Chapter 119: Is she lesbian?.

Nerissa’s POV.

I send Hakeem the coordinates to Victoria’s ice cream shop and settle back in my seat, feeling ridiculously pleased with myself when he pulls into the parking lot.

Finally.

Ice cream, good company, and absolutely no Sanchez men.

If today goes according to plan, I might actually survive the next few hours without committing a crime.

My stomach cramps in protest, reminding me that my period is still very much here. I press a hand against my lower abdomen and sigh.

Being a woman is a huge scam. A beautiful, occasionally rewarding scam, but a scam nonetheless.

Hakeem parks near the entrance, and I reach for the door. The moment I step out, a delicious smell of freshly baked waffle cones drifts toward me.

My mood improves instantly.

I turn back toward the car, where Hakeem is already preparing to get out.

"Hey, Hakeem."

He straightens. "Yes, ma’am?"

I gesture toward the shop.

"You want some?"

His entire face lights up.

"Yes, ma’am!"

I blink a little surprised. Then I laugh.

I guess I’m not the only ice cream lover.

"Well, come on in."

He practically skips around the car and follows me toward the entrance.

I watch him for a second, shaking my head.

Okay.

I kind of like him already. He’s polite, enthusiastic, and apparently appreciates free ice cream. Those are three excellent qualities in a person.

I push open the glass door and step inside.

The familiar scent of vanilla, chocolate, and freshly baked cones welcomes me, and the cheerful atmosphere immediately lifts some of the heaviness sitting on my chest.

Victoria’s shop is one of my favorite places to visit. The glass display counter is filled with enough ice cream flavors to make any sensible person question their commitment to a healthy diet.

I don’t have that problem.....Especially not today.

My eyes immediately search the room for my friend.

There she is.

Victoria is already seated at one of the tables near the window, scrolling through her phone. The moment she notices me, her face brightens and she waves enthusiastically.

I wave back and practically skip toward her, a huge smile spreading across my face.

"Hi, Vicky!"

"Hey, baby girl!"

She rises from her seat, and we meet halfway for a hug.

I squeeze her tightly before pulling back.

"How are you doing?" she asks, looking me over.

"I’m alive."

She raises an eyebrow.

"That’s your answer?"

"Would you prefer a detailed report?"

"Actually, yes."

I laugh and slide into the chair opposite her.

"Oh, I’m doing okay. You?"

"I’m good."

She studies me for a moment, her expression becoming more serious.

"Are you sure?"

I frown.

"Why wouldn’t I be?"

"Because Bella told me what happened at the gala."

My smile falters slightly.

Oh. That.

I shift in my seat.

"Yeah. That happened."

Victoria’s eyes soften.

"Rissa."

"I’m fine, Victoria."

"Someone pointed a gun at your head."

"And missed."

Her expression turns incredulous.

I sigh.

"Okay, that wasn’t funny."

"No, it wasn’t."

For a moment, neither of us speaks.

I look down at my hands, rubbing my thumb against the side of my index finger.

The memory is still there if I let myself think about it too much but I don’t want to think about it.

Not today.

Today, I want to eat ice cream until my stomach hurts for a completely different reason.

"I’m trying to move past it," I tell her. "It’s a thing of the past now."

Victoria gives me a look that suggests she doesn’t believe me for a second but thankfully, she doesn’t push.

"Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re still here."

Something warm settles in my chest and I grin at her.

"Aw, Victoria. Are you getting emotional on me?"

"Don’t ruin the moment."

"Too late."

She rolls her eyes, then reaches across the table and squeezes my fingers. Her hand is warm, and the gesture is so familiar that I don’t think anything of it at first.

Then she smiles at me.

"You know, it’s a shame you married Lysander."

I blink.

"What?"

"You and I would make a great couple."

My brain stops working completely and I stare at her, waiting for the punchline.

It doesn’t come.

Instead, Victoria leans across the table and presses a light kiss to my forehead.

My eyes widen as my thoughts scatter in approximately seventeen different directions.

Wait. What just happened?

Is she...

I look at her.

She looks back at me, perfectly calm.

Is Victoria a lesbian?

The thought arrives so abruptly that I almost choke on my own saliva.

Did she just hit on me?

I thought we were friends! Have I been missing something all this time? Has she been flirting with me and I’ve been too stupid to notice?

I mentally replay every interaction we’ve ever had, searching desperately for clues.

The compliments, the hugs, the way she sometimes calls me baby girl.

Oh, God.

Does she call everyone baby girl? Have I been interpreting things incorrectly for months?

And, more importantly, was Lysander actually right when he accused me of going on dates with Victoria?

My stomach drops. I refuse to give that man the satisfaction of being right about anything today.

I open my mouth, close it, open it again but nothing comes out.

Victoria tilts her head.

"What’s wrong?"

What’s wrong?

My "friend" has just kissed my forehead and announced that we would make a great couple, and she wants to know what’s wrong?

I panic.

And because my brain has apparently abandoned me at the worst possible moment, I blurt out the first thing I can think of.

"You know my husband won’t like this, right?"

For one awful second, I want the floor to open beneath me and swallow me whole.

Why did I say that? Why couldn’t I have said something normal? Something intelligent?

Victoria simply gives me a small smile.

"Yeah, I know."

I stare at her as she shrugs.

"Sometimes, like now, I just want to spite him."

I blink.

Then I slowly release the breath I’ve been holding.

Oh.

Oh.

So this is about Lysander.

I press my fingers against my forehead....i need a vacation.

A long one.

Victoria, apparently unaware that she has just put my brain through an emotional obstacle course, stands up.

"What flavors would you like today?"

I clear my throat and try to act normal.

"How about you surprise me?"

She smiles.

"Okay."

"But make it a big bowl."

"Of course."

I point toward Hakeem, who has settled at a table a little farther away. He’s sitting very straight, looking around the shop as though he’s guarding a royal palace rather than accompanying his employer for ice cream.

"Oh, and please have someone attend to my new bodyguard too."

Victoria follows my gaze.

Then she looks back at me, a knowing smile spreads across her face.

"I’ll do that."

Then she turns and walks toward the counter.

I watch her go, still trying to process the last five minutes.

What the hell just happened?