Chapter 9 #3
In fact, the one in the floral dress waved. Vivi covered her face and groaned.
"Don't let them get to you," Jo said. "They're small-town busybodies. You blink, they write a novella. You sneeze, they act like you've declared war. And Boone's name intertwined with yours?" She shook her head. "That makes them very curious."
Vivi let out a nervous laugh, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Yeah, Boone's house isn't exactly inconspicuous."
"Oh, girl." Jo smirked. "Everyone's dying to know who's moved in with the ranch prince.
And don't look at me like that. I've been here long enough to know you'll either fit right in or drive ‘em nuts.
Either way, you're entertainment for the town. But hey,” she smacked a hand on Vivi's shoulder.
"We'll make sure you survive. Maybe even look like a proper cowgirl while doing it. "
Vivi nodded, then—wanting to get away from prying eyes—slipped into the dressing room. She pulled on a rugged pair of jeans and a flannel, grateful for Jo's guidance even when it came wrapped in sarcasm and elbow grease.
She'd just pulled a pink and white flannel over her head—because pink was power—when her phone buzzed. She fished it out of her purse and groaned at the caller ID.
Lewis.
Apparently, her life wasn't complicated enough already. She stared at the screen, debating whether to answer or let it go to voicemail.
A few days ago, she would have been thrilled to hear from him. In fact, she'd been a little hurt that besides a few scattered texts he'd barely been in touch. Then again, she hadn't exactly gone out of her way to call him either.
Vivi waited for the devil on her shoulder to take his little pitchfork and poke the angel in the butt. Instead, the angel smothered the devil with its wings, leaving Vivi with only one choice.
She answered the phone.
"Lewis," she said—and even to her own ears the cheer sounded forced.
"Vivi," Lewis said smoothly. "I have a favor to ask, love."
Damn it. Why couldn't the devil have won that round?
Because that opening was the worst possible greeting.
It made her wonder if he always started conversations that way or if she was just extra sensitive because she was still stinging over the job and the apartment.
Or still feeling guilty about her reaction to Boone.
"No, how are you? No, I love you?" she asked—and was a little surprised by her own tone.
The long pause before Lewis answered told her he was surprised too. She'd never spoken to him like that. Not once.
"I'm in a rush," he said. "But you're right. I love you very much. How are you?"
She turned up the sunshine. "Shopping. So, really great."
"That's my girl." But as he said the words, she didn't feel like his anything. She just felt lost.
"I have an inspector coming by the apartment tomorrow and I need you to meet him there."
Vivi closed her eyes. She hadn't exactly disclosed that she'd packed up half her life and moved to a dilapidated ranch in Montana. As far as Lewis knew, she was still at her mom's getting ready to move to Singapore.
"Can't your brother meet him?" she asked.
"He has work."
It suddenly occurred to her—like a light switching on—that it hadn't occurred to him she might have a schedule too.
"I have work as well." Not a total lie. In addition to her ranch chores, she was still logging hours remotely.
"Can't you move some things around?"
Vivi took a slow breath. Here goes nothing.
"I can't." It wasn't quite a no, but it wasn't a yes either.
Baby steps.
The pause was long and loud and when he finally spoke his voice carried a tone of someone not used to being told no. At least not by her.
"It's never been a problem in the past."
Because in the past, Vivi had rearranged her entire schedule to accommodate him without a second thought. It didn't matter what an inconvenience it was for her as long as he was happy. It had always been about his happiness, his convenience. How had she never seen that before?
"Sorry," she said and immediately wanted to smack herself for apologizing for something she had no reason to be sorry about. "It just so happens that I can't this time."
He sighed loud enough to make her ears ache. "Are you still mad because I didn't consult you about the move?"
"No, Lewis," she said, keeping her voice even.
Jo peeked her head into the dressing room, eyes glinting with mischief. "Who's the prick, New York?"
Vivi covered the phone. "My boyfriend who’s in Singapore."
Jo grinned. "That one. Keep him on the line while I help you figure out how to keep your sanity in a barn full of horses." She clapped a hand on Vivi's shoulder like it was a final verdict. "Tell him you're staying here. Boots, jeans, flannel, and that stubborn little heart of yours.”
Vivi laughed despite herself. Jo might be rough around the edges but this was exactly the kind of support she hadn't known she needed.
“No to what?" Lewis asked. "Being mad or meeting the inspector?"
"No to both."
"What?"
"Today I say no," Vivi said, knowing Glow would be proud of her. "Tomorrow might be a yes. But today is a hard no."