FANCY PANTS
EVIE
TELL HIM TO WAIT FOR YOU IN THE LOBBY, ANNIE INSTRUCTS AS SHE FLAT-IRONS THE BACK OF MY hair.
Why? I ask, even as I message Viktor.
Because every woman should make a dramatic entrance once in a while. Just to make sure he appreciates you.
I’m not into artifice and Viktor is already appreciative, but I do look special tonight.
I’m finally wearing the fancy dress I bought on my first shopping trip.
I never got to go to any of Alpha Z’s formal dances, but tonight is a holiday reception at the Dean’s house.
Yes, I’m going to the Dean’s house. Viktor was invited either because he’s on the Athletic Council or because he’s captain of the Mustangs. Or for his general amazingness.
All done. Go look at yourself in the mirror, urges Annie.
We have one wonky full-length mirror that makes me look shorter and Annie look taller. I walk over and admire the sparkly gold wrap dress that shimmers and swirls as I move.
Oh, I look nice! I exclaim. With my sleek hair and new dress, I’m transformed into an elegant stranger I hardly recognize.
Behind me, Annie sighs. More than nice. You look gorgeous, Evie. And you’re going to a glam event. Is this one of your dreams?
No, but it does feel like a scene from a book. I’ve been excited about this event ever since Viktor invited me. I hug Annie. Thanks for all your help. What are you doing tonight?
I have a date with a guy I met at the last Sigma Phi party. She beams. Annie’s social life has been more conventional than my bizarre one, but she’s achieving her own social goals.
I pack the evening bag that I sewed in gold satin to match the dress. Then I put my pretty shoes into a shoe bag and zip up my dress boots. December has hit hard, and the snow is already deep out there.
Carry your coat, Annie instructs. That way he can get the full effect. And I’m coming to take a photo of the two of you.
Isn’t this a little excessive? I wonder.
You’re the one who’s always saying this relationship could end at any time. Don’t you want photos so you can look back on the highlights?
Fine. But honestly, I haven’t worried about breaking up for a while. Things are so good between us.
My phone buzzes. He’s here.
Annie and I leave the room and immediately bump into Dan, who is also going out. His eyes widen and his mouth hangs open.
Evie. Wow. You look hot, he declares.
Um, thanks, I reply. Ever since I had my makeover, Dan has no problem remembering my name, which makes me like him even less.
I’m still learning to deal with being pretty.
Luckily, dating Viktor means that there’s a shield of protection around me.
As one guy said when his friend was attempting to charm me, Dude, do you have a death wish? She’s dating Viktor fucking Zelenko.
I’ve never seen a jaw drop in real life, Annie declares once we’re alone in the elevator.
You mean Dan? I wish I had an invisibility cloak against people I don’t like, I grumble.
Awww, it’s so tough being beautiful, isn’t it? mocks Annie. All right, get ready for your big entrance. Here, I’ll take your coat.
The elevator doors glide open. I see Viktor standing in the lobby. He’s wearing a grey dress coat over his dark suit, and he looks absolutely gorgeous. My jaw drops too, but I close it immediately.
Then he sees me. His eyes travel over me, and his mouth curves into a smile.
When we’re together, he murmurs, Very nice, Evie. It’s not the words, but the tender tone that makes the compliment sing. And as he helps me on with my coat, he kisses the back of my neck. Mmm.
Annie makes us pose for a photo and then we’re off. Mats is waiting outside in his car, and we get in the back.
Home, James, I joke.
Mats laughs. I do feel like a chauffeur. All I need is the hat.
We swing by and pick up Cleo, who is waiting outside on her porch even though it’s snowing. Nobody forced her to make a dramatic entrance.
I hate dressing up are her first words when she gets in the car.
Viktor eyes her navy down jacket. It’s good that you didn’t do it then.
Oh, it’s easy for you and your enormous wardrobe, Mr. Chanel, she scoffs.
Chanel doesn’t make menswear, he replies.
Okay, the fact that you know that is disturbing. She turns to Mats. Did you know that?
He nods.
She cranes around to face me. Did you know that, Evie?
No, I didn’t. The only magazine at our home was The Economist, not Vogue.
The fuck? What kind of world is it where men know more about fashion then women? Cleo asks.
Earth, says Viktor straight-faced, and I giggle.
