Viv’s heart spiked. She and Duke weren’t exactly keeping secrets about their dating life, but they weren’t advertising their relationship either.
“Areyouhis date?” the blonde blurted. “Oh my gosh! I’m so embarrassed.” She hurried over to her, reached out as she neared, and took Viv’s hands in hers.
The heated knots in her gut swelled. Viv glanced down before looking into the face of Sylvia Sampson, the cruel woman Duke took to the prom instead of her.
“I was just kidding, of course. I’m so happy for you. How long have you been dating Duke? Is this the dress you’re wearing? It should be.”
The lack of sincerity in the woman’s words and tone caught Viv off guard. She wasn’t sure which of the questions she should address first.
“Um,” she mumbled while freeing her hands. “Yes, I’m the one he’s taking. Yes, we’re dating. And I’d prefer youdidn’thire anyone to lock me in a dungeon on the night of the gala, if that’s okay.”
The group of women laughed, but Sylvia outdid them all by pressing a hand to her chest and throwing her head back. “Ah, ha, ha. I was only kidding. Kind of.” She laughed some more before taking a step back and eyeing Viv up and down.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
A flare of heat flashed over her cheeks. “I’m, uh, Vivia. Tripoli.”
Sylvia narrowed her eyes as recognition seemed to spark. “You’rethe one he dated freshman year.” She said it like she’d just cracked a case, nodding as the fact seemed to sink in.
Viv nodded and gulped. “Yes. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have more dresses to try on.” She spun on one heel, ready to bolt for her dressing room, when Sylvia spoke up once more.
“Oh, does that mean you’re not going to wear that one? You should. It’s so…” Sylvia tapped a finger to her lip, “…cute.”
If Viv could shrink into the plush carpet at her feet, she would.
“She could always let Duke give his two cents,” Betzy said, moving to stand closer to Viv. “But he’s crazy about her no matter what she wears. You should hear him go on and on about how amazing she is.That’swhat’s cute.”
“Totally,” Camila agreed before turning to Kat. “I was thinking with this dress…”
Betzy looped an arm around Viv’s and nodded to the rooms. “I’m going to have Lilly grab you a size smaller andmea size bigger. We’ll see how that goes. Sound good?”
And just like that, the Benton girls had dismissed Sylvia. Politely, of course. But they’d dismissed her all the same.
Viv lifted her shoulders as they headed back toward the rooms, replaying the incident in her mind. She appreciated the way Betzy had stepped in. It was a satisfying end to the awkward conversation, but something kept pressing at the back of her mind.
Maybe it was the look in Sylvia’s narrowed eyes, or the odd desperation she sensed in her. Whatever it was, it felt like a warning. One Viv wouldn’t shake off easily.
Still, she tried as the day went on. It turned out Camila was right; one size smaller of that same champagne-colored gown proved to be the perfect choice. Yet, even as the women met up with the guys for a bite to eat at the country club, Sylvia’s menacing glare sat somewhere in her periphery.
One moment, Viv was throwing her head back in laughter at James’ impersonation of Duke when he had to cut off his man bun, the next she was fighting off worries about what the mean woman was capable of.
Turned out, Duke noticed as well.
“What’s bothering you?” he asked, one hand holding hers, the other draped over the wheel.
Viv watched the shadows play across the quiet road as they approached her home. She shook her head in frustration; normally, she had a great time with Duke and all of his siblings. They were a lot of fun to be around.
“I just don’t like how Sylvia acted at the boutique,” she admitted. “It freaks me out knowing that she’s going to be at the gala, announcing with you on live stream.” She shrugged, knowing she probably seemed paranoid. “I’m sure I just have a form of post traumatic stress where she’s concerned. It all just feels…”
Duke brought the car to a stop out front of her house as she searched for the right word.
“Familiar, I guess. Not in a good way, either.”
With the car in park, Duke unfastened his belt and turned to face her in the cramped space. “I know what you mean.” He grabbed her other hand, brought both to his lips one by one, and planted kisses to each of her palms.
“But you’re the one I’m going to be there with. Yes, I have a six-minute obligation to stand by her side, read a few lines about my grandfather and the scholarship, but that’s it.”
The streetlamp, blocked by the roof of the car, didn’t quite reach his face. Perhaps if it did, his words would have given her more peace.
