Okay, so this is strangely... nice. The air has been cleared. It's clear. My future sister-in-law and I can hang out together, alone, and it's all fine. It's comfortable. We're laughing at the movie. I'm sipping a beer, and letting sense of relief settle in. I made up with her, which will mean Dominic will be happy with me and my mother will be proud. (Not that I need her to be proud, of course. I am a grown-ass man, after all. Well, a grown-ass man who called his mum to tell on his brother, so...)
But most importantly, Vivian and I are fine now, which means when they move, we'll be on good terms. And theoretically, that means they'll come back to visit more often, which is all I really want. I want my brother to live his dreams, but also to be an important part of my son's life, and mine.
Vivian holds out a bowl of popcorn to me. I glance down at it before I take some. "Are those...?"
"Chocolate chips, yes," she answers without looking at me. "Try it. I know it's a little unorthodox but it's frigging delicious."
I take some out of the bowl and give it a try, even though I'm quite skeptical. "Mmm, that is good."
"I know. Paige introduced me to this," she says setting the bowl between us on the couch.
Taking a bigger handful, I say, "How did I go this long without knowing about this?"
Vivian chuckles. "It's because it's a very strange combination."
"I guess sometimes strange combinations just work," I say, thinking about her relationship with my brother.
She offers me a smile out of the side of her mouth, and I know she gets what I meant.
We watch the rest of the movie, and I tease her when the part with the immigration officer comes up as the credits roll. "Are you taking notes? You'll need to know which side of the bed Dominic sleeps on."
She laughs and tosses a piece of popcorn at me. "Why don't you tell me?"
"That doesn't count because we're being forced to share a bed. Neither of us picked a side."
Vivian chuckles some more. "Fair. I'll have to ask him that one. Although, I've been sleeping on my own for so many years, I pretty much take up most of it myself."
"Really?" I ask, trying not to imagine her sleeping. Oh wait, I'm not trying that hard. Instead, I'm actively picturing her in a little silk tank top and shorts on top of the covers.
"Yes. And I'm a terrible cover hog. Honestly, I'd be a nightmare to sleep with."
"That bad?"
She nods gravely. "Snoring, muttering in my sleep, rolling around, the whole deal."
Shutting the TV off, I say, "Is that why you're single? Too afraid to actually sleep with someone?" I gave her a little grin so she knows I'm just kidding, not prying.
"Oh yeah, totally. I'm more of a 'love 'em, then tell 'em I have to work early so you should go' kind of girl."
I burst out laughing. "You know, when I first met you, I thought that might be the case."
Vivian stands and stretches, her t-shirt lifting up a little at the waist as she does, showing the tiniest bit of flesh on her stomach. God, that's hot. I quickly turn my head so she doesn't catch me drooling. She picks up the bowl and her glass and walks into the kitchen. I get up and follow her to rinse out my beer bottle. After putting her dishes in the dishwasher, she glances at me. "It's pretty full."
I grab a packet of dishwashing detergent and pop it into the soap compartment, while Vivian holds the door open. It's the closest we've been since she moved in, and I can smell her perfume. It's something light and airy and wonderful, and it does something to me it shouldn't. We lock eyes for a second, and there's a shift in the room from friendly to a longing that I haven't felt with anyone for years. There's a seriousness to her, to the way she's staring up at me, that says she feels it too.
Nope. Bad idea.
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