“Girl, you haven’t lived until you’ve locked a guy up,” Paula said with a giggle. “And then pretend you’ve lost the key afterwards. Oh, how they squirm.”

“I’m not looking to lock John up,” she said. “I just need to apologize to him.”

“You need to do more than that,” Regina said. “You left him without an answer to the biggest question: Do you want more?”

Victoria was aware of that. After her trip home, she’d made up her mind that she wanted John. She needed to know that she hadn’t ruined everything with her neurosis, that he wasn’t completely fed up with her indecision. She wanted to date John, and she wanted to do it with spontaneity. Before she could do any of that, an apology was in order. Victoria knew he’d be there to greet the “friends of the library,” but she wanted to do it with a bit of flourish. She had hoped he might appreciate the extra step after her erratic behavior. Plus, she needed to return For the Duke’s Convenience and pay the $30 fine she owed. She would have done it that day, but it was Sunday and they were closed. Monday night’s party had to work.

“So what really happened at the military ball? Is it as bad as you described in your text?” Regina asked.

“Possibly worse,” Victoria said. “But I managed to tell my mother the truth.”

Her friends went quiet.

“I did,” she insisted. “I told her that her days of ordering me around were over. I didn’t go to the previously scheduled brunch and came home. My dad actually backed me up for once.”

Regina glanced at Paula before speaking. “You told Katherine Reese off?”

Victoria nodded. “I did. And it felt great.”

“And she took this...well?” Paula asked.

“I don’t know how she took it,” Victoria said. “The point is, she took it. And now I’m ready to approach John like an adult. You guys were right; I can’t keep treating relationships like a checklist. I have to take risks instead.”

Paula nodded with appreciation. “Okay.”

“Sounds good to me,” Regina intoned. “So what are you going to wear to this party?”

Victoria looked at the assortment of costume pieces sprawled on her couch. Her eyes settled on a simple black eye mask. “I think I have an idea,” she said as a smile stretched over her face. It was the first genuine smile she’d made in days.

“Yeah?” Paula said, finishing off her first glass of wine. “You’re going with the handcuffs?”

“No, but you’re not too far off the mark.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Seven