Chapter 272: girl talk

Chapter 272: Chapter 272: girl talk

The door opened.

Claire stepped inside, followed closely by Amelia and Eleanor.

Claire stopped the moment she saw Vivienne sitting on her bed.

"Vivienne!"

Amelia’s face lit up.

"You’re back!"

Eleanor smiled as she closed the door behind them.

"We were wondering when you’d return."

Claire dropped her bag onto her bed.

"The storm was awful yesterday. We heard some of the roads were closed."

She turned toward Vivienne.

"You never made it back."

Amelia’s eyes narrowed playfully.

"And you were in East Junction."

Claire slowly looked at Amelia.

"With Damian."

Vivienne burst out laughing.

"Oh, here we go."

"Well?" Amelia demanded.

"What happened?"

Claire folded her arms.

"Did you two survive the storm?"

Vivienne looked at the three of them.

"Obviously."

Claire raised an eyebrow.

"Did something happen?"

Vivienne looked at them for a moment.

Then she smiled.

"Yes."

Silence.

Amelia’s eyes widened.

Claire’s mouth fell open.

Eleanor simply stared.

"You actually said yes?" Claire asked.

Vivienne laughed.

"Yes."

Amelia immediately moved closer.

"Tell us."

Vivienne shook her head, still laughing.

"All right. But you’re all going to overreact."

"Absolutely not," Claire said.

"We won’t," Amelia added.

Eleanor gave them a knowing look.

"You probably will."

Vivienne smiled.

Then she told them.

She told them about the storm, the hotel, how they had ended up staying there, and eventually what had happened between her and Damian.

By the time she finished, the room was completely silent.

Claire stared at her.

Amelia stared at her.

Even Eleanor looked momentarily speechless.

Then Amelia finally spoke.

"Wait."

Vivienne looked at her.

"You mean..."

She pointed vaguely at Vivienne.

"And Damian?"

Vivienne nodded.

"Yes."

Claire’s eyes widened.

"Twice?"

Vivienne’s cheeks warmed slightly.

"Yes."

Amelia threw herself backward onto Claire’s bed.

"Oh my God."

Claire covered her mouth.

"Vivienne."

Vivienne started laughing.

"What?"

"You actually did it."

"I know."

"And now?"

Vivienne shrugged.

"Now we’re friends with benefits."

Silence.

"What?"

Claire’s eyes widened.

"Damian said that?"

"Yes."

Amelia shook her head slowly.

"That’s... not what I expected."

"Why?"

"Because I thought he’d want more."

Vivienne raised an eyebrow.

"More?"

Claire nodded.

"We all know he likes you. From the way he’s been acting around you, we thought he’d eventually tell you he wanted something serious."

"Or at least exclusive," Amelia added.

"Instead he suggested friends with benefits?"

"Yes."

Claire looked genuinely baffled.

Vivienne laughed.

"Oh, come on."

She waved a hand dismissively.

"It’s not like I don’t like the arrangement."

Claire looked at her.

"And you’re really okay with it?"

"Of course."

Vivienne shrugged.

"I don’t take it against him. It’s actually quite convenient for me too."

Amelia considered that.

"Oh."

Eleanor was still thoughtful.

"So you’re comfortable with it?"

"Yes."

Vivienne didn’t hesitate.

"I like being with Damian."

She smiled.

"I like spending time with him. I like the way he treats me."

Then, almost casually, she added,

"And I’m still talking to Christopher."

Amelia’s eyes widened.

"Christopher?"

Vivienne nodded.

"What about him?"

"Well..."

She smiled.

"I just talked to him a little earlier."

Amelia stared at her.

"You!"

Vivienne laughed.

"What?"

"You came back from East Junction and immediately went back to Christopher?"

"I didn’t immediately—"

"You just said it."

"That is not the same thing."

Claire grinned.

"How is it different?"

Vivienne opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

"Well..."

Amelia laughed.

"Exactly."

Vivienne shook her head.

"I really like Christopher."

"We know."

"No, I mean..."

She paused.

"I really, really like him."

Her expression softened.

"I don’t even know how to explain it."

Claire smiled.

"Try."

Vivienne looked down at her hands.

"I’m just so excited whenever I get to talk to him."

She smiled.

"I want to see him."

Amelia leaned closer.

"How much?"

"A lot."

"That’s not a number."

Vivienne laughed.

"I don’t know!"

She threw a pillow at her.

"I just know that I like him."

She hugged another pillow against herself.

"When I think about seeing him tomorrow, I get excited."

Claire exchanged a look with Amelia.

Vivienne continued.

