Page 4 of Tomorrow Belongs to Us
“You think you don't need me, Lance, but you do. Let's face it. Who else have you got?”
“Who else have I got?” I don’t need anyone but Cassie. “It's just a flesh wound. I'll survive. I'm not dying,” I counter. I don't understand the fuss. The sight of Vivian wanting to take care of me makes my gut harden.
“At least you listened to Cassie, that’s something I suppose. God knows you don’t listen to me.”
“Why would I ever do such a thing?” It’s rhetorical, but Vivian will reply.
“You're going to argue with me, even when you've been shot?” She raises an arched eyebrow.
“Further proof of how much our communication has broken down.”
She puts her hands on my forearm, her thumb sliding along my skin, a tainted caress that prickles. “At least you have the sense to stay the night. You can stay in my—”
I move my arm away. “Just the night, and I’ll sleep here in the spare room. I’m only staying because Cassie asked.”
Vivian smiles, not batting an eye, as if this doesn't matter, that I’ve rejected her advances. “She's so proud of you. All of her friends think you're a hero.”
I look away. “I'm no hero. I was there. It was the right thing to do.”
“You took a bullet for one of your students.”
Heidi Byrne has been annoying lately. She’s always waiting for me at the end of each lecture, claims she doesn’t fully understand. I’m used to this. I have many Heidi Byrnes.
Vivian winks at me. “They're all going to fall in love with you even harder now. The Sexy Young Professor Who Took a Bullet for his Student.” She motions with her hands to show that she's building a newspaper headline.
“I would have done that for anyone.”
“Would you take a bullet for me?” she asks.
I study her face. It’s hard, much like her personality. Sharp and pointy. There’s nothing soft or warm about her.
“You know I would.”
My words make her face soften. It’s like I’ve given her the biggest compliment and her eyes turn glassy. The marriage hasn't been great. I married her for the wrong reasons, although I would never call Cassie a wrong reason, but trying to get out of the marriage has proved difficult.
Vivian sinks her claws into me even deeper now. Her father, a powerful businessman frowns upon my decision to get out of the marriage, and I can see the accusations and blame in his eyes, about being the one to break up the family even though he damn well knows what his daughter is like. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Her father has had numerous affairs and Vivian's poor mother, the only member of the family I have any affection for, can do nothing but stand by and watch.
“Cassie has told all her friends. We're so proud of you. You're in the papers and you've been in the news all day. My phone hasn't stopped ringing. Everyone wants to know if you're all right.”
I wince. I don't understand the fuss, and I especially don’t want any of Vivian's parasitic friends anywhere near me. “I don’t want to speak to anyone. No friends, no press, and not your parents.”
“You're going to need to rest a while, and you're going to need physical therapy to heal. You do still want to play squash and tennis, and you want to work out and hone that gorgeous body of yours, don't you?”
Before I can answer, she says, “How can you do all of that when you're trying to feed and dress yourself? You can't do it alone, Lance. You need my help whether you like it or not. Daddy suggests you move back here instead of trying to take care of yourself.”
I groan. The thought of Vivian back in my life makes me ill. “I'll be fine.” I close my eyes. I have to go easy on my games and fitness regime, but I'm more worried about my students and my classes.
“If you're worried about work,” she says, as if she can read my mind, “don't be. I told Lesley you'd be off for a while.”
My eyelids fly open. The idea of Vivian calling my good friend at the college angers me. “Why? I'll be able to go back after a few weeks.”
“Someone had to let them know. Your students and faculty needed to know that you couldn’t return to work yet.”
My eyes narrow.
I’ve been shot. It’s all over the TV. I'm certain everyone managed to figure it out. Vivian didn't have to go and tell them. This is what pisses me off about her, the way she tries to snake her way back into my life as if she's still a part of it. She's Cassie's mother, but that's all. That's the only link I have to her.
“Don't concern yourself with my work,” I tell her, but she finds it difficult to let go of me.
