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“But we aren’t here to talk about your relationship with my girlfriend. That was years ago and I’m sure you have both grown into different people. Let’s focus on the bridal shower first. I can’t stay too much longer and I want to make sure Lizzie and Sasha have the best.”

“You don’t even know them,” Victoria snapped.

Remain calm.

“Not terribly well,” she admitted, offering up her dimple-popping smile. “But Charlotte loves them both and she’s the one who did all the work here. As her girlfriend, I’m here to support her. Just because we aren’t attached at the hip doesn’t mean I don’t want this season of their lives to be perfect.”

“That’s sickeningly sweet of you. I’m having a hard time imagining Charlotte not becoming annoyed by your overzealous sunshine and daisies persona.”

“Tone down the bubbliness. It’s too much for me today.”

Ali blinked rapidly, jolting as a voice which once brought her joy echoed from some dark corner of her mind. Now it slid through, bone chilling, draining the color from her world, sending needle points skittering across her skin.

“We seem to be getting along just fine but thanks for your concern,” Ali said, refusing to let her expression fall into a frown, shoving her voice back into the depths from whence it came. She turned the binder to face Victoria. “Now, here are the samples you wanted to see.”

Victoria tried to derail the conversation a few more times but Ali continued bringing it right back around. In the end, Victoria offered no real input. Shocking. Almost like she didn’t really care, only how it affected her appearance, seeking participation to later take the credit.

Ali shut the binder and looked up, shaken at the sight of an affectionate smile on Victoria’s face. Care looked unnatural paired with Victoria’s pointed features. Unease prickled across her skin, standing the hairs on the back of her neck on end.

“Thank you for meeting with me. You’ve done great work here,” Victoria said, reaching out and resting her hand over the top of Ali’s.

Whiplash much?

“Uh…” Ali floundered, pulling her hand out of Victoria’s reach, rising to her feet and collecting her things. “Thanks but it was mostly Charlotte.”

“If you say so. Have you considered a career in event planning?” Victoria moved around the table slipping her arm through Ali’s.

“Never, not once.”

Victoria burst into laughter. An unwarranted response in Ali’s opinion.

“You should think about it. I’m always looking to invest in talented young women.”

“You’re a talented young woman, Miss McCarthy.”

Ali’s blood ran cold. That voice moved around her mind, rubbing like sandpaper. The memories accompanying it already chafing. It hadn’t been true then. It wasn’t true now. She possessed no real talent.

“Think about it and let me know,” Victoria instructed, thumb rubbing back and forth over her bicep, guiding her out of the cafe.

The light touch made Ali’s skin crawl and she fought every instinct to yank her arm away. An action sure to alert Victoria of a potential weakness.

“You’re a slave to your emotions, Ali.”

“What am I thinking about exactly?”

Ali asked, shoving the memory to the farthest corner of her mind. Desperate to lock it away and throw away the key.

“Starting an event planning business,” Victoria said as they stepped out into the blinding sunlight. “If you do, I’ll fund it.”

“I’ll think about it but I’m pretty happy with the way my life is currently.”

“It’s not enough. Why can’t you just try a little harder?”

Shut up! Shut up!

Victoria’s demeanor changed again, dropping her hold, expression shifting toward disapproval. “You’re just a barista. Don’t you think you’re capable of more?”

“I’m an artist,” Ali corrected.