enthusiastic about it.
I chewed my lip. I’m just a little confused, if I’m being honest. We were never a “having friends over for dinner” household.
It took a minute before he replied, Well, I also hear you desperately wanted to see Pamela Bone there…
I snorted, hanging my head, and I hit call. He picked up with the tone in his voice like he was expecting me to. “I get it,” he said. “I’ve missed her complaining about Patrick down the street.”
“Oh, god. Do you remember how long she went on about the gopher and how it was in the garden because of him?”
“And it wasn’t even her garden?”
“Yes,” I laughed, relaxing back on the couch.
It was a nice sofa… felt comfy, lived-on, worn-in.
The one back at my place in Seattle had barely seen any action.
I’d been here for a week, and Bridget’s place already felt like home.
Even though I still only thought of it as Bridget’s place.
“I guess you know what that was actually about… I’m sorry. I’d thought Mom already knew.”
“Well, doesn’t sound like she found out from your conversation, so a nice save with Pam. Even though I’m hoping she doesn’t end up invited because of it.”
“I mean, likewise.”
“I guess Mom’s in for a real treat. Gotta thank you for doing the… legwork on this.”
“The legwork?” I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Seeing how she reacts. To, uh, you know, bringing someone around. She’s been having a rough time, but she’s been coming around. Suffice to say it’s a good thing you didn’t come for the first week.”
I blinked slowly. “She took a week to recover from the thought that I’d bring Bridget, and then she asked me to bring Bridget, when I wasn’t even planning to?”
“More or less. Honestly, I didn’t expect her be okay with it.”
I felt like I was losing my grip on reality. “I didn’t even need to bring Bridget. I mean, I’m glad she’s coming, but—why was this such a thing?”
“Universe works in funny ways. I think it’s for the best. Going to feel better bringing Sam around, even though she might have a heart attack.”
“I mean, I think that’s a little different.”
He laughed lightly. “Think it might be less different than you think.”
“Er… elaborate?”
“Should we do some introductions? Sam’s still here right now. I can pop you on video call.”
“Oh. Uh. Sure?”
I heard him turn away from the phone and call for Sammy, which, I never thought I’d hear about my brother liking someone at all, let alone dating someone and using a pet name, but the universe worked in funny ways.
He switched on the video, where he looked genuinely nervous.
I guess it was his first time introducing a date after a lifetime of insisting he wasn’t interested.
“Hey,” he said. “That’s Bridget’s place?”
“It’s nice, right?” I turned the camera to give him a panorama.
“Oh, found yourself with a Christmas lover.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” I laughed. “She’s got Christmas music playing all the time… more jazz covers of them than anything else. It’s nice.”
“That bit suits you.”
“Ha. Well, we haven’t had to argue over the aux cord, let’s say.”
He grinned. “Cute.”
I didn’t get to protest that I was not cute before there was a movement, and Kevin turned to where my stomach flopped at the sight—a man with floppy blond hair and freckles, a grin that was pure sunshine, who pressed himself up against Kevin’s side.
“Hey,” he said. “Finally getting to meet the legendary Vicky herself.”
“Oh—”
“This is Samuel,” Kevin said, and everything clicked all at once, and I felt like I got slapped in the face.
“Kevin, what the—” I shook my head. “Wait, hold on, back up.”
“We’ve been dating for three months now, and I’m… I mean, I’m happy,” Kevin said with a shrug. The poor man was dying of nerves. That wasn’t the important part right now.
“Hold on,” I said. “You know I’m not—I am not dating Bridget.”
“You’re—what?” He looked like I’d just punched him in the gut. Samuel looked suddenly like he wasn’t supposed to be here and was nervous about it. I felt like throwing up.
“Jesus Christ, don’t tell me Mom thinks—Kevin. Is that what this is about?”
They exchanged anxious looks. “You were on a date together when I found you,” Kevin said defensively. “She just about ripped my hand off when I touched you.”
“Oh, my god.” I put a hand to my forehead. “Shit, okay, hold on. Back up. I’m… okay. One thing at a time. Hi, Samuel. Sam? I don’t know what you prefer. It’s nice to meet you. I’m… I’m happy for you.”
They didn’t look convinced. Oh, god, my brother was trying to come out to me and I was being a jackass.
“No, I’m sorry. Really, I am happy for you. I support you completely. Wait, so—” I shook my head. “You mean Mom’s been coming to terms with me being in a relationship with a woman?”
“She said you were insisting on moving in with your girlfriend back here instead of staying with the family,” Kevin said. “She was apoplectic.”
And now she was coming around enough that she insisted I invite Bridget.
Oh, god, it made sense—why she sounded so resigned but was insisting on it.
She was making a concerted effort to support me.
On my girlfriend I didn’t have. I was bisexual, but she’d…
she’d gotten the right answer by the wrong method.
I didn’t know how to reverse-come-out. I’m not dating Bridget, but coincidentally yes I am bisexual, but also I wouldn’t be caught dead dating someone around my family and bringing a girlfriend around to see you?
Kevin was grateful for me doing the legwork of getting Mother to come around on a queer kid, even though I’d done it by mistake.
I felt like I was suddenly in the middle of a spinning-plates act that I hadn’t even been the one to set up.
“I’m—” I put a hand to my forehead. “She’s just an old coworker. I don’t think she’s even… I think she’s straight. I mean, I don’t know. It’s not as though I asked her. Can you imagine? Rolling on up to my new roommate’s apartment saying hello, do you fancy the ladies?”
“So you weren’t on a date together,” Kevin said skeptically.
“No, it was just—she’d just about saved my life giving me this place to stay, and I was paying her back with dinner.”
“Saved your life? You know you could have stayed with Mom.”
“We’re not dating. I mean, I’m not…” I rubbed my forehead. “I don’t know what’s happening right now. I’m not…”
“You’re not gay,” he said.
“No, I am. This is not how I thought this would happen. If I’m being frank, I didn’t think this would happen at all.
Let alone while you’re also coming out. I’m bisexual.
I’m also not in a place to date anyone. Especially not someone here.
Especially not my roommate.” I sighed heavily, a whoosh of air as I slumped back against the couch back.
“Okay, that’s done and settled. Congratulations to both of us.
It’s really nice to meet you, Samuel. Sam? ”
Samuel lit up—seemed like he was the type to bounce back easily. “Sam’s good. Nice to meet you, Vicky. Or do you prefer Victoria?”
“Only my family calls me Vicky. So only if you’re that serious with Kevin.”
“Ooh, she’s issuing a challenge,” Sam said, nudging Kevin’s side. “Do I have your permission?”
Kevin laughed. “Are you asking to marry me? That’s a bit quick.”