“It’s one of many reasons, but I won’t bore you by running my mouth complaining about my life back in Seattle…”
“You can tell me,” I said, cocking my head. “I mean, if you want to. I’m invested. Besides, we’re roomies now, so, y’know.” I cleared my throat. “I mean… you know, we share a home, so we should probably be somewhat open with each other, at least.”
She laughed, lightly, covering it up with one hand. “You don’t have to talk like a corporate press release.”
I slumped back in my chair. “Ugh, I used to be better at it back when I worked there. I lost my touch.”
She laughed more openly this time, flashing brilliant white teeth, and my stomach swooped. “When you were around it all the time. You can talk normally. After all, I heard it said somewhere that we share a home, so we should probably be somewhat open with each other, at least.”
I wished, wished,wishedthat getting teased like that didn’t turn me on. I shifted slightly in my seat. “Okay, well, then, spill the tea. You know, if you want.”
She strained a smile. “My boss was sexually harassing me.”
“Oh, shit.” Okay, now I reallyreallyneeded to stop lusting over her. “That’s horrible.”
“It was bad for a lot of reasons, but that was what broke me. I put up with a lot of it for a long time because it was a good paycheck and I felt like I needed to not cause a fuss, but then he told me, in so many words, that if I didn’t want a transfer that would have included a significant pay cut, then I would have to showcase my diverse talents.”
I cringed myself just about out of existence. “That’s so fucked up.”
“I am… very sorry. I try to get you dinner to make up for showing up with my mess on your doorstep, and I just give you more mess.”
“I mean, you have to share these things with someone or they eat you alive. You can talk to me about stuff. I’m sorry you had to deal with that. That’s disgusting. Did you get to report it to anybody, or were you not safe to?”
She looked away, something on her features like pain and relief in equal measures. “I didn’t feel safe to… I’m intending to send a message to someone reporting it, just because I figure it’s best to at least make an attempt, no matter how slim the odds, in case it might help someone else later on.”
I nodded. “I hope it does. People like that don’t face consequences nearly enough, but sometimes they do.”
She gave me a small smile. “You know something that might be weird to say?”
“Tell me?”
“I always appreciated that you took me seriously. Everybody else would automatically take my male colleagues more seriously, even the other women. Not you, though. I suspected you wouldn’t try any of the…well, what had you been doing with him before, had you been leading him on, what were you wearingsort of tactics.”
I softened a little, but I didn’t get to say anything before a figure came up towards the table, and Victoria’s pupils dilated at the sight, going marble-white, and I didn’t get to ask before the man put a hand on her shoulder.
“Well, look who’s here,” he said, and I moved instinctively in the stupidest possible way, which was that I lunged across the table and snatched him by the wrist, tugging his hand off her.
“Hey—I don’t know where you were raised, jackass, but here on earth we don’t grab random women!” I said, and Victoria looked at me mortified, about half the restaurant turning to look at me, and the man looked stunned at me for a second before he broke out into a big laugh, eyes sparkling.
“I’m—I’m so sorry,” Victoria said, speaking quickly as she gestured for me to let go. “Bridget, this is my brother Kevin. Kevin… hi.”
“Oh,” I said, letting go, feeling cold in my face, briefly considering walking out into the snow and dying. “I’m… so sorry.”
Kevin laughed, and the rest of the patrons around us relaxed, settling slowly back down. “Not even mad,” he said. “She’s pretty decent. Never thought I’d see you back in town, Vicky. Mom told me about you and Miss Bridget.”
“I just got back today,” Victoria said, settling back into her seat. I barely heard anything, just steeping in mortified embarrassment. “Bridget helped me move my things in and everything, and so once I finished unpacking, I figured the least I could do was treat her to some dinner, but… the last thing I expected was to see you here.”
“Ah, you know how it is. Seasoned rice. Well, welcome back. When are you coming around to visit? Sam and I are on our way out, so we can’t really stay and chat, but… we’ll want to see you and catch up. It’s, uh… it’s been a long time.”
Victoria looked down at the table. “It has… yeah. Who’s Sam?”
Kevin flashed a secretive smile. “I know, I know. Said I’d never go dating someone. Best-laid plans and all that.”
Victoria shot him a wide-eyed look. “You,have a girlfriend now? How areyouseeing someone?”
He chuckled. “Dunno. Things happen. Hopefully you two will be able to meet back at the family house soon. See you, Vicky,” he said, and he stepped in to give her a hug. I felt like melting through the seat and puddling on the floor and dying, but somehow, I didn’t, not this time at least.
“I am so sorry about that,” I mumbled once Kevin was gone, and she gave me the sweetest smile in the world.