Cleo laughs too. At first I found her overwhelming, but I really like her now. Also, she knits, and she wants to come to a Crafty Club meeting once her hockey season is over. We have a lot of quiet, introverted members so it will be interesting to see how they react to the energetic Cleo.
We arrive at the Dean’s house, which is a sprawling red brick home completely outlined in white string lights. There are wreaths on the front door and the mullioned windows. It’s Christmas-card perfect.
How lovely, I exclaim.
It’s beautiful inside the house as well, decorated with not one, but two towering Christmas trees.
Someone takes our coats, and I slip on my shoes.
Viktor puts a supportive hand on my back and guides me into the crowd.
There are a variety of people here: students, faculty, and older people who I assume are local bigwigs or donors.
Viktor and Mats are immediately grabbed by the Athletic Director who wants to introduce them to someone.
Cleo actually looks quite nice in a cream tunic over black dress pants, and I tell her so.
Oh thanks. She leans closer and whispers, I got Mats to help me find something to wear because I’m literally the worst at shopping.
I get help shopping too, I admit.
Really? You look great. Like you mesh perfectly with Big Z, and he’s scary stylish. Cleo’s smile is wide and genuine, like her personality.
Champagne? A smiling server proffers a tray of elegant flutes. I take one and thank him.
Evie, you’re drinking? Viktor reappears behind me, resting a hand on my shoulder.
I like champagne, I confess. For my eighteenth birthday, my mother and I went to Paris, and I had champagne at a lovely bistro.
Yet another side of you. Do you like Paris?
It’s my favourite city in the world—so far. But there are many others I want to visit.
He smiles and lifts my hand to his lips for a brief kiss. And that touch is enough to make me giddy. I follow Viktor as he glides confidently through the room, greeting people and shaking hands with hockey fans. We stop to talk to Coach Norman.
Coach, this is Evie Smith, Viktor says.
Nice to meet you, Evie. This is my wife, Lindsay.
Viktor really respects his coach, so I already have warm feelings towards him. They start talking hockey, of course, so I listen carefully but say little. Then I notice that Lindsay Norman is staring at me.
Do you get tired of all this hockey talk? I ask her.
It’s not that bad. Arnie doesn’t discuss hockey at home. I think he needs a break. She continues, I know how happy he is to have Viktor on the team, though. I remember when he transferred here. Viktor was a huge boost to the program.
Well, he came here because of Coach Norman, so it’s a circle of goodness. I still shy away from disclosing anything that Viktor tells me privately, but surely this is something she already knows.
This is the first time Viktor has brought a girlfriend to any social event, Lindsay remarks. How did the two of you meet?
Oh goodness, how to answer this question? The ball-busting story or the drugged-at-a-frat-party story? I settle on a partial truth.
We met in the library. We share an interest in eastern European history.
Lindsay gives me a very skeptical look. When someone has as much animal magnetism as Viktor, history isn’t the first thing women want to discuss with him. Luckily, I am saved by Cleo.
Sorry to interrupt, but Marjorie Schultz wants to meet Zee, Cleo says.
Well, you better go. She’s a big donor, urges Lindsay.
Viktor takes my hand and leads me through the crowd. We find Marjorie Schultz holding court in a side room, presumably the Dean’s home office. She’s sitting in a leather armchair with the Dean on one side and Mats on the other.
Viktor extends his hand. Dean Erickson. It’s a wonderful event, as usual.
Viktor. So glad you could come. He shakes his hand and looks at me.
This is Evie Smith, Viktor announces.
You’re a student here? the Dean asks, because I’m not famous like Viktor.
Yes, I study history, I tell him.
Very good. May I introduce you both to Marjorie Schultz? She’s a big supporter of Monarch College.
I smile and reach down to shake her hand. She’s an elderly woman dressed in a bright green pantsuit with a red blouse and a ruby brooch.
I like your festive outfit, I tell her.
It was an accident. I certainly didn’t mean to look like a Christmas tree, she explains and I laugh.
Viktor shakes her hand next and she looks him up and down in such an assessing way that I’d be jealous if not for that sixty-year age gap.
Now, John, she tells the Dean. Go mingle with your guests. I’ve been wanting to chat with Big Z for a long time.
So the Dean has to surrender his chair to Viktor. Marjorie then directs Mats to get more chairs so the four of us can all sit around her. She’s obviously a person who’s used to getting her way.
