Chapter 277: equestrian stands III

Chapter 277: Chapter 277: equestrian stands III

Damian’s hand remained lightly against her thigh.

He had stopped pretending he was particularly interested in the competition.

His attention kept drifting back to Vivienne.

The warmth beneath his palm.

The way she occasionally glanced at him.

The faint smile she was trying to hide.

It was becoming increasingly difficult to think about anything else.

He glanced toward the empty spaces farther down the stands.

Then toward the clock.

One-thirty.

His match wasn’t until three.

He had plenty of time.

His imagination wandered somewhere it probably shouldn’t have.

Perhaps they could find somewhere quieter.

Somewhere away from the crowds.

Just for a little while.

The thought alone made him smile.

I really am becoming shameless.

He had never been like this before.

But apparently, once he had discovered what it was like to be with a woman he actually wanted, his restraint had become considerably less reliable.

He looked at Vivienne again.

She was watching the field.

Or at least, she appeared to be.

Then—

Her phone vibrated.

Vivienne immediately reached into her bag.

"Oh."

She pulled it out and glanced at the screen.

A message from Claire.

He’s here.

Her heart jumped.

Christopher.

Before she could even fully process it, another message arrived.

His first match is in about twenty minutes.

Vivienne’s eyes widened.

Twenty minutes.

She immediately opened the message thread and typed:

I’m coming.

She had barely sent it when she became aware of Damian beside her.

Oh.

Right.

Damian.

She quickly locked her phone and turned it slightly inward, almost instinctively covering the screen with her hand.

Damian glanced at her.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

The answer came far too quickly.

His eyebrow lifted.

Vivienne slipped the phone into her bag.

"I just think I need to go."

Damian looked at her curiously.

He didn’t ask to see her phone.

He never would.

But Vivienne knew he had noticed the sudden movement.

For a brief moment, she wondered whether she was being ridiculous.

Why am I hiding this?

They weren’t dating.

They weren’t exclusive.

They were friends with benefits.

She was perfectly free to watch whoever she wanted.

And yet...

She had a feeling Damian wouldn’t be particularly thrilled if he knew exactly why she was suddenly abandoning the equestrian event.

Not because she was doing anything wrong.

Just because she knew him well enough to know he probably wouldn’t enjoy hearing that she was rushing across campus to watch another man compete.

So, yes.

Perhaps it was better not to tell him.

She looked at him and smiled.

"It’s Eleanor."

Damian blinked.

"Eleanor?"

"She’s competing in the fencing competition."

"Oh."

His expression relaxed.

"Your friend is playing?"

"Yes."

Vivienne nodded.

"I need to go watch her."

Damian glanced toward the field, then back at her.

"You want me to come with you?"

"No, no."

She shook her head quickly.

"You have a match soon."

"It’s still a while away."

"But your polo field is right there."

She gestured toward the grounds just beside the equestrian field.

"The fencing hall is on the other side of the university. If you come with me, you’d have to walk all the way there and then come all the way back."

Damian considered that.

Vivienne smiled.

"You should stay with your team. You probably need to warm up before your match."

He glanced toward the polo grounds.

She was right.

His match was only an hour and a half away.

Still, he almost said—

"Then why don’t you come watch—"

He stopped.

Anthony.

Of course.

Anthony would be there.

Damian reconsidered.

"Actually..."

He leaned back.

"You’re right."

Vivienne smiled with relief.

"You should go."

"I’ll get in touch with you later."

"Okay."

She stood.

"Tell me how your match goes."

"I will."

"And if you win, I’ll expect a full report."

Damian smiled.

"Deal."

Vivienne gave him a quick smile.

"Good luck."

"You too."

She turned and hurried down the steps.

Damian watched her go.

He couldn’t help smiling.

She was in an extraordinary hurry.

He wondered what had gotten into her.

Meanwhile, Vivienne was already halfway across the campus.

She walked quickly at first.

Then faster.

Then, when she was certain Damian could no longer see her, she nearly broke into a run.

Twenty minutes.

Christopher was going to compete in twenty minutes.

She had to get there.

And then, somewhere between the equestrian grounds and the athletic buildings, another thought occurred to her.

She slowed.

Wait.

She had been sitting beside Damian.

His hand had been on her thigh.

He had been flirting with her.

And she had simply gotten up and left because Christopher was about to compete.

Vivienne pressed her lips together.

"Oh my God."

She almost laughed at herself.

What was wrong with her?

She had been perfectly content a moment ago.

Then one message from Claire and—

Christopher.

Her entire brain had changed direction.

She shook her head.

I’m ridiculous.

But the smile on her face refused to disappear.

--

When she finally reached the athletic building, Vivienne slowed.

She was almost there.

Then she spotted the ladies’ restroom near the entrance.

She hesitated for half a second before stepping inside.

The restroom was quiet, thankfully.

Vivienne went straight to the mirror.

She stared at her reflection.

Her hair had become slightly disheveled from hurrying across campus.

"Oh."

She quickly ran her fingers through it, fixing the loose strands.

Then she opened her bag.

Lip gloss.

A quick application.

She pressed her lips together and checked herself again.

She adjusted the collar of her blouse.

Then smoothed her skirt.

She stopped.

Stared at herself.

And slowly laughed.

"Oh my God."

What was she doing?

She had just left Damian sitting at the equestrian grounds because Christopher was about to compete.

And now she was in the ladies’ restroom fixing her hair and putting on lip gloss before going to see him.

Vivienne covered her face for a moment.

I’m ridiculous.

She lowered her hands.

But the smile remained.

It wasn’t as though she was trying to impress him.

Well—

Perhaps she was.

Just a little.

She checked her reflection one last time.

Her hair was fine.

Her makeup was fine.

Everything was fine.

She took a breath.

"All right."

She picked up her bag.

"Let’s go."

And with one last glance at herself, Vivienne walked out of the restroom and toward the fencing hall.

Christopher was inside.

And suddenly, she couldn’t wait to see him.

--

Tbc