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“Pip knows Dean. She likes him a lot. He even taught her how to ride a bike. I just thought it made sense for us to take things slowly, to make sure this thing was headed somewhere before I added Pip to the equation.”

Victor frowned. “You were going to add Pip to the equation?”

Vivian didn’t have a clue where that question had come from, because it made no sense. “Of course I was! I just didn’t want to introduce him to Pip as a potential boyfriend until we were sure this relationship was going somewhere.”

“And you said that to Dean?”

Had she said that? Had she needed to?

“I guess I thought it was obvious why we were going slow and keeping things private. What other reason would there have been?”

“I don’t think Dean thought you two were working toward something. Sounded to me like he believed this was a casual thing that would eventually run its course.”

The thought of that made Vivian’s stomach clench…and she suddenly thought she’d misread everything between her and Dean. “Oh.”

Victor knew her as well as anyone in her life. Something in her tone and in her expression had him reacting immediately. He reached for her, tugging her across the couch and into his arms. She sank into his hug.

“I’m sorry, Viv. This is all my fault. I told Dean if he wasn’t serious about this relationship, he needed to end things. To be honest, I didn’t think he would.”

She sat back, his arms falling away. “You didn’t?”

“There was something about the way he talked about you.” Victor’s eyes met hers. “It sounded like he cared about you. I thought…” He shrugged, backing away from that corner he’d talked his way into again.

She couldn’t be mad at Victor. Even if his visit to Dean’s office was the impetus behind him breaking things off, all her brother had done was bring about the inevitable sooner. In some ways, she should be thanking him. How much more would she be hurting if they’d allowed things to continue longer?

“This isn’t your fault,” she said.

Victor grimaced. “Feels like it is. Belle’s going to kick my ass. She told me to keep my nose out of it.”

“So, of course, you made a beeline for Dean’s office.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah.”

“You didn’t make his decision, Vic. He did.” Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. She promised herself that she’d cry all of this out here, where she had her beloved brother to comfort her, and then she was putting the tears away.

Victor wrapped his arm around her shoulders, letting her lean her head against him, the two of them sitting without talking as she quietly cried.

Once she managed to compose herself, she lifted her face to Victor’s. “Promise me you won’t kill him.”

Victor scoffed darkly. “Nope. Not promising that.”

“Vic,” she said, giving him a pointed look.

“He made you cry.”

“If I’m going to start dating again, getting hurt is a risk I’ll have to take.”

“Are you going to? Start dating again?” he added, to clarify.

Vivian considered that question. When she’d started this thing with Dean, she’d viewed that night in Boston as a one-off. After all, she was a woman and she had needs. Five years was a long time to go without any intimacy or affection. No kisses or cuddles or sweet words.

When things continued, however, she remembered how nice it was to have someone to talk to. To spend time with.

“Yeah,” she said. “I think I am.”

“Good.” Victor smiled, but the lines by his eyes and mouth and the tightness in his tone didn’t sell the lie.

“You’re not happy about that,” she said drolly.