Time to be Brave

The following chapter is written in 3rd person POV following Viv and Becca...

At Pho Hoa, after Stella recounted her night to Jay, Celeste, and Hal…

“What’s your status?” Viv asks, after she slides beside Becca.

“Preparations are going smoothly.” Becca answers succinctly. “Back of the house?” Becca returns the question.

“I could be locked inside the walk-in freezer for service tonight and everything will still run smoothly.” Viv replies, as Becca calmly gives out more instructions at the hired hands to add flourishes to the restaurant for its grand opening.

“Please tell me you’re not considering attempting that tonight.” Becca sarcastically jokes, getting a playful shrug from Viv.

…

When Viv remains silently beside Becca, Becca asks Viv in a whisper so that only Viv can hear her, “Having second thoughts?”

“Thirds, fourths, fifths…” Viv replies in equal volume, causing Becca to turn towards her so they can look each other in the eyes.

“Facing our fears is always daunting. Though, from my experience, our anxiety over facing them once we do seem trivial in retrospect.” Becca shares her wisdom with Viv.

“That’s cuz’ you’re a robot that was programmed with impeccable problem solving skills.” Viv replies.

“I’ll take it as a compliment. Despite the vexing comparison it was layered in with.” Becca tells her, a tiny smirk on the corner of her lips.

With silence between the two of them once more, Becca goes back to observing Paige supervising the events staff like she was doing prior to Viv’s request for a status report. Viv still doesn’t walk away to continue what she was doing previously, so Becca glances towards Viv to see her with a still worried look on her face.

“Allow me to remind you what you told me when you first asked for my consent to invite him… It's time for you to be brave, Vivian.” Becca reminds her, and those words seem to trigger something in Viv.

“Fuck me being brave!” Viv shouts back at Becca, causing the staff who are preparing for tonight to stop in their tracks. Becca assures them it’s nothing, and reminds them to get back to work before leering at Viv to keep her emotions in check.

“Look, I was riding on a high when I asked you if I could invite him.” Viv admits, before taking a pause.

…

“Well, the high’s gone. I’m back to reality. I don’t want that drama anymore. I just want to get through tonight and fuck my boyfriend and my co-girlfriends in a celebratory orgy and then do that three or four more times before sleeping. Is that too much to ask?” Viv says, forgetting to control her volume.

“Chef Nguyen?” Lizzie suddenly interrupts Becca and Viv’s conversation.

“Yes, Lizzie?” Viv asks her, unable to control from smiling after inadvertently summoning Lizzie.

“Tricia wanted me to give you this. You left your phone in the kitchen and she says it’s been ringing.” Lizzie tells her, before handing Viv’s cellphone to her. Viv thanks her before checking her phone’s notifications.

“Fuuuuuck…” Viv can’t help but utter upon seeing the messages.

“Anything that concerns the restaurant?” Becca asks her.

“No.” Viv answers Becca. “Worse.” Viv adds ominously, but Becca understands the situation immediately.

“Is it Hal?” Becca then asks.

“Yes—No. I mean… it’s about him, but Celeste’s the one who messaged.” Viv answers, eliciting a raised eyebrow from Becca. “Hal and Celeste are at Jay’s apartment right now.” Viv tells Becca.

“Ah, I see. You didn’t tell Jay you invited them.” Becca correctly deduces.

“I thought you would!” Viv shifts the blame, forcing Becca to look at her with incredulity. “Alright! I forgot!” Viv immediately caves and shifts the blame, but Viv continues to give her the same look. “Okay! Maybe I didn’t know how to tell him I invited my… former master… tonight.” Viv immediately caves again.

“So what if you did?” Becca bluntly asks.

“I dunno… ~awkward.” Viv answers, unable to admit why she’s feeling anxious about the thought of Jay meeting Hal.

“Why will it be awkward?” Becca asks in a prodding manner to allow Viv to voice her concerns.

“Because!” is all Viv can say.

“Do you still have feelings for Hal?” Becca asks.

“NO!” Viv emphatically answers, forgetting her professional demeanor once more and causing her staff to look at her in worry. Becca once again assures them everything’s fine and that they should continue with their work.

