Page 74 of Now That We Don't Talk

VIVIAN

Nothing can ruin my good mood today—not even the multiple texts from my sister, which I’ve deliberately ignored until now. It’s no surprise that Jaclyn is eager to reschedule her introduction to Mac, but I’m not about to rearrange my workday just to accommodate her ever-changing plans. She can wait. Besides, she has no idea how much things have shifted since the night she bailed on us.

In a way, I should probably thank her. If she and her minions had shown up that night, things might have played out very differently. Everything happens for a reason, right?

As soon as I shut my laptop for the day, I pick up my phone and tap on her name. The call barely has time to ring before she answers.

“Hi, Vivi,” Jaclyn answers, quite a bit of chaotic noise in the background. “What are you up to?”

I lean back in my chair, stretching out my legs. “Just finishing up at the office. I saw your messages, but it’s been a hectic day.”

I’m totally exaggerating, but it’s important to remind her that my job comes before her social calendar.

“I wanted to see when we could meet up with Mac,” she says, getting right to the point.

I bite my lip, trying to keep myself from smiling at the mention of Mac’s name. “Sure. I’ll check with him and work out a time that’s good for us.”

“Perfect,” she exclaims.

There’s a brief pause, and I realize it’s the perfect moment to drop my little bombshell. I hesitate for a second, but then the anticipation takes over.

“Hey, Jackie—there’s something I should tell you,” I say, my voice eager. “It’s…a bit surprising.”

“Ohh, what is it?” she exclaims. “You know I love some good gossip.”

I exhale slowly, gathering my thoughts. This moment feels strange but satisfying at the same time. My sister and I have never been the type to discuss every little detail of our lives, and I have no intention of changing that now. So, I decide to just say it without the backstory.

“Well, a lot has happened since we last spoke,” I begin. “And long story short, Mac and I have started seeing each other.”

The silence that follows is almost deafening.

“Wait—seriously?” she blurts out, her voice filled with disbelief. “I thought you said you two weren’t even friends.”

“I did,” I admit with a small laugh. “And we weren’t. Quite the opposite.” The words still feel strange coming out of my mouth.

“So, let me get this straight,” she says, drawing out the words. “You’re dating a hockey player. And not just any hockey player—a famous one.” She pauses for a few seconds before continuing, “He’s not your usual type.”

I can’t argue with her there.

“I know,” I admit. “When he returned, we agreed to be friendly for Katie’s and Kyle’s sakes. That was all it was supposed to be.” I hesitate as I replay the first few interactions we had and how reluctant I was to even have a conversation with him.

“And now…” I trail off, a smile forming on my face as I think about the time we’ve spent together over the last few weeks.

“Now you’re seeing each other,” Jaclyn says in disbelief. “Does this mean you’re going to have a long-distance situation? Is that really what you want? You do realize he’s on the road constantly, meeting tons of women…” She trails off letting the last part sink in.

I press my lips together, trying to decide if she’s genuinely concerned or just trying to rain on my parade. I know exactly what comes with Mac’s career—the constant travel, the long stretches on the road, the attention from fans. I’m not naive.

“I don’t know,” I retort. “I can’t predict the future. But I do know that we’re enjoying spending time together right now, and that’s enough.

Jaclyn exhales sharply. “So you haven’t really talked about what this means?”

“We’ve touched on it,” I admit. “But we’re taking things as they come.”

“Vivi, you’re my sister,” she says patronizingly. “I’m only asking because I don’t want you to get hurt.”

I want to believe her. But I haven’t forgotten that when she first brought up Mac, she mentioned he was single. There might be more going on than just concern for me.

“I appreciate it,” I say sincerely.

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