Page 42 of Liquid Courage
Chapter 12
Vivian was in that stage of self-doubt that said she was readingwaytoo much into what happened with Kat. Sure, they had great sex.Sure,they parted ways amicably and with the promise to meet up again soon. And sure, sure, sure, Kat looked goofy when she said she was excited to go out with Vivian sometime later that week.
We’re also still exchanging texts. So when does it blow up in my face?
Because she couldn’t let things remain nice. Her brain had to take facts and twist them until her stomach started twisting as well. Preferably, when she was in the middle of lunch Wednesday afternoon.
Her turkey sandwich had too much mayo. Vivian didn’t mind a little mayo on her sandwich, but the deli had slathered it on as if they were desperate to get rid of the batch. Every time she took a bite, mayonnaise oozed out of the sides of her sandwich and dripped down her hands. She had gone through five napkins already, and she swore she tasted nothing but mayonnaise with a side of honey nut bread.
“Wow,” Lisa said from the other side of the table in the break room. “Do you know how many calories is probably in that sandwich?”
“Don’t remind me. I’m trying to gain weight, but not at the expense of my taste buds.” Vivian mopped up more of the mayo with a fresh stack of napkins. “How did your sandwich turn out?” They had both picked up their lunches from the same deli across the street. As far as Vivian knew, hers was the only one slathered in condiments.
Lisa shrugged. “BLT is fine. Bit vinegary, but I like it that way.”
Vivian’s phone buzzed and lit up with a message. She was inclined to ignore it while she cleaned up her mess, but that was Kat’s name flashing across her screen. She had to answer it!
“Aw, fuck!” Mayo splattered across her phone screen. Maybe she should have wiped her hands off before grabbing her phone.
“Wow,” Lisa said again. “Amazing. I think you should go back to work like that. The lawyer-heads will love having dried-out mayo clotting their documents together.”
Vivian frantically wiped mayo off her phone and hands. A nice smear remained on the screen as she unlocked the contents of Kat’s message.
“Hey, sexy. What are you doing tonight?”
Were Vivian’s hands clean enough to respond? Lisa was waiting to find out.
“Probably watching TV with my sister. But I’m not married to it. Whyyyyy? :)”
“Because you should drop by the bar this evening and have a toast with me.”
“A toast? Why?”
“Because it’s kinda-sorta our one week anniversary?”
“Oh my God.” Lisa dropped her sandwich into its wrapper. “You’re squealing. Is it that girl you’ve been seeing?”
Vivian looked up from the kissy-lip emoji gracing her messenger. “Yeah. Is it obvious?”
“Nice to know that women act just as silly whether they’re in love with men or women.”
“I’m not in love!” Vivian cocked her head. “Do you think I’m in love?”
“Please. I’m not answering that one for you. So? What does she want?”
“She wants me to hang out at her bar with her tonight.”
“The scene of the crime!”
Vivian wanted to say that was how she thought of going back to Kat’s apartment the other night, but refrained. The only details Lisa had were that sparks flew over the weekend. In the best way. (The orgasmic way.) They didn’t go into greater detail about their sex lives… especially in the office.
“You gonna go by?”
“Duh?” Vivian scoffed. “I’d be a total idiot to not go over and hang out with her after this weekend. My sister would have to be getting married or something for me to miss it!”
Lisa held her up sandwich for a toast. “If things go well, make sure you rub some of your good luck off on me so I can get myself a boyfriend. Double dates are in our futures.”
I’m sure Kat would love that.Vivian had to hold back a massive eye roll. Kat might politely go out on a double date with Vivian’s friends, but that would definitely not be how they met. “Depending on how it really goes, maybe we can all meet up soon and get that charade out of the way.”
