I'd been attracted to women before.I'dfallen in love before—or at leastIthoughtIhad.JennieandIhad been together for years.Ihad cared about her deeply.Istill did, in a way.Wehadn't broken up because we hated each other.We'dbroken up because eventually we had realized we wanted different things, and she found someone she wanted more.
I would always be grateful for what we'd shared—it was wonderful.ButifIwas being honest with myself,Ihad never felt anything like this—never.
I had never found myself thinking about a woman from the momentIwoke up until the momentIfell asleep.Ihad never found myself wondering if she was warm enough, happy enough, eating enough.Ihad never wanted to tell her silly jokes just becauseIloved seeing her smile and hearing her laugh.
I had never looked at a woman and felt as though some missing piece of my life had suddenly clicked into place.
And to be honest, that scared me a little—because none of it made sense.
Vivienne was aMoonWidow—untouchable.TheUnbreakableLawsexisted for a reason.EvenifIdisagreed with them, they were still there, andViviennewas still off-limits.
Eventually reality was going to catch up with us…eventually we would have to decide what happened next.
But asIlooked atViviennesitting across from me, smiling as she reached for her coffee,IfoundIdidn't care—not right now.
The future could wait.Thelaws could wait.Thedoubts could wait.
For the first time in ages,Iwas happy—genuinelyhappy.
MaybeIwas a fool…maybeIwas making the biggest mistake of my life.ButIwas tired of borrowing trouble from tomorrow.
Vivienne had spent twenty years being miserable andIhad spent years trying to build a life that looked right on paper while ignoring the fact that something was missing.
Maybe neither of us deserved that anymore—maybe we deservedthis—at least for a little while.
Vivienne caught me staring and smiled.
"What?Whatis it?"
I smiled back.
"Nothing."
"You're doing it again,” she said.
"Doing what?"Iraised an eyebrow at her.
She waved her fork at me in a vague motion.
"You know—looking at me like that."
I leaned back in my chair and folded my arms.
"Can't help it, baby.You’rebeautiful."
“Kor…”Hercheeks turned pink, and her eyes were glowing as she ducked her head in pleased embarrassment.
The sight made something warm settle in my chest, andIdecided something then and there.Whateverwas happening between us—whatever impossible force kept pulling us together—Iwas done fighting it, at least for today.
TodayIwas going to enjoy breakfast with the most beautiful womanI'dever met.
Tomorrow could worry about itself.
TWENTY-EIGHT
VIVIENNE
I hadn't felt this happy in years—not sinceIwas a little girl on my birthday when my parents were still alive.
