Eternal Love (Bend to My Will #11) by Emily Jane Trent Page B

was attentive but didn’t pry, and for that she was grateful.
    At her building, Ian took her luggage up to her door. The doorman in the lobby was a new guy. Vivienne was relieved, because she didn’t want to see anyone she knew. She wasn’t ready yet, and she didn’t want her friend Jason to witness her current condition.
    “Thank you, Ian.”
    The driver nodded. “Call if you need a ride, Vivie.”
    Vivienne nodded, but couldn’t manage a smile. She didn’t know if she’d ever smile again. The door opened wide, and she rolled her luggage into the foyer. It was a cloudy day, and even with the blinds up, the space was gloomy.
    The apartment was an empty void, a cavern that might swallow her up. Vivienne wished it would, as she couldn’t envision any joy in her life. Then she heard a noise from the other room, and Lana stepped out, dressed for work. She wore black slacks with a white blouse, the restaurant uniform.
    “Vivie, I thought I heard you come in. How was San Francisco?” Lana frowned. “Aren’t you home early?”
    Leaving her suitcase by the door, Vivienne went to the kitchen and sagged onto a stool at the counter.
    Lana walked to the other side of the counter and looked at her. “What happened?”
    “It’s over with Jacob…I left.”
    Her friend just stared, but Vivienne was too emotionally wrung out to tell her the details of her last conversation with Jacob. It seemed unreal, and she didn’t expect Lana to understand.
    “Did you have a fight?”
    Vivienne gazed at the pattern in the granite countertop, something that hadn’t captured her attention before. It was foreign, just how her life felt, and right then she doubted that she’d survive without Jacob. She knew that she should be crying, pouring her heart out to Lana. But instead she felt only numb.
    Another tidal wave of grief loomed, ready to drown her, and Vivienne put her hand over her eyes.
    “Oh my God, Vivie. Why did you leave him? What did he do?”
    Vivienne was too distraught to coherently explain why she and Jacob couldn’t be together. Instead, she spoke in a disjointed fashion, emotion welling inside her. “He just…I can’t.” She looked at her friend. “Why, Lana? It doesn’t seem right. Jacob deserves love. I know he does.”
    Lana was quick to react. She went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of wine. “You need a drink, Vivie. This is bad…really bad.”
    When Lana shoved a glass of wine in front of her, Vivienne lifted it to her lips. The cool liquid rolled over her tongue and down her throat. She was vaguely aware that it was still early in the day, but had no idea what time it was. Nor did she care.
    Lana called the restaurant. “I won’t be in today, Dad. It’s an emergency…with Vivie. I’ll explain later. I’m sorry.”
    When she came back, Vivienne looked up. “I’m not leaving you in this condition,” Lana said. “Not until you tell me everything.”
    Lana took Vivienne by the arm and led her to the sofa, with the bottle of wine in her other hand. “And I’ll open another bottle if this doesn’t do it. Now, start talking.”
    Vivienne gulped her wine, unable to stifle her grief. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but she began to talk. It started with the good stuff and how she had thought Jacob was changing. But she told Lana every detail, including all the events that Jacob had relayed to her, omitting nothing.
    It was a lot later by the time Vivienne was done sharing her tragedy. Lana refilled their wine glasses. “That really sucks, Vivie. It does.” She dug her hand in her hair. “Damn it. What’s wrong with Jacob? Doesn’t he know what he has with you? How can he be such an ass?”
    Lana’s astute comment hit home. With her eyes still blurred with tears, Vivienne laughed. Then Lana laughed. Soon Vivienne was hysterical, not sure if she was laughing or crying, but she felt better. At least a little bit.
    Vivienne put her glass on the table and dropped to the carpet. Lying on her