Page 77 of A Labor of Hate
The reminder of him and our most recent argument sent a fierce ache through my chest, and I absentmindedly rubbed at it.
“You okay?”Vivienne asked, gesturing to where my hand still rested on my sternum.
I snapped my hand away and into my lap.“Oh, yeah.It’s nothing.Just heartburn.”
She groaned in sympathy, her head tipping back.“Heartburn is theworst.I’ve never popped as many antacids in my entire life as I have this trimester.”
She reached for her purse but hesitated ever so slightly as she sent another glance in ButtFace’s direction.He was giving his order to the barista, temporarily distracted from his scowl-fest.The grinding of coffee beans and the whir of steaming milk drowned out whatever he was saying.
“Here.”She pulled a travel-sized pack of antacids out and offered them to me.“These should help.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t—” I cut my protests short when I realized someone who supposedly had raging third-trimester heartburn probably wouldn’t decline the offer of relief and snatched the bottle from her.After shaking two into my hand, I returned it and smiled gratefully.“Thank you.I’m not sure what I’d do without you.”
I wouldn’t have gotten this far in the assignment, for one.Or been given the assignment in the first place.Without her, there wouldn’t be a Lamaze class opening to exploit, let alone a chance at getting close to Charles in any way.Colt and I would still be bitter rivals, inconveniencing each other at any given opportunity just to get a rise out of them.With the dread stabbing my insides like a porcupine, I almost would’ve preferred that.
Almost.
Vivienne dropped the bottle back in her purse with precise movements, never looking away from me as she did so.She smiled, soft and genuine.“Me, too.It’s been a long time since someone invited me out for a coffee.”
And even longer since she’d been able to accept, surely.Whether she was friends with her bodyguards or not, they were a major buzzkill.
“Honestly?Same.”I popped the antacids into my mouth, using the motion to clock ButtFace’s position at the counter, where he was currently picking up the drinks.“I guess I’m not always the most pleasant to be around.”
Especially to a certain freckled, regimented, unfairly hot FBI agent who shall remain nameless.
“What?Of course you are!”She shrugged and flipped her ponytail over her shoulder.“Besides, even if you weren’t, everyone has bad days.”
I arched an eyebrow.“Even you?Because I can’t imagine anyone not tripping over themselves to be your friend.”
She snorted.“That’s kind of you, but you’d be surprised.”She cast another glance in ButtFace’s direction, her voice lowering to a mumble.“I think I’ve had more bad days than good lately.”
The itch at the base of my skull returned.Again, without any evidence to back it up.If anything, her interactions with the bodyguards were evidenceagainstmy hunch.
ButtFace was only a few paces away now, and Gavin was still here, so I didn’t risk letting on that I’d found her remark odd in any way.And, though it took significant willpower, I didn’t react when ButtFace sent a scathing glare at Gavin for being the lucky duck to sit next to Vivienne while he sat down heavily next to me.He smelled like tobacco and washing machines.
“Some people believe in the power of speaking things into existence.”I lifted my latte in a toast.“So, to finding true friends and better days ahead.”
“Hear, hear,” Vivienne cheered heartily, tapping her hot cocoa against my cup.
Gavin looked hard and long at me, his stare nearly rivaling my squadmate Isaiah’s on the scale from unsettling to I-can-see-every-crime-you’ve-ever-thought-about-committing.Then, almost reluctantly, he raised his smoothie in agreement.
ButtFace side-eyed us all like we’d lost our minds, but joined in the toast, too.
Vivienne and I filled the better part of an hour chatting, covering all sorts of topics as long as we never touched on anything deeply personal.Just like when we’d had dinner and lunch together, she avoided vulnerable subjects like the plague.
At this point, I was starting to wonder if our spa day was a fluke.
Until we were about to leave, that is.
She stood from the table, her hand resting on her bump as she inhaled the rich scent of coffee and chocolate in the air.“I’m going to hit the ladies room real quick, or I think I might burst.Do you need to go, too?”
Her expression was perfectly natural and unassuming, but that same gleam I’d noticed while she’d been talking to ButtFace earlier sparkled in her eyes.I jumped at the opportunity, both to talk with her alone and take care of pressing business.
“Yes, please.”I touched my bump as well, using the opportunity to help me keep from bumping it along the table as I scooted with absolutely no dignity whatsoever out of the booth.“That latte has gone completely through me by now.”
ButtFace’s scowl intensified as he and Gavin waited outside the restrooms for us.Vivienne smiled sunnily at him, undeterred.
The second we’d both taken care of business and were washing our hands at the sinks, she leveled me with a no-nonsense stare in the mirror’s reflection.“Okay, real talk.What’s up, Lex?”
