Page 50 of Alive and Kicking
Viv reaches out carefully, placing her hand on his bicep like she’s giving him an opportunity to pull away first. “What’s going on?”
Sloane’s jaw clenches but he reaches up to place his hand over Viv’s where she’s touching him. “Carol,” he sneers, and my brows go up. It must be serious if he’s using her actual name. “Right before the game she made a post online about how my girlfriend is cheating on me. I was already on the ice so I didn’t see it or I would have had Nox deal with it earlier. It’s pretty much gone viral. People were posting photos of you and Zane cuddling up together on the bleachers.”
“Photos of me are online?” Viv asks with wide, horrified eyes.
Sloane nods, reaching forward to wrap his hand around the back of Viv’s neck. “Nox is already working on getting them taken down.”
Viv closes her eyes. “Okay. Nox will take care of it. Everything will be okay.”
I frown at that. “What are you worried about? Your family already knows where you are.”
Viv’s eyes meet mine. “Yeah, the family knew. It wasn’t public knowledge. Let’s just hope that Nox gets it taken down before any of the family’s enemies see.”
A pit turns in my stomach and I turn to Sloane. “Can we kill Carol now?”
That brings a smile to Viv’s face and Sloane stops to think about it. “No. I’m sure if she goes missing her friends would be all too willing to tell the police about how much she hated Viv. Combine that with the fact Viv broke her hand last year and it’ll just bring attention to Viv that she doesn’t want.”
Now Viv looks disappointed. “You’re right.”
Sloane pulls her into another kiss before she steps back. “I’ll see you guys at home.”
Viv rounds the car to get into the passenger seat, but I stand outside for a moment longer. Viv doesn’t deserve this, we’re not doing anything wrong. We are all consenting adults. Thoughts are rushing through my mind now though. Sloane will probably get high-fives from all his hockey buddies while people call Viv a whore to her face and behind her back. The most frustrating part is that I can’t do anything about it.
Sandra
Iget to Viv’s place around noon on Saturday and I may have gone a little crazy getting stuff to keep our thoughts organized. When I knock on the front door, Nox answers. I can’t say I understand the relationship Viv has with these guys, but it makes her happy so I don’t question it. Something about her makes me think that Viv deserves all the happiness the world. Besides, I don’t have to understand her relationship to be supportive of my bestie.
“Hey Sandy,” Nox says as he opens the door wider for me.
“Hey,” I say in greeting, looking around as I step inside.
Through a short entryway I find the living room. It’s cozy, and I’m surprised that a group of men decorated this place. There are throw pillows on the couch and a plush carpet laid out on the floor in front of it. Something about the room makes me just want to sink into a couch cushion and binge watch Friends.
Nox walks into the room behind me. “Viv ran out real quick with Sloane to grab some coffee. Do you want anything to drink, or eat?”
I shake my head and hold up my water bottle. “I’m good, thanks, we’re ordering pizza later.”
The silence between us is a little awkward. He’s the one I haven’t interacted with much. Since he graduated last year, I just haven’t spent as much time with him as I have Zane and Sloane. It’s not that I don’t like him, I just don’t really know him outside of one study session and walking in on him sleeping in Viv’s bed once.
Steps sound on the stairs and Zane walks into the room. “Sandy! Have you come to steal Viv away from me?” He practically pouts at me.
I grin. “Just for one night. You can have her back tomorrow.”
He groans. “Just know I’m only accepting this for the environment.”
My head shakes as I laugh at his antics. He’s perfect for Viv, though I can also see the appeal of the other guys. Sloane is athletic and Nox is smart. All aspects that Viv also has. Maybe I understand this relationship she has going on more than I thought. I just don’t think it would make sense for me, and that’s okay. As long as they treat her well I don’t care who she sleeps with.
I think back to the posts that were circling the day before where people were calling Viv horrible names. She just doesn’t deserve that. She’s such a nice person. I’ve never met a friend who would give up their entire Saturday just to help me plan something that might not even be possible. Besides, it’s not like they’re hurting anyone. College is supposed to be the time to do crazy things and experiment romantically.
I had a tiff with Carol back at the sorority house the day after the game. She was saying a bunch of horrible stuff about Viv and how she ‘uses’ Sloane. I couldn’t stop the laugh that tumbled out at that. She sneered at me and demanded, “What’s so funny?”
I rolled my eyes, “It’s just funny how jealous you are that Sloane would rather have a piece of Viv than all of you.”
Her face had turned so red I thought she was going to pop a blood vessel. Instead she just stomped off without even trying to give a reply.
The door opens, drawing my attention away from my thoughts, and Viv and Sloane walk into the living room each carrying three drinks. Steps immediately sound on the stairs. “Please tell me that’s coffee. I would literally kill for caffeine right now. This was a horrible time to run out of coffee grounds.” Cain Price walks into the room, still rambling.
When he sees me, he freezes. “Oh, you must be Miss Russo’s friend. It’s nice to meet you.”
