Won’t be left alone

Vi gazes up at Erik blissfully as she rests her head on his outstretched thighs, the soft winter sun casts a cool shadow through the tree behind them. She opens her mouth as Erik dangles a strawberry above her lips, gently taking it in as he lowers it, she takes a soft bite and chews softly as she closes her eyes.

“Hmmmm, I love berries so much.” She purrs, her hands resting idly on her stomach.

“Except raspberries.” Erik teases, leaning back on his arms and letting the sun shine onto his face.

“They have a weird texture. Just lil bits and bobs, for what reason?” She sighs dramatically, throwing her hands into the air and letting them fall onto the picnic blanket.

“Kiwi’s have a weird texture, you eat the skin. That’s weird.”

“They’re fibrous! The skin is good for you! You hardly notice it once you’re chewing with the actual fruit.”

“‘fibrous’” Erik teases, “You’re such a gym girl now. What is it called? Snow bunny?”

Vi hits his legs with the back of her head, laughing, “You know that’s not what is you degenerate! Jeez!” She holds up a finger and puts a nerdy voice on, “Actually, it’s cardio bunny.” She turns her head, looking at him, “Which is more insulting than the first one.”

“Hehe.” Erik chuckles, reaching to stroke her head, which she graciously accepts. “I think I know the answer, but would you mind if I did the massaging thing with Brandon? If I’m good at it, maybe I could get a job doing that.”

“No, Erik, I’m not okay with you massaging other women.” Vi says, rolling her eyes, “Though, do tell me more about fucking Heidi, Ari, and your professor.” She narrows her eyes at him.

“Okay, okay, ass.” Erik snickers, shaking her head with his hand, before feeding her another strawberry,

She sits up and stretches limberly, “You think that will happen soon?” She looks around and whispers, just in case, “Mrs Revers?”

Erik lifts his eyebrows and shrugs, “No idea. A few weeks ago, I would’ve said yes, not now. I don’t know. I don’t think so. I’m not sure if I’m worth her marriage.”

“Naww poor baby.” Vi says, scooting over next to him and grabbing his arm tenderly, “How the turn tables, I have more of a chance with Mr Ramirez now.”

“That’s an optimistic way to put it.” He leans his head on hers, “He hasn’t done anything.”

“You don’t think I’m pretty enough to seduce him?”

“Shut up.” Erik responds, Vi vibrating with giggles next to him.

She looks up at the sky, “You’re lucky it didn’t rain today.”

“Babes, I checked the weather.”

“You are a man, you never know, weaponised competence and all that.”

Erik gently pushes Vi on her back and kisses her, she looks up at him with starry eyes, “It’s ‘incompetence.” He corrects playfully.

She lets out an exaggerated sigh, pushing some of his hair off his forehead, “Now you’re mansplaining, when will this torture end?”

Erik rolls his eyes and kisses her rapidly, head moving like a woodpecker as Vi tries to fight back, giggling as she tries her best to fend off his barrage of kisses.

They sit up and continue chatting.

“Masseuse, huh?” Vi says, feeding herself now as Erik pours her some red wine into a glass, “Is that something you’d do as a career?”

Erik shrugs, “I have no idea…” He nibbles on the inside of his lip, “There’d be no point being in uni…” Vi watches silently, letting the cogs in his brain turn, “Like I’m sure a business degree will be good… But, I just don’t know what I see myself doing.”

She shrugs, “That’s fine. We have time. You should do what really calls to you.”

Erik not really wanting to talk about this, turns the same question onto her.

“Well. Modelling is going great.” She grins successfully, “And I do think I have a future in marketing myself.” Her eyes light up, “Oh my god! If you think of a good business to start and run, I can do the marketing! Power couple!” She grins up at him.

Erik struggles to reciprocate her excitement, “No longer PR for a major business?”

She rolls her eyes, grabbing his hand in excitement, her brain already running their interlinked future through her mind, “Well, I’d quit that to work with you silly.”

The moment of adoration and love, is of course, interrupted. The universe confirms as much, a cloud passing in front of the sun, the bright autumn rays immediately becoming grey and gloomy. Vi grabs her buzzing phone and that cute excited expression on her face instantly drops, dread and frustration creasing her eyebrows and dimming the light in her eye.

“Oh shit.” Erik says, putting a hand on her thigh reassuringly.”

Her jaw is tight as she answers the phone, “Hi daddy.”

Erik watches as she looks away, disassociating already. Responding to her father in short, clipped responses that consist of;

“Yes.” “Okay.” “I understand.” “Of course, Dad,” “I know, Dad.” “Sorry, Dad.” “Hmm. Sorry… Daddy.” “I know.” “I love you too.” “Of course, I love you.” “I’ll… -Yes — Sorry, I’ll see you soon.” “Bye dad. I love you.”

She drops the phone on the blanket, her arms limp, her back slouched, her soul seemingly sucked out of her by the phone's receiver end.

“Oh, babe.” Erik pulls her into his chest, she falls into him, no strength left in her to return his affection.

“I’m sorry.” He says soothingly, rubbing the top of her head, “What did he want?”

“Same as usual.” She says, her voice broken and soft, “He’s not happy about the club thing… But he’s accepting it for now. He’s still mad that I haven’t made solid plans to come home… And…” She pauses.

“He’s still mad that you’re with me right?”

She pulls away, looking smaller than ever as she looks towards him with moistening eyes, “Yeah… I’m sorry.” She says through sobs.

Erik pulls her back in and she wraps her arms around him, wetting his shirt with her tears, “It’s not your fault, don’t apologise. I don’t blame you for your dad.”

He kisses the top of her head as she shakes into his chest, his shirt getting wetter with each passing second, “He’s just…”

“I know. I know.” He says reassuringly.

“I understand… If you don’t want to come… Or break up with me…”

He clicks his tongue, “Well I’m not doing that. And, I’ll come. I’ll win him over.”

Vi doesn’t respond, she loves Erik, but he won’t win him over, she’s almost sure of it.

She pulls back and wipes her tears away, giving Erik a quick, sincere apology for the state she left his shirt in, “It’s not the same… Your family seems cool, welcoming, nice. It’s… Really different with him.”

Erik gives her a strong smile, though, for once, the small secret he keeps from her stops the smile reaching his eyes, “Trust me. I got this.”

It’s Eriks turn to look away this time… He doesn’t know… He doesn’t know how to tell Vi about his birth mum.