Chapter 40

VIVIANNE

I have had stupid ideas before. Usually, I just ignore them.

But this one won’t let go.

I want to see him again.

And I don’t.

The thought nags me, even as I sit at the salon, trying to focus on my mani-pedi.

Jenna sighs beside me, half-limp in her chair. This is her happy place—she used to live for our Mondays out of the office.

“I want to stop by the office,” I say

Jenna stiffens. “For what?”

“I feel bad he didn’t get his coffee,” I say casually. “You know how cranky he can be without it.” We both laugh, but we know it’s just an excuse.

“Uh—Viv?” Jenna starts carefully. “There’s something I shou—”

“Honey, do you want stickers?” the nail tech interrupts.

Jenna shakes her head.

I wave her off. “You can tell me later, okay?”

We head to Daily Grind after. Their coffee really is better.

There’s a weird silence between us as we walk. Something feels off.

The new receptionist is pretty but stiff, her blonde ponytail pulled so tight it looks painful.

“Hi, I’m here to see Liam,” I say with a polite smile.

She fakes a smile of her own. “I’m sorry, Mr. Stryder is busy right now.”

“Call him. Tell him his next appointment is here.”

“Ma’am, I can’t—”

“Do it,” I cut in. “Or I will.”

She hesitates, then picks up the phone. “Mr. Stryder, your next appointment is here.”

Her expression shifts as she listens. “I’m not—uh. I’m sorry—no, sir. Oka—yes, sir.” She hangs up and looks at me sheepishly. “Go ahead.”

My stomach sinks. He was never like this before.

Sure, he was a little stiff, but not cruel.

Jenna stays behind as I head to his office. I knock and push the door open.

He’s behind his desk, brow furrowed. “Come in.”

“I brought you coffee,” I say, gently.

His head snaps up. Surprise washes over his face.

He stands, gripping the desk so hard his knuckles go white.

I walk over and hand him the cup. He sets it down, murmuring a quiet thanks.

My eyes drift to the ugly mug on his desk—the one I made him.

I swallow hard, glancing away, only to catch the plaques on the wall. Each one has a name and a star.

Emotion swells in my chest, threatening to overtake me.

“I’m sorry for my behavior earlier,” he says. “I should have… I don’t know.”

He looks at me again, his eyes gently caressing me. “You look beautiful.”

I smile, cocking my head to the side. “Why are you so different?” I ask, sitting in the chair across from him.

The couch—the one he bought for me—is still here.

“What happened to you?”

“Too much.” His voice is low, his anger visible. Then: “Have dinner with me?”

“No.”

“Have dinner with me,” he repeats.

He comes around the desk, then sinks to his knees in front of me. His hands land on my knees.

The contact is electric—hot, familiar, and dangerous. My breath catches.

The last time he touched me, we were still pretending for a crowd.

But there’s no pretending now. And we’re alone.

“Have dinner with me, Vivianne.”

My lips part before I can stop them. “Okay,” I whisper. “One dinner. Just tonight.”

I stand too quickly, needing space. But the heat of his touch lingers.

As I step out of Liam’s office, I hear Jenna whisper, “Shit.”

I look up—and see her.

Beth.

She’s wearing a powder-blue knit dress stretched over a belly that wasn’t there the last time I saw her.

I blink. My mouth goes dry. My feet won’t move.

Beth rests her hand across her bump like she’s been waiting for this exact moment.

Her smug smile says everything.

Pregnant.

Beth is pregnant.

With ~his~ child.

My heart slams against my ribs, each beat louder than the last.

She walks past me, laughing. Like it’s funny. Like ~I’m~ the punchline.

“Viv—come on,” Jenna whispers, grabbing my arm.

I let her pull me out of the building, but it doesn’t feel like I’m moving.

Jenna’s talking, saying she meant to tell me, that she was sorry, that she just couldn’t—but it’s all white noise.

Somehow, the only thought I can hold onto is dinner.

It feels like a lifeline.

A sign.

