Chapter 218: pool party VIII

Chapter 218: Chapter 218: pool party VIII

Damian remained with the group after the game.

The teams were already dispersing, people reaching for towels and drinks while the next game was being organized.

Vivienne had returned to Claire, Amelia, and Eleanor.

They were talking among themselves, their conversation occasionally breaking into laughter.

Damian stood a short distance away.

Not hovering.

At least, that was what he told himself.

He had simply found himself talking with George, Tom, and Fred, three third-years he knew through the Sterling Society.

George was still grinning.

"I honestly didn’t expect you to join."

"Neither did I," Damian admitted.

Fred laughed.

"I think everyone expected you to stay on the sidelines."

"I was going to."

"And then?"

Damian’s gaze flicked briefly toward Vivienne.

"Things changed."

George followed his gaze.

A knowing smile appeared.

"Right."

"You know," George continued, "I thought Fred was going to complain when you took his place."

Fred shook his head.

"Why would I?"

He glanced toward Vivienne.

"I’d heard the rumors."

Damian’s expression shifted slightly.

"Rumors?"

Fred looked back at him.

"You know."

Damian did.

He simply didn’t answer.

George’s grin widened.

"Well, after that little performance, I imagine everyone knows now."

Damian ignored him.

Fred laughed.

"You certainly made your presence known."

"I didn’t exactly plan to fall."

"No."

Fred’s smile turned teasing.

"But catching her like that?"

George laughed.

"That part was pretty convincing."

Damian exhaled.

He knew exactly what they were implying.

He wasn’t particularly embarrassed by it.

If anything, there was something quietly satisfying about it.

He had joined the game because she was there.

He had caught her because she had fallen.

And now everyone around him seemed to have noticed exactly where his attention lay.

He glanced across the conservatory.

Vivienne happened to look his way.

Their eyes met.

She smiled.

Small.

Almost teasing.

Damian’s mouth curved in response.

Then Julian caught his eye from several yards away.

Julian raised both thumbs.

Damian stared at him.

Julian grinned even wider.

Then mouthed:

Go.

Damian shook his head.

Julian pointed toward Vivienne.

Stay there.

Adrian, standing beside him, laughed.

Damian looked away.

God.

His friends were impossible.

But he didn’t move.

He stayed exactly where he was.

For once, there was no reason to rush.

He had already gotten what he wanted.

He was close enough for Vivienne to see him.

And, judging by the smile she had just given him, she hadn’t minded having him there.

--

Vivienne had barely stepped away from the group when Claire and Amelia closed in around her.

For a moment, none of them spoke.

They simply stared at each other.

Then—

"Oh my God."

Amelia grabbed Vivienne’s arm.

"Did he just do that?"

Claire’s eyes were enormous.

"I saw it."

"He actually cut in front of Fred."

"I know!"

"And then he caught you!"

Vivienne tried to keep a straight face.

She lasted two seconds before bursting into laughter.

"I know!"

"And he just—"

Amelia glanced around before lowering her voice.

"He just stood there holding you!"

Vivienne’s cheeks warmed.

"I know!"

Claire grabbed her other arm.

"My girl."

Vivienne laughed.

"You two are ridiculous."

"No," Amelia whispered dramatically. "You’re ridiculous."

She looked at Vivienne with a grin.

"You’re actually living the dream."

Vivienne blinked.

"What dream?"

"The two-men problem!"

Claire immediately nodded.

"Oh my God. She’s right."

Vivienne covered her face, laughing.

"Don’t call it that."

"But look at your day!" Claire began counting on her fingers. "You deliberately went to fencing because Christopher was there."

"Claire..."

"He came over to talk to you," Amelia added.

"And then you spent lunch texting him."

Vivienne lowered her hands, already laughing.

"And now," Claire continued, "Damian Blackwood just cut into a game to stand behind you, dropped the entire match to catch you, and basically announced to everyone that he wants to be beside you."

Vivienne stared at them.

Then she glanced toward Damian.

He was still talking with George and Fred.

Still close.

Still occasionally looking her way.

A helpless grin spread across her face.

"Oh my God."

Amelia squeezed her arm.

"You’re the woman."

Claire nodded.

"You really are."

Vivienne laughed, shaking her head.

"You’re right."

She looked around the party, then back at Damian.

"I really am living the dream."

Amelia beamed.

"See?"

Vivienne held out her arm.

"Can you pinch me?"

Amelia blinked.

"Seriously?"

"Just to make sure I’m awake."

Claire burst out laughing.

Amelia pinched her.

"Ow!"

"You asked!"

Vivienne rubbed her arm, laughing with them.

"Okay."

She looked toward Damian again.

"He’s really here."

And he wasn’t leaving.

That realization sent another little flutter through her stomach.

Vivienne smiled.

She was enjoying every second of this.

And judging by the way Damian remained exactly where he was, she had a feeling the afternoon was only getting started.

--

Evelyn POV

Evelyn had noticed Vivienne almost immediately after arriving.

It had been difficult not to.

Vivienne was beautiful.

Even among the students gathered around the pool, she drew attention without seeming to make any effort to do so.

Her golden hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she was laughing with Claire and Amelia as though she hadn’t a care in the world.

Their eyes met briefly.

Evelyn smiled.

It wasn’t quite the polite smile she might have given another classmate.

There was something faintly knowing about it.

After all...

Two weeks ago, she had been dancing with Anthony on the balcony when Vivienne had appeared.

At the time, Evelyn hadn’t felt particularly guilty.

Why should she?

Vivienne had spent the evening dancing with Damian.

In front of everyone.

And not merely dancing.

They had looked comfortable together.

Far too comfortable.

To Evelyn, it had been almost a confirmation of what people had been whispering for days.

The rumors about Vivienne and Damian.

The rumors about them growing closer.

The rumors that there had been something between them long before anyone noticed.

So if Vivienne had seen Evelyn dancing with Anthony and disliked it...

Well.

Perhaps she should have thought about that before dancing with another man herself.

--

Tbc