Chapter 308: boyfriend I

Chapter 308: Chapter 308: boyfriend I

By the time Vivienne returned to her room, it was already late.

Claire was still awake.

The moment she looked up, she smiled.

"I saw you outside."

Vivienne stopped.

"You did?"

"Mm-hm. On the bench."

Vivienne’s cheeks warmed.

"Oh."

Claire gave her a knowing look.

"So...?"

Vivienne smiled.

"We’re together now."

Claire’s face lit up.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Oh my God."

Vivienne laughed.

"Oh my God, indeed."

"That was quick."

"Well... we have been texting for a while... so..."

Claire shook her head.

"Still. I’m happy for you."

"Thank you."

Vivienne picked up her things.

"Anyway, I’m going to wash up and get some beauty sleep. I have somewhere to be tomorrow morning."

Claire looked over at her.

"Where?"

"I’m watching his match."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Ten in the morning."

Vivienne’s smile grew.

"I’m going to cheer for my boyfriend."

Claire laughed.

"Okay. You go, girl."

Vivienne laughed softly.

"I will."

She headed toward the bathroom.

A few minutes later, she returned, climbed into bed, and pulled the covers over herself.

She was tired.

But she couldn’t stop smiling.

Christopher was her boyfriend.

And tomorrow, she was going to see him.

The thought stayed with her as she drifted off to sleep.

--

The next morning, Vivienne woke before her alarm.

She didn’t linger in bed.

Obviously, reality was better than dreaming.

She grabbed her phone and looked at the time.

7:45 a.m.

Well.

Might as well start getting ready early.

She couldn’t help but grin.

She turned off the alarm she had set for eight.

Then she opened her contacts and searched for Christopher’s name.

Hmm.

Should she change his contact name now?

She renamed him Boyfie ??.

Gods.

That was so high school.

Never mind.

She immediately changed it back to his name.

Well... with a little heart.

Better.

She opened their messages.

She typed:

Good morning, boyfie...

Ugh.

She deleted boyfie.

What was she supposed to call him?

They hadn’t even decided on that yet.

Anyway.

She continued.

Good morning. Have your breakfast early before the match.

She paused.

Wait.

She could totally bring him breakfast.

But...

She wasn’t ready yet.

Maybe next time?

Tomorrow, before his polo match?

That sounded nice.

She smiled to herself before looking back at her phone.

Right.

The message.

She continued typing.

Good morning. Hope you’ve already had breakfast. I mean, that’s probably better before your match, right? Hehe... uhm, perhaps next time I’ll bring you one. Uhm, I just woke up and... well... I’ll see you later!

She stared at it.

Then added:

And ah... I love you!

She froze.

Her eyes widened.

Is that too much?

Was the I love you too much?

She quickly deleted the I.

Okay.

Less formal.

Love you.

She stared at the message.

They were boyfriend and girlfriend now.

So...

It was okay, right?

Besides, she really did feel like she was falling in love with him.

Vivienne bit her lip.

Then, before she could change her mind again, she pressed send.

The message disappeared from the screen.

She stared at it.

Oh God.

She actually sent it.

--

Vivienne was still staring at the screen when another notification appeared.

Her eyes moved to the top of the screen.

Damian.

Her smile disappeared.

Oh.

Her stomach dropped.

She opened the message.

Good morning, sunshine. Hope you had a great rest last night.

Vivienne stared at it.

Oh my God.

Damian.

She had to talk to him.

She knew that.

Yesterday, she had told him she’d think about what he wanted.

And now...

She had a boyfriend.

Christopher.

Vivienne slowly lowered her phone.

How was she supposed to tell Damian?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.

She should reply.

But what was she supposed to say?

Good morning?

No.

We need to talk?

Absolutely not.

"Oh my God."

She was still trying to figure out what to do when another message appeared.

I’m free for the rest of the day, by the way.

Vivienne went completely still.

Oh no.

She stared at the message.

He was free.

All day.

Which meant he was probably expecting to see her.

Her heart began beating faster.

She glanced at the time.

8:02 a.m.

She had Christopher’s match at ten.

Then lunch.

And after that...

She didn’t even know what Christopher was planning.

How was she supposed to fit Damian into the day?

More importantly—

How was she supposed to tell him?

She couldn’t do it over text.

She needed to talk to him face-to-face.

But when?

Vivienne groaned softly and dropped her head against the pillow.

Then her phone started ringing.

She nearly dropped it.

She stared at the screen.

Damian calling...

Oh my God.

Why was he calling?

What was she supposed to do?

She could let it ring.

She could call him back later.

But...

That felt cruel.

After everything yesterday, Damian deserved at least an answer.

Vivienne swallowed.

"Okay."

She took a breath.

Then answered.

"Uh... good morning."

There was a brief pause.

Then Damian’s warm voice came through.

"Hey, sunshine."

Vivienne closed her eyes.

Oh God.

There he went.

"So," Damian continued, sounding completely relaxed, "what are your plans for today?"

Vivienne sat up a little straighter.

"My plans?"

"Yeah. Do you want some breakfast? I can bring you something."

Her heart sank.

"Oh..."

She needed to tell him.

She knew she did.

But not like this.

Not over the phone.

Not at eight in the morning when she was still trying to figure out how to say it.

"No, it’s okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I’m kind of busy today."

"With what?"

Vivienne froze.

Her mind raced.

"I..."

She couldn’t tell him.

Not yet.

"I just... don’t feel very well."

There.

A lie.

A terrible one.

Damian’s voice immediately softened.

"You don’t?"

Vivienne winced.

"I’m just really sleepy."

She pulled the blanket a little closer around herself.

"I think I’m still tired from yesterday."

There was a pause.

"You should’ve told me."

"I know."

"I could bring some medicine, and something for you to have."

"No, no. It’s okay."

She forced a small laugh.

"I’m just not really up to going out right now."

"All right."

His voice was gentle.

"Get some rest, then."

Vivienne’s chest tightened.

"Yeah."

She glanced at the clock.

Maybe after lunch.

Maybe she could talk to him after lunch.

She just needed a little more time to figure out what she was going to say.

Damian spoke again.

"I’ll let you sleep."

"Okay."

"Is anyone there with you?"

"Yes, Claire is here."

"Oh... then... you rest. I’ll check on you later."

"Okay... bye."

"Goodbye."

The call ended.

She lowered the phone slowly.

For several seconds, she simply stared at it.

Then she covered her face with both hands.

"Oh my God."

She had just lied to Damian.

And now she had to figure out how to tell him the truth.

--

Tbc