Big Z, I understand you’re quite the heartbreaker. In fact, Cleo told me that you’ve haven’t had a steady girlfriend in years. So what’s your relationship to this young woman? She points at me.
Even the well-mannered Viktor appears flustered by her directness. But he doesn’t hesitate. She’s my girlfriend. Despite what Cleo may have told you.
Yeah, Marjorie, don’t get me in shit here, says Cleo.
I’m a bit surprised at Cleo’s familiarity with this important donor, but Marjorie just waves a dismissive hand.
She turns to me. So how did you land the big kahuna?
I laugh at her question. She reminds me of my nan. It was due to you, actually.
How so? she asks.
We met at the Schultz Library. I assume that’s your namesake building?
Well, my family’s, anyway. We’ve been donating to Monarch College for years. Then she peers at Viktor again. Wouldn’t have pegged you as a library patron.
He winks at me. Why don’t you tell her the real story? Not the sanitized one you told Coach’s wife.
He was listening to me earlier? And is the truth appropriate for an older woman and a college patron?
Viktor reads my hesitation. From what Mats has told me, it’s exactly the kind of story Marjorie would enjoy.
Well, I was absorbed in my reading—with headphones on—and Viktor tapped me on the shoulder. I reacted instinctively… I hesitate, but Marjorie is leaning towards me with rapt attention. And I elbowed him. In the testicles. Quite hard.
Bedlam breaks out. Both Marjorie and Cleo shriek with laughter. Mats exclaims, That was Evie? And Viktor winces at the memory.
Oh my god. How bad was it, Zee? Cleo gasps once her laughter tails off.
I was rolling on the floor in pain. I couldn’t even speak for several minutes. And she dropped a large book on me as well. There’s another round of laughter with Viktor and me joining in. We’re so loud that the Dean pokes his head back in to make sure everything is okay.
Once we’ve all recovered, Marjorie says to Mats, I like these two. Bring them next time you come for dinner.
She changes the subject to Monarch hockey, and the four of them intently discuss the current season and playoff chances for the men’s and women’s teams.
When Marjorie finally tires, she asks Viktor and Mats to help her to the door, where an actual chauffeur awaits. As they escort her out, she winks at me and Cleo. A hunk on each side. Do I know how to make an exit?
We both laugh. When they’ve gone, Cleo explains to me that she and Mats visited Marjorie for weekly dinners last year.
She’s a hoot. And she was responsible for fixing up me and Mats, so we still visit. Not every week, but at least once a month. You’ll love it. She lives in an honest-to-god mansion. Bigger than this joint. She waves at the Dean’s expansive home.
Then the guys return.
I think things are winding down, Mats says. Would you like to go?
Yeah. But could we go somewhere to eat? I’m starving. I could have eaten an entire tray of those tiny appetizers, says Cleo.
Mats checks his watch. What’s open this late?
I know. Let’s go to the Chinese restaurant we went for our first date, says Cleo.
Our coats magically appear when we head to the door. Viktor holds my coat for me and even fastens it up.
You’re a perfect gentleman, I say.
You know that’s not true, he says so close to my ear that I can feel his hot breath.
But he moves so well between all his worlds. He can converse easily with the Dean or Marjorie Schultz or the hockey fans here tonight. He was politely attentive to me all evening. And later tonight, he’ll turn into my passionate lover.
Did you enjoy yourself tonight? Viktor asks on our way to our late-night meal.
Yes. Sometimes dreams come true that I didn’t even know I had. Going to a fancy party and now going out for late supper with friends. It’s so sophisticated.
Cleo smiles back at me. You’re cute, Evie. Even cuter now that I know how dangerous you are. No wonder you can keep Zee in line.
Viktor is not someone who could ever be kept in line; he would flee from any attempts to control him.
But why would I need to direct someone who is already considerate and affectionate?
For so long, I’ve assumed that we were going to end at any moment, despite all his positive signals.
But now I realize that everything the Revenge Squad told me would not happen has happened.
Our relationship has lasted more than a month. Viktor and I are publicly affectionate. If you count sex toys, he has bought me gifts. And tonight, he invited me to a special event—something that Lindsay Norman assured me he’s never done before.
Maybe it’s time I put aside my doubts and accept that this real.
I lean against Viktor’s shoulder. We relax into each other after a night of being on our best behaviour. It’s bliss.
And I wonder…is this what love feels like?