Victoria wanted to spend every moment with Matthew. She didn't even bother to hide her happiness. Lily noticed.
"Lily, he's amazing." She wanted to shout it from the rooftop, but not the hospital roof, so she whispered.
"How good? You're blushing. Was it hot?"
"Lil, you're not getting details, but I finally understand why it's called making love. It's so much more than just sex."
Lily frowned. "I don't want to talk about sex. Every time I turn a corner, I see Danny with someone sexier than me. I can't compete."
Victoria wanted to say she told her so. "You can do so much better. Sex is only part of a good relationship. Look at the couples, you know. My Dad and Becka can talk for hours and laugh. Intimacy with my best friend is better than anything I've known. Garrett should have been my best friend, but never was. He was too self-centered and selfish. You know Danny is barely your friend."
Lily didn't respond, but the furrow in her brow meant she was thinking. Victoria turned her attention to the screen. She had been printing the discharge summary for a patient who had spent a few hours on the monitor, but wasn't in labor. She stood to go into her patient's room.
Lily said, "You're suddenly an expert after a few days."
"Except for work, we've been inseparable for over a week. His family's coming next week, and his mother's having a party. Come with me." She had rounded the desk. "I need to get back." As she stuck her thumb in the direction of her patient's room."
She didn't want to make a big deal over the invitation. Lily couldn't suspect a thing. Hours later, they walked to the parking lot together.
"If I go with you, can I meet Wendy Clark?"
Victoria nodded. "I bought a dress."
She had gone to the mall with Becka while Matthew met Brady at the gym. The spaghetti strap satin sheath made her feel sexy. It resembled a slip and had a unique, subdued floral print with an ivory background. Luckily, she had a tan from her walks and scattered trips to the beach, because it showed a lot of her shoulders and legs.
She added, "I'm excited to be Matthew's date."
Truthfully, she was nervous. OTL and socializing with Matthew's family on the same night felt intimidating. She hadn't thought her plan through. What if they didn't like her? What if Brady failed to sweep Lily off her feet?
It was too much to think about. She wanted to see her dog and climb into bed with Matthew. He kept Bear while she worked. The proximity to the beach made his apartment perfect. She kept waiting for her dad to comment about her absence, but he had been quiet. Becka encouraged her to have a relationship with Matthew. Leaving the hospital, she had two days off before her weekend on duty.
Victoria showered and climbed into bed beside Matthew. It didn't bother her he was still asleep, because Matthew wasn't a slacker. He worked more than her.
"How was your night?" His voice was slow from sleep.
She answered with a kiss and snuggled into him, as sleep pulled her under.
After a nap and a beach walk. Victoria left Matthew to go home. She had neglected her apartment, and he planned to volunteer at the center.
"Come over for dinner. We can watch your TV."
He smiled. "I'll bring my toothbrush."
She smiled before she kissed him goodbye. She tied bear up on the landing, because he needed a bath.
Once her dog was clean with her laundry started, she set out to buy groceries. Afterward she planned to visit with Becka.
The supermarket was always crowded in the summer. With a scan of the parking lot, she saw cars from out of state and Canada. Many had their campground parking permit hanging from the rearview mirror.
Victoria navigated the aisles and through the crowds. She went to self checkout but had to get help because she had a bottle of wine.
A girl with dull brown hair wearing a smock came over. Victoria recognized her, because she had met her with Garrett but couldn't remember her name. They had been at a bar with some people from the landscape company where Garrett used to work. The girl had been rude to Victoria and made disparaging remarks. She called Victoria a snob, because she had a college degree. It was a reverse snobbery, and Garrett had thought she was crazy when she complained.
So the glare she received mirrored how she felt. The girl took in Victoria's shorts and tee. She loved her London Underground tee shirt. Victoria waited for the slightly overweight, short girl and her tight pants.
"You." Her voice was laced with anger.
"Excuse me. Can you help me or get someone else?"
She pushed into Victoria's space and tapped numbers on the touchscreen. She hissed, "You'll be sorry."
"Excuse me."
"For dumping Garrett. He won't go back to you when you change your mind."
"Good. Maybe he'll stop coming by to convince me to take him back."
She huffed. "He doesn't want you. He moved in with me. He's mine."
"You can have him, because I don't want him." Victoria's hands shook as she slipped her credit card into the chip reader. A practical stranger confronted her when she was minding her own business.
"You're lying because he chose me the night you broke his heart. Once he found a place to park his equipment, he moved in with me."
"Do me a favor and tell him to leave me alone!" The grocery clerk stood firm blocking her way. "Excuse me, and don't speak to me again or I'll tell the manager.
"He's right, you are a bitch."
"And you deserve what you get up your ass." Victoria whispered the last words but was certain the chick heard her. She held her bags and walked away.
If she wasn't so angry, she might feel sorry for the girl. She thought she hit the jackpot, but Victoria knew the truth. Garrett must have told her a sob story. Although he hadn't stopped by since before Matthew went away, he annoyed her one day when she walked at The Point alone, but he didn't harass her when she was with Matthew.
Becka followed her up the stairs when she came in with her groceries. Bear greeted both of them.
