Done.
“Paid in full, not in increments.”
Vivienne frowned.That’s a lot of money to move at once. P-h-i-l-i-p might notice.
“Not my problem. If you leave this mortal coil, I won’t see a dime, and I fully plan on graduating.” He drained the dregs of his cup and set it between them. “Pay me up front, and I’ll even break the news to Grayson so you don’t have to. I’ll get the other pledges to fall in line. We’ll come to your little party and make a great big scene. It’ll be beautiful.”
Fine, signed Vivienne.I’ll deposit the money into your account tonight.
“Look at that,” Reed marveled as he rose to go. “She’s vindictive, but she’s reasonable.”
•••
Later, after a silent drive home, Thomas and Vivienne sat in the driveway, parked in the shade of the towering sugar maples out front. The engine clicked, cooling. Neither of them moved, not even to unbuckle.
“I’m trying,” said Thomas, startling her into peering up at him. He stared out at the fountain, his hands in his lap. Sunlight refracted in the water, turning the droplets prismatic with color. “I’m trying to find a balance. I’m trying to do my job. I’m trying to—” A muscle twitched in his jaw. Softly, he said, “I’m trying to separate out what I want and what’s expected of me.”
The car’s interior felt suddenly as fragile as glass. Outside, a warm wind ruffled the five-pointed leaves in their branches. Water spattered against the windows in a glittering overspray. Vivienne’s chest felt as though it was collapsing in on her.
She waited for Thomas to cut a glance her way before signing,I don’t know what you could possibly mean.
His face fell. “Don’t do that. Don’t ice me out.”
She unbuckled, fast as she could, and threw open the door. The heat rushed in through the gap, thick with the smell of burnt asphalt and fresh-cut grass. The slam of her door was echoed immediately by the slamming of his.
“Vivienne, wait.” He lumbered around the front of the car, cutting her off as she made a quick beeline for the house. “Just give me two minutes. Please.”
She stopped just short of colliding into him, and he into her. He looked visibly uneasy as he tugged at his tie.
“I didn’t explain myself well the other day. I was—I have people who depend on me. At home. People I can’t let down. I don’t have the luxury of choice.”
Anger flared in her.And you think I do?
“Well—” He hesitated. “Yes.”
Because I’m a spoiled brat who has everything. Because I have nothing but choices. Because all I have to do is snap my fingers and I get whatever or whoever I want.
Somewhere overhead, a chimney swift let out a high-pitchedchip. Thomas scuffed his shoe on the drive, his hands in his pockets. “This feels like a trap.”
A scream built inside her. She couldn’t do it—she couldn’t stomach another second in his presence. She did a quick heel turn, heading off in the opposite direction.
“Viv—Vivienne, wait.Wait.”
She didn’t wait. She rushed down the driveway, heading toward the street at a clip. She didn’t make it far before a second car turned into the driveway and squealed to a stop. She drew up short as Jesse climbed out, slamming his door with far more vehemence than either of them had managed to achieve.
He was dressed in dark blue scrubs, as though he’d come straight from his shift. His hair was mussed, eyes dark with sleepless bruises.
“You’ve got some fucking nerve,” he snapped, getting right in her face. “You think you can just change things up and I’ll fall in line? Let’s get one thing straight—we’re in my wheelhouse here. Mine, not yours. You do not give me orders. You do not call the shots.Isay when we’re ready to move forward with this thing.Me.”
“All right, that’s enough.” Thomas stepped in, bracing a hand firmly against Jesse’s sternum. “Back off.”
“Don’t touch me.” Jesse pinwheeled his arm out of the way and thrust a finger under Vivienne’s nose. “You’re psychopathic, you know that? A real fucking b—”
He didn’t finish. The crack of Thomas’s fist was loud in the quiet. Jesse folded in on himself with a groan as Thomas snapped his arm back and shook out his hand.
“Jesus Christ.” Jesse dabbed at his face, his thumb coming away crimson. “Are you insane? You broke my nose.”
Thomas didn’t apologize. “You’re done here.”
