Page 6 of Austen Persuaded

What the …

My brows furrowed. “To say what? What happened? You can tell me anything.”

“I know, it’s just … I’m not sure it’s my place,” Viviana said. She appeared to be on the verge of tears. “And you’re already feeling so crappy. I would hate to make you—”

My eyes snapped up to hers. “What the—this is about me?” Just as I was about to demand answers, I suffered another coughing fit. Finally, I sat up straight and looked at my friend as clear-eyed as I could. “What’s going on, Viv?”

“It’s just … He was, Brandon was, well, kind of—”

“Kind of what?”

“Flirty.” Viviana lowered her eyes.

My first thought was horror, followed quickly by humor. She couldn’t possibly be serious. With energy I didn’t know I still had, I burst into laughter until I had to blow my nose. But when Viviana still faced me with a grimace, my smile faded.

She can’t be serious. Is she?

Dammit, Viv. I don’t need this right now.

I rolled my eyes with deliberate calm. “You’re serious? Come on, this is Brandon; he’s naturally very friendly to women, to everyone. Haven’t you noticed that about him before? It’s part of his charm.”

Viviana chewed her lip, still looking at her lap. “I suppose. But—”

“He comes across as flirty, but I don’t think he means it that way. In fact, I know he doesn’t. It doesn’t mean anything. Trust me, I know the difference. I’vefeltthe difference,” I said, adding a forced laugh.

My timing was awkward again as I had to stop to blow my nose, with Viviana sitting rigidly and watching me, obviously waiting to say more. “Annie, I … I know the difference too. It was—it was more than that. He was actually coming on to me.”

I gasped.

She looks like she believes what she’s saying.

“You have got to be kidding. Please tell me you’re kidding. You don’t seriously thinkhewould be interested in …”

OK, maybe that was mean. Why did I go there?

Viviana crossed her arms, beginning to look defensive. “In me? Well, I wouldn’t have thought so, but I know what I saw. I didn’t imagine this. Gregory saw it too.”

A thick silence settled between us before I finally spoke. “Ah, that’s it. This is about Gregory, and things are not going the way you’d like.” Resentment bubbled up within me. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, butyou… you are jealous.”

Viviana recoiled as if struck. “I can’t believe I’mhearingthis. You think I would dream this up just because I’m hurt about what’s going on with Gregory? Which I’m not, by the way. Things are going great. My love life is fine!”

I tried to focus on what she was saying, but it was getting harder. Exhaustion was setting in. When had I last taken medicine? I couldn’t remember. I stood up, feeling a little dizzy as I headed to the kitchen. “We’re done here. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I don’t have the energy for it right now.”

“I can’t even … You don’t believe me? Why would I lie? Why would—” She stopped as I turned back toward her. She seemed to be taking deliberately slow breaths, her face reddening in anger. “You know what, it doesn’t matter. Forget I said anything. I was trying to be a good friend. I’malwaystrying to be a good friend to you.” Bythat point, I had already turned back toward the kitchen, but I still heard Viviana’s last comment: “And it’s a thankless job.”

In a flash of fury, I turned and pointed to the door. “Justgo,” I said as forcefully as I could, even though my throat was sore and phlegmy. “I think I need a break from this ‘good friend’ that you think you are.” I shot her one last piercing glare before turning to escape to my bedroom.

Before I could decide whether to turn around to ensure Viviana had actually left, I heard the slamming of the front door as it shook the walls.

What the hell was that? What the actual …

I’d never seen Viviana like that. Ever.

Surely Viviana had never seenmelike that either.

We’d never really had a fight.

Not really. Not openly, anyway.

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