“Maybe we should have this conversation in our office.” Becca suggests, but Viv shakes her head and assures Becca that she’s collected herself. “May I ask—and I hope you take the time to fully reflect on it before answering—but did you answer that as emphatically as you did to convince me… or yourself?” Becca asks.

“Are you seriously asking me that?” Viv responds to Becca without a second thought, her expression making it clear she took offense that Becca even had to ask the question.

“I just wanted to be certain.” Becca replies in an apologetic tone.

“If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s Jay.” Viv says with conviction. “It’s not just Jay, either. I have zero doubts about everything that comes with him. Having to share him? No problem—” Viv starts to say, before Becca interrupts her.

“Need I remind you we had a very public shouting match that stems from—” Becca tries to remind her, but Viv cuts her off.

“I meant ‘anymore’. I don’t have doubts… anymore.” Viv clarifies. “Of course I had fucking doubts in the beginning. Especially about opening myself up emotionally again. I was fucking terrified when I thought I was going to fuck up my new situation before it even really got going.” Viv admits.

“So I put up my walls. I made him think I was easy. Bubbly. Flirty. I wanted to see if all he wanted was just another item on the menu, and all it did was turn him off… and it fucking made me fall for him even more. He genuinely wanted to know… me. The real me. The person behind the facade I was showing.” Viv continues, while Becca gives her full attention.

“And when he finally did get to know me, and found out all of my baggage, you want to know what that daughterfucker did?” Viv asks.

“Tell me.” Becca responds.

“He offered to help me carry it.” Viv answers, making both women smile.

…

“Sorry, I’m rambling.” Viv suddenly apologizes.

“You’re in love, Vivian.” Becca says. “We both are.” She adds.

“I know exactly what you’re feeling because I feel it too.” Becca continues.

“Everything you said wasn’t a ramble. You were speaking your truth. You told me, and more importantly, reminded yourself of all the reasons why you invited Hal tonight.” Becca says, while placing a hand on Viv’s shoulder.

“Because I wanted to gloat?” Viv asks jokingly.

“Because you wanted to celebrate your future by truly moving on from your past.” Becca clarifies.

“So again, I must return to my earlier question. Why are you doubting your decision to invite him?” Becca then calmly asks Viv, whose expression returns to one of frustration.

“Because of, exactly, that! I was high on… ‘love’... or something.” Viv grumbles. “I made a stupid spur of the moment decision.” Viv adds.

“I don’t believe it was a spontaneous decision, Vivian.” Becca says in reaction. “Like I’ve already said, what better way to truly move on from your past than by celebrating your future?” Becca asks her.

“You keep saying that, but what does that even mean? ‘Celebrating my future’?” Viv asks.

“Tonight’s grand opening is the culmination of everything you worked for in this city, is it not? It’s a celebration of everything you’ve set out to do after you’ve moved here. After you’ve moved on.” Becca answers.

“It’s just a ceremonial opening. It’s not some ‘celebration of my future’.” Viv remarks.

“Oh?” Becca reacts. “If that is indeed your truth, then I placed more meaning into tonight than you did.” Becca adds, taking Viv by surprise.

“What the fuck does that mean?” Viv asks, her frustration masking her genuine curiosity.

“When you called me to partner with you on this endeavor, I was already aware of your previous situation. I know why you moved away from home, why you left your family and friends to start a new life on the opposite side of the country… and why you avoided the Red Rum since you came here.” Becca tells her. “Well, up until you found someone to ‘help you carry your baggage’, as you said.” Becca adds with a smirk, and Viv’s frustration dissipates as she can’t help but smirk too.

“If not for a fresh start—if not for a future worth doing all that for, why did you **** yourself to go through all of that?” Becca asks rhetorically, knowing she’s already made her point.

“Because I make spur of the moment decisions without thinking of their consequences?” Viv jokingly guesses, making Becca give her a stern look.

“You know exactly why you wanted a fresh start, and I believe you also know why you invited Hal tonight. You already told me why. I believed you then, and I believe you now.” Becca tries to assure Viv.

“It’s time to be brave.” Viv says under her breath.

“Yes.” Becca says supportively.

“What if I can’t?” Viv asks, the anxiety in her voice not going unnoticed by Becca. Becca grabs Viv’s hand and squeezes it.

“Then it’s a good thing you have us.” Becca assures her.

“We’ll help you with your baggage.”