***

I show up to the restaurant in a little black dress that‘s a little too short, clinging in all the right places.

When Liam sees me, he stands. “You look amazing,” he says as he takes me in.

We order a drink, and he sets his menu down.

I don’t know how this is going to go.

All I know is I have to say something, but I’m not sure how he’s going to take it.

“Liam?” I begin. “I saw Beth today.”

His expression darkens.

“You got her pregnant? You didn’t—”

“You made your feelings clear,” he snaps. “I wasn’t about to call you and tell you about it.”

“I just thought I could have been there. For you,” I say, my gaze falling to the floor.

“I didn’t want you to be there for me.”

That stings more than I expected.

“Fine,” I say, standing. “Have it your way, Liam.”

“Viv, wait.”

I don’t want to wait. I want him to pull his head out of his butt.

Somehow, he manages to talk me into staying.

The rest of dinner feels like old times. We talk. We laugh. He tells me about the last few months—how Beth has been using the pregnancy, twisting the situation.

He took a test. He’s the father. It’s proven.

We step into the cool night air. His phone rings—his mother.

I hear her ask if I’m in town. She insists I come to her party tomorrow.

Before I can say no, he accepts for me.

***

I don’t want to go. But I do.

For Stephanie. For Liam. And maybe, in some small way, for myself.

I step through the tall front doors into a space already humming with conversation and soft jazz.

Guests move through the room, sipping wine and laughing like they have no worries.

I scan the crowd and find Steph, her smile lighting up the moment she spots me.

“I’m so glad you came!” she squeals, her eyes sparkling.

“Thanks for inviting me.”

“Listen, I know he messed things up pretty bad, but I—Liam!”

Her eyes lock on something behind me.

His cologne hits me first, making my head feel like it’s swimming.

I turn. He’s scowling.

“Mom,” he says, greeting her with a hug.

She winks at him before disappearing into the crowd.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” he says, pulling me into a quieter room.

I jerk my arm away, scowling right back.

“What do you mean?” I grumble. “Your mother invited me.”

“I can’t—I can’t keep doing this.” He sighs heavily, shoulders tight.

“Doing what?” I ask, taking a step back. It feels like he’s punched me in the gut.

“This back-and-forth. Always wondering when I’ll see you.”

“Liam,” I say, looking him dead in the eyes. “That’s not my problem. I’m just trying to get my life back.”

He huffs and stalks out without another word.

I stand there for a long second, blinking back the sting behind my eyes.

Steph finds me soon after, her warmth unchanged. She slips a glass of wine into my hand and keeps me close, like she senses I might float off or break apart.

Later, after most of the guests have gone and the music has softened, Liam finds me again. “Walk with me?” he asks quietly.

I’m not sure why, not with all the hot and cold treatment, but I agree.

We walk through the park like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“I’m heading back tomorrow,” I say, breaking the quiet. “Packing, quitting my temp job, moving back to New York.”

He nods slowly. “So, moving back to the city, huh?”

“I just couldn’t stay away.”

“Are we okay? Friends, I mean?”

“I guess we are.”

“Are you still mad at me?”

I glance at him. “I had some time to think. To heal. I don’t think you said any of that stuff to hurt me. I tried to put myself in your shoes—and honestly, I get it. I just wish I didn’t have to hear any of it.”

“Trust me, so do I.”

“So…you’re going to be a dad?”

He exhales. “I’m going to be a dad,” he repeats, looking like he might throw up.

“You’ll do great.”

“I’m not so convinced.”

We walk in silence. Our hands brush once, then again. I don’t move away. Neither does he.

At the corner where we’re supposed to part, I stop.

He looks at me like he wants to say more—but doesn’t.

“Goodnight, Liam.”

His gaze lingers. “Goodnight, Vivianne.”

I turn before I lose my nerve, my heels clicking softly against the pavement. I don’t look back, but I feel him watching me.

And for the first time in a long time, I’m not running.

Not away.

Maybe toward something that could still be saved.