Page 79 of Three Pucks and a Baby

“We know,” I teased.

Vivian laughed. “I’m sure you do.”

The next thing I knew she shot up on her tippy toes to bestow a gentle kiss on my lips. “Thank you, Grayson.”

As I was blinking at her in disbelief, she did the same to Bennett. When she pulled away, I knew his pained expression matched my own. A brief kiss from Vivian was absolute torture when you knew you couldn’t have more.

“Bye, guys,” she said as she turned to go.

Grabbing her hand, I said, “Wait. Let us walk you to your car.’

“You’ve already done enough.”

“We meant it when we said we’re here for you, Viv,” I argued.

Nodding, Bennett said, “Anything you need, you just have to ask.”

“Okay, I guess you can walk me out,” Vivian relented.

“Are you hungry?” I asked.

“All the time,” she replied with a smile.

“Then let me buy you some dinner,” I said.

“I can’t let you do that.”

“You can, and you will.”

As she stared intently into my eyes, Vivian finally sighed. “But only dinner, and I’ll drive myself to the restaurant.”

“You drive a hard bargain, but we accept. Right, B?”

“Right.”

“Then let’s go.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: BENNETT

In the end, Vivian was too worried about being seen together at a restaurant. Especially since it was a game night, and more people from campus would be eating out. So, we grabbed some Chinese takeout and headed back to her house. We hadn’t even suggested ours since we ran the risk of running into Theo.

Thankfully Grayson knew the way to Vivian’s since it was not the first time he’d been. The moment we pulled up, I smiled. It looked exactly like the house I would’ve expected her to live in. The interior was just as warm and welcoming as the exterior.

While Gray and I were getting the food, Vivian had headed home. She must’ve gotten busy setting the table in the dining room because it had plates, napkins, and cutlery set out for us. It certainly had a more welcoming feel than a restaurant would have. It was a hell of a lot more intimate.

As Grayson helped Vivian unpack the food bag, I hung back in the hallway examining her bookshelves. At the sight of her name on one of the spines, I pulled it off. “Sisters of the Tudor Dynasty: A Look at the Lives of Mary and Margaret Tudor,” I read aloud.

“That was my first published book,” Vivian called from the dining room.

“You’re an author?” I questioned.

She appeared in the hallway with a grin. “You must not have stalked my socials like Theo and Bennett.”

“I can’t say I have.”

“Well, let me fill you in. I’m a nerdy librarian who has a decent side hustle as an author of nonfiction Tudor history.”

“That is amazing, Pretty Woman,” I remarked.

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