"Damian is different."

"How?"

Vivienne thought about it.

"I like how Damian makes me feel."

She smiled.

"But Christopher..."

She paused.

"Christopher is just..."

She shook her head.

"I don’t know."

Amelia grinned.

"That’s a very convincing explanation."

"Shut up."

Vivienne laughed.

"It’s not like Christopher is doing anything particularly romantic."

Claire raised an eyebrow.

"Then why are you this excited?"

"Because I like him!"

The answer came so quickly that the girls burst out laughing.

Vivienne covered her face for a moment.

"I just do."

She lowered her hands.

"When I talk to him, it feels different."

"Different how?"

Vivienne smiled.

"Like I’m in a romantic drama."

Claire groaned.

"Oh, no."

"I’m serious."

Vivienne laughed.

"Or like I’m actually the heroine of a romance novel."

Amelia shook her head.

"She’s gone."

"Completely."

Vivienne ignored them.

"I just really like him."

She sighed dreamily.

"And have you seen him?"

Claire and Amelia exchanged a look.

Vivienne continued before either could answer.

"Have you seen his face?"

Amelia burst out laughing.

"Here we go."

"And his shoulders."

Claire covered her face.

"Oh my God."

"I’m serious!"

Vivienne was laughing now.

"He’s so..."

She struggled for the word.

"Everything."

Claire pointed at her.

"You’re completely gone."

"Maybe."

Amelia shook her head.

"But wait."

She looked at Vivienne.

"Damian is literally the most handsome man on the continent."

Vivienne laughed.

"Fine. He is."

Amelia pointed toward her.

"And you’re sitting here going on about Christopher’s face?"

Vivienne thought about it.

"Okay, technically..."

She sighed.

"Yes. Damian is more handsome."

Claire stared at her.

"More?"

"Objectively."

Vivienne shrugged.

"Damian is ridiculously handsome. I know that."

"Then?"

Vivienne paused.

"But Christopher..."

She smiled.

"It’s not just his face."

Amelia raised an eyebrow.

"Then what is it?"

Vivienne struggled for a moment.

"His presence, I guess."

Claire nodded slowly.

"His charisma?"

"Maybe."

Vivienne smiled.

"I don’t know how to explain it."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"He’s just my type."

That was the simplest way to put it.

"I look at him and I just..."

She laughed helplessly.

"I like him."

The girls stared at her.

Then Claire sighed dramatically.

"She’s hopeless."

Amelia nodded.

"Completely."

Vivienne laughed.

"And Damian?"

Claire tilted her head.

"How do you feel about him compared to Christopher?"

Vivienne’s smile changed.

"I like him too."

Claire raised an eyebrow.

"But not the same way."

"Not the same way."

She thought about it.

"With Christopher, I get excited."

"And Damian?"

Vivienne smiled.

"Damian makes me feel..."

She paused.

Then said quietly,

"Cherished."

Amelia’s expression shifted.

"Hm."

Vivienne looked at her.

"What?"

Amelia folded her arms.

"You really feel cherished?"

"Yes."

"Even though he suggested friends with benefits?"

Vivienne rolled her eyes.

"Amelia."

"I’m just asking."

"I know."

Amelia hesitated.

"I’m not saying he doesn’t care about you. I just wonder if you’re reading more into it because you like how attentive he is."

Vivienne smiled.

"Maybe."

She shrugged.

"But I don’t really care."

"Vivienne."

"Come on."

She laughed.

"I’m enjoying it too."

Claire smiled.

"That’s fair."

"And there are no hard feelings."

Vivienne looked between them.

"I’m not expecting anything from Damian."

Then she smiled.

"And I’m not giving up Christopher either."

Claire immediately raised her hand.

"Exactly."

Amelia high-fived her.

"Why choose when you don’t have to?"

Eleanor sighed.

"You two are terrible influences."

Claire grinned.

"We’re supportive friends."

"Very supportive."

Vivienne laughed.

"That’s why I love you girls."

Amelia raised her hand again.

"To Vivienne."

Claire joined her.

"To our female lead."

Vivienne groaned.

"Stop calling me that."

"Never."

Amelia laughed.

"To having options."

Vivienne laughed and high-fived them.

Eleanor stared at the three of them.

Then, despite herself, she smiled and joined in.

The room filled with laughter.

For all the complications her romantic life was beginning to accumulate, Vivienne couldn’t deny one thing.

She was enjoying herself.

She had her girls.

She had Christopher, who made her heart flutter simply by calling.

She had Damian, who made her feel cherished.

And for now, she saw no reason to choose.

--

Tbc