Chapter Two – Her Name Was Vivienne
The days that followed our first encounter were a blur. I wasn't just drawn to Nina—I was consumed. She lived rent-free in the corners of my mind I didn't even know existed. Her laughter echoed in my ears even when she wasn't around. Her texts were the highlights of my day, and her absence felt like a vacuum I couldn't explain.
We worked at the same law firm—Deighton & Blackmore. Polished floors, endless paperwork, espresso machines that barely did the job, and the buzzing silence of ambition. It wasn't exactly the place for romance, but for me, it became a map of moments I began associating with her.
Our daily rhythm shifted. Casual greetings became prolonged conversations. Shared lunches at the office café turned into intentional dates. It became our place—the dimly lit corner by the window, chipped wooden tables, the hum of legal debates dying behind us.
It was on a Thursday evening that things escalated.
We stayed late. Case files piled around us like barricades, but neither of us cared. The world outside had turned violet with the dusk, and the café lights flickered warm amber over her soft features. Nina sat across from me, tucked into her coat, her hair cascading in gentle waves down her shoulders. Her lips were stained with the last sip of cranberry juice, and her eyes… god, her eyes held secrets like a locked diary.
"I never asked," I said, running a thumb over my coffee cup, "what's your sister's name?"
For a split second, something shifted in her gaze. Barely visible, but I caught it—like a sudden gust of wind slamming a door shut. Then came the forced smile.
"Vivienne," she replied. The name felt heavy on her tongue, as if she had to dig for it from somewhere far away.
I tilted my head slightly. "Vivienne?"
She nodded too quickly. "Yeah. Vivienne. Why?"
I didn't answer right away. I was too busy watching the tension creep up her spine. The way she swallowed, her fingers tapping against her glass. It was the kind of answer you give not to inform, but to stop a conversation from going further.
"It's just… I don't know. You said her name like you were trying to believe it yourself."
Nina laughed. A breathy, dismissive sound. "You overthink everything, Ethan."
She leaned forward, her voice suddenly softer. "She's nice. Cool. Smart. Respectful. But that's all for show."
Her lips curled as if she was letting me in on a joke only she knew.
"She can be corny and wicked too. No one really sees that. But we're cool. I mean, we're sisters, right?"
There was a flicker of something darker behind her smile, but she covered it well with a laugh. Then she leaned closer—close enough I could see the flecks of gold in her eyes—and I swear, the world paused. Our faces were inches apart. Breath mingled. Time bent.
Then we kissed.
It wasn't frantic or perfect. It was soft and questioning, like two people trying to read each other's chapters without flipping the pages too quickly.
But I ruined it.
"When can I meet her?"
The tension came back with a vengeance.
Nina stood up immediately, grabbing her jerker. "You'll meet her when you come to see my family," she said, voice curt. Her eyes didn't meet mine as she walked out of the café.
I sat there stunned, watching her silhouette disappear into the twilight.
I noticed everything—the way her tone changed, the way she deflected, the way her laughter came like punctuation to a lie. And yet, I couldn't stop wanting her.
⸻
Later That Night
"You ever fall for someone so fast you start rewriting your own damn rules?" I asked Henry, phone pressed to my ear, voice low as I lay sprawled across my bed, staring at the ceiling.
He let out a short laugh. "Bro, you sound like a walking cliché. All that law firm stress finally cracked you?"
"I'm serious, man."
I could hear him settle in, probably with one of those late-night energy drinks he pretended he didn't depend on. "Alright, tell me. What's the deal with her?"
"She's magnetic. That's the only word for it. Nina walks into a room and it's like the air rearranges itself. Like the world stops pretending."
"Damn."
"She talks and I forget what time it is. But tonight… I don't know. Something shifted."
I rolled onto my side, gripping the phone tighter.
"I asked her about her sister. Just casually, and it was like I flipped a switch she didn't want touched."
There was a pause. "What did she say?"
"She said her name is Vivienne. But the way she said it—it was like she'd never said it out loud before. Like she was trying it on for size. You know when someone lies, but not to hurt you, just to shut you up?"
"Too specific to be hypothetical," Henry said knowingly.
"Exactly. And then she started talking—quick, surface-level things. That her sister's smart, respectful, all of that. But then she slipped and said it's all for show. That her sister can be wicked too."
Henry whistled softly. "Sounds like some sibling drama."
"Maybe. But it felt like she was both defending her and warning me at the same time."
"What happened after that?"
"We kissed."
A long silence followed.
"And then I asked when I could meet her." I sighed. "She stood up and left."
"Oh, Ethan."
"I know. I ruined it."
"You just got too curious, too soon," he said gently. "Some people aren't ready to let you into every room in their house. Doesn't mean they don't want you there eventually."
"Yeah," I muttered. "But what if she sees me differently now?"
"Then fix it. Tell her you weren't pushing—just trying to understand her better. You know how to talk, man. Use it."
I hung up and stared at my phone for a long while, thumb hovering over her name.
Then I called.
She picked up after three rings. Her voice was quiet. "Ethan?"
"Hey. I'm sorry for earlier," I said softly. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I wasn't trying to interrogate you."
She didn't respond immediately, but I heard her breathing.
"I just wanted to know more. Not because I don't trust you—because I do. And when I like someone… I get curious. Too curious sometimes."
She exhaled. "It's okay. I just… I'm not used to talking about her like that. You kind of caught me off guard."
"I understand," I said. "Listen, I'd really like to make it up to you. How about this weekend… I come meet your family? You mentioned I'd meet her then."
Silence again. Then, hesitation in her voice.
"You really want to do that?"
"Yeah," I said, trying to sound steady. "Only if you're comfortable with it. No pressure."
She was quiet for a few seconds longer, then her voice softened. "Okay. I'll call you. I'll let you know what time. Just… don't overthink things, Ethan."
A small smile crept into my voice. "I'll try. But no promises."
She let out a breath of laughter. "Goodnight, Ethan."
"Goodnight, Nina."
I ended the call and stared at the ceiling again. I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just agreed to something that would change everything.
And yet, all I could think about was the way her eyes had flickered before she said Vivienne.
Something about that name didn't belong to