"What's wrong? Did you and Matthew have a fight?"
"Ha! No, I met Garrett's new bitch at the store. I solved the mystery of where he's living."
"Seriously?"
Victoria put away her groceries as Becka leaned against the stove. "Yup. They deserve each other, but if she harasses me again, she'll be sorry."
"Don't do anything stupid."
She shook her head. "She works there, I'll tell the manager."
"On a happier note, I assume things are going well with Matthew?"
Victoria smiled. She felt warm waves anytime she thought of him. "He's coming over later."
"I like him. He's nothing like Garrett."
"Garrett's new chick would hate him. I met her once a long time ago, and she hated me, because I was educated. Matthew is educated and refined."
"And that's why she's working at a grocery store. Don't waste time thinking about her."
Later, Victoria heard a knock at her door and ran to let Matthew in. Her smile drooped when she saw Garrett. "Go home to your girlfriend."
"What did you say to her?"
"That I didn't want you and to tell you to leave me alone."
"It's not enough for you to throw me out, but now you're jealous because I have someone else."
"Seriously, I'm not. I hope the two of you are very happy. You're perfect for each other. Tell her if she bullies me in the store again, I will tell the manager. I want to mind my own business and don't give a shit what you do and who you do it with."
"You are a bitch."
"Yup, and lucky you. I saved you from being stuck with a bitch. Goodbye, Garrett."
He stared at her as if he wanted to say something, but turned around and walked down the stairs and out the door. Her heart raced as she walked to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine. She spilled a little as the bottle shook. It seemed like a lifetime ago when she fell asleep in Matthew's arms. Two tense meetings had tied her in knots.
Victoria jumped when she heard a light, rhythmic knocking at her door. Bear raced to the door. She sighed when she saw Matthew smiling at her.
"I thought you'd be happier to see me, love." She walked into him and let him envelop her in his arms. A sob escaped. "What's happened?"
"I had a horrible day." He loosened his grip to look at her face. "I need more wine first."
She took a long sip, trying to decide how to tell the story. "I have good news." He raised his eyebrow, waiting for her to go on. "Garrett is living with a girl. I prefer bitch, but I met her a long time ago. She laid her claim on him in the middle of the self checkout. I told her she could have him. I might have asked her to tell him to stop trying to get me to change my mind." Matthew's serious face had a small smirk. "Except that was a mistake, because I had a visitor a few minutes ago."
"Did he hurt you?" Matthew lunged at her to hold her.
"No, he called me a bitch. It was..." She took another drink of her wine. "Unnerving."
"Do you think he's gone for good?"
"I hope so. She's a piece of work."
"Sounds like a right bint."
"I'll take your word for it."
He smiled. "Right, you were a tourist and have the souvenir tee to prove it."
"I like my shirt." She pouted until he kissed her and she forgot.
By the time they finished eating, Victoria had two liberal pours of wine and felt much calmer.
"Let me do the washing up." Matthew stood and picked up both plates.
"I can do it."
"I want to. You can pick a movie."
She chuckled. "I know why you wanted the rom com last time, because of Amanda."
"True. We could skip the movie and find something else to do."
Her belly flipped with excitement. "Movie first. We'll have time for that too."
"A film and a cuddle then." He beamed.
Matthew sat on the sofa, so Victoria laid down with her head on his lap. His hand immediately went to her hair as he ran his fingers through the strands. It relaxed her. The memory of her day fell away. It was almost impossible to think of anything except Matthew when he was near.
Neither could decide on a movie, so Victoria said, "Hey Siri, play playlist easy."
A sexy English voice said, "Playing playlist easy." Bon Jovi's 'I'll Be There For You' filled the room. Bear sighed at Matthew's feet as Matthew laughed.
"Your phone has an English accent."
"I've had a thing for the accent ever since my trip."
Matthew's hand left her hair as he leaned over and kissed the smile off her face. They sat silently and Matthew picked up his phone. He stared at it and shifted his gaze to Victoria. She was about to ask what held his attention as his hand reached out and traced along her belly and breasts. His touch excited her, and she shut her eyes.
His soft voice caused her to open them. "Where did you get this top?"
"In a gift shop."
"How much did you pay for it?"
"Maybe £20. Will I embarrass you if I wear it when your family is here?"
He shook his head and laughed. "You might embarrass yourself, because I can't sort out how this is a tube map. I think you paid 20 quid too much."
Victoria sat up. "Are you kidding me?"
"Sorry." He didn't hide his smile as he reached over and lifted her shirt.
"What are you doing?"
"Taking it off. It's a fake."
She laughed. "You're taking it off because it's a fake?" She tried to be serious but cracked a smile halfway through.
"No, because I like what's underneath."
She laughed. "Have I told you I think Ethan is better in bed than you?"
He gave a full-bodied laugh. "I'll prove your wrong!"
A/N I was going to have Matthew trace her shirt and say, "I'm going from Kings Cross to Paddington. Now I'm going to Covent Gardens." When I went to confirm where he would be running his finger, I realized the map was wrong. Thanks to Thoroughali for confirming it.
Dress preview: