by Carol Ross
“Of course, Hazel,” Victoria said quickly. “I feel the same. And thank you. I hope you get some rest.”
“Yes, yeah, we’ll talk later,” Seth rushed to say. They’d also be discussing how in the world Cricket had gotten under her skin. What was up with the tension between them? But he had enough sisters to know that it wasn’t a good idea to ask at this moment.
Cricket, on the other hand, did not have sisters. A fact that he’d shown tonight. Although, he’d been around the James women enough that you’d think he’d know better than to tell one to mind her own business, especially where her family was concerned. Particularly Hazel, where extra caution was required when any combination of her triplet siblings was involved.
* * *
THE OCEAN SPRAY felt delicious on Victoria’s sun-warmed skin, the salty breeze revitalizing her after so many days trapped indoors. She enjoyed the feel of the boat, too, as it cut a path through the flat, turquoise water of the Gulf. The brilliant blue sky was attractively overlaid with patches of cloudy white lace. Another gorgeous morning had dawned on this, the last day of the show. Made even better by the surprise fishing trip Romeo Reels had arranged for the three finalists.
With their show commitments now officially complete, the selection committee was meeting to make the final decision. The new spokesperson would be announced at the evening’s closing ceremony. Undoubtedly, the Romeo people thought that a morning out on the water would be a nice distraction from the agonizing wait. Which appeared to be working for Seth and Henry at least. Victoria observed them, where they were seated in the middle of the boat, chatting and sipping coffee. Two old friends without a care in the world.
She, on the other hand, was sitting in the stern and stewing about what Hazel had said. What was going to happen to her relationship with Seth? If she was hired, she feared that Seth might look back and resent the distraction she’d been for him. If he was hired, would she always wonder if she would have done better without him constantly on her mind? But then again, either of them getting the job meant a long-distance relationship. How would they manage that?
Of course, Henry getting the job was also a real possibility. On the surface, that would solve a lot of their issues, at least the internal ones. And there might be other opportunities to pursue if she didn’t get offered this job. They’d all been approached by other companies.
The boat began to slow. Henry stood and went to speak to the captain. Victoria knew he had some thoughts on red snapper strategies, which they were going after today.
“Hey,” Seth said, moving to sit beside her. “You okay?”
“Yep,” she said. Because what would it solve by voicing her concerns? There was no point in speculating about the myriad of circumstances that could play out. So why couldn’t she stop thinking about them?
“Nervous?”
“A little.”
“Me too. After tonight, everything is going to change.”
Victoria forced a smile. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?
Mouth curling at the corners, he scooped up one of her hands with his and laced their fingers together. He lifted the bundle that was their hands and kissed her knuckles. The first public display of affection to occur between them. If cruising on a boat in open water could be considered public. She could get used to it, she decided as her anxiety immediately began to ease. Amazing how he could calm her mind with just his touch.
“I’m sorry about Hazel going off the rails last night. I could tell it bothered you.”
“It did a little, but don’t be sorry! Your sister loves you and cares about you. Her point was valid.”
“To a degree, it was valid. But something else is going on there. She and Cricket had an argument or something.”
“I wondered about that, too. The tension between those two. Wow. Is there a history there?”
“No! Not like that. I mean, they’ve known each other forever. It would be more like a sibling fight. He’s Tag’s age, so he’s always been like this older brother figure for us.”
“Hmm.” Victoria did not see it that way but wasn’t about to say so. She didn’t have a brother, and Seth knew them both much better.
“But I have been thinking about the logistics, too, and I’m relieved this is almost over. Because no matter what happens now, at least I’ll be able to kiss you whenever I want.”
“That is an excellent point. I was just thinking something similar.”
“Victoria, no matter what happens, we will figure this out. There’s too much...feeling between us for it not to. I am all in.”
Fortified by those words, his conviction, she nodded. He was right. It would. It had to. “Me too.” Now would be a good time to tell him she loved him. That no matter what happened, she was committed to making this work. She could no longer see a future that didn’t include him, not a happy one anyway. “Seth, I—”
The engine went quiet. “Snappers!” the captain cried. “Oh, yeah...schooling right here. Folks, I can tell you right now this is going to be a very good day.”
Victoria and Seth exchanged eager grins. Because fishing.
“Yes,” she agreed. Keeping a tight hold on his gaze, she hoped Seth could see all the love she felt for him shining in her eyes, the same way she could see it in his. “It already is.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
A JUBILANT VICTORIA practically skipped off the elevator, hustled into the spacious lobby, and scanned the space for anyone who might be a pizza delivery person. It might seem a small thing to someone else, but the fact that Seth had remembered about the pizza had her feeling extremely warm and fuzzy inside. The fishing trip had been a total blast that reinforced the camaraderie among the three of them.
The ceremony didn’t start until eight, and they were officially on their own for the afternoon and evening.
They hadn’t even made it back to the hotel before Seth sent a text: How about we knock that pizza order off your list tonight?
Victoria had nearly kissed him on the spot. Refraining, she’d casually texted a reply: Sausage and anchovies?
Looking up at her, he’d made a face and mouthed “Anchovies?”
And when they got to Seth’s room where, still smelling like fish and sunscreen, she’d followed through with that kiss. Seth, steadfastly rejecting the anchovy option, had ordered two pizzas, four different flavor combinations.
A young woman wearing a uniform, including a hat with the appropriate pizza logo, stepped through the doors. Victoria waved and approached, paid and included a generous tip. Even that part was fun, she decided, when the woman thanked her with a sunny smile.
She was on her way back to the elevators when Henry exited from the area and into the lobby looking freshly showered and extremely handsome. Stepping to one side, he frowned down at the phone he held in his hands.
“Henry,” she called out a greeting. His head snapped up, and his expression looked alarmed like maybe she’d startled him.
She stopped in front of him. “Hey, are you on your way out? Do you want to come up to Seth’s room and have some pizza with us? Mine has anchovies, but Seth—”
“Victoria,” he interrupted, glancing around uneasily. “Are you alone?” That’s when she realized that not only was Henry not smiling, he also looked troubled. In all the interviews and events and appearances, she’d never seen him anything but poised. All week, his performance had been pretty much perfect. His daughter was supposed to be flying in this afternoon for the reception. She hoped nothing had waylaid those plans.
“Yes. Are you okay?”
Shifting on his feet, eyes boring into hers, he asked, “You haven’t heard anything?”
“About what?” He was unmistakably unsettled, which prompted a rash of nervous thoughts. Had the committee decided to announce the winner early? Or maybe word had been leaked out. Or... Oh, no. Was this about her and Se
th? Had they been outed? She couldn’t imagine how that could matter now when the decision had been made.
“Oh, Vic...” Raking a hand through his hair, he stared down at his feet. “I do not want to be the one to tell you this.”
“Henry. Tell me what? You’re scaring me.”
At that moment, and for the first time in her life, she understood the term “blowing up a phone.” Because that’s what suddenly began happening to her cell where it was securely tucked into the back pocket of her jeans. It felt like it was going to explode.
She reached for it, and Henry said, “Don’t. Don’t look at it. There will be nothing good there.”
That didn’t help her anxiety any. “Henry, what?”
Lightly gripping her elbow, he guided her over toward a small sitting area. Then he looked her solidly in the eyes again and asked, “Victoria, do you have a criminal record that you didn’t divulge when you applied for this job?”
Faster than a lightning strike, her entire body went cold and then numb as if she’d been flash-frozen where she stood. The pizzas slipped from her grasp. Henry caught them and set them on a nearby table. A rush of blood echoed loudly in her ears. She could see Henry’s lips moving, but she couldn’t hear his words. Was she going deaf? Possibly she was having a stroke.
Strong hands cupped her shoulders. “Vic, look at me.”
That she heard. So she did. She concentrated on his face, specifically his mouth, while he repeated the question and a few others, which included words dredged up from the nightmare that was her past: arrest, conviction, criminal record. Then he repeated a version of his first question, “Victoria, have you ever been convicted of a crime?”
“Yes, but...” No, no, no... Those records had been sealed. Then expunged. But had they? Had she been lied to? Austin and his dad had sworn this information would never see the light of day. She could still see Linus’s smug face, hear his vaguely threatening tone: Victoria, honey, you need to do this, do you hear me? For Austin. This is for your baby’s future. It’s just your signature on a piece of paper. That’s all it is. No one will ever know. I promise this will never see the light of day. You’re a minor and... Even before this moment, that had never been true; it had been haunting her forever. Because she’d never truly trusted them.
“I didn’t...” Do it. Her throat was suddenly too dry to continue, her heart too sick to try.
That’s when the first reporter found them. “Excuse me, Victoria Thibodeaux? Can I have a word?”
Through a fog of confusion and dismay, Victoria turned her head toward the voice but could only stare blankly. She needed to get out of there, but she still couldn’t move. Even her arms hung limply by her sides. Could shock cause a stroke? she wondered absently.
The reporter took her passive silence as a yes. “My name is David Belt. I’m a sports and outdoor reporter for the Florida Navigator. Did you divulge the details of your wildlife violation when you applied for the position of spokesperson for Romeo Reels? How do you think it would look for one of Romeo Reels’ highest-paid brand ambassadors to have a criminal record?”
An “Um,” and some slow blinking was all she could manage even as something began to wake up inside of her, a voice telling her to move, to talk, to do something!
“I...”
Henry advised, “Don’t answer, Victoria.”
Another person walked over to join them. “Ms. Thibodeaux, my name is Olivia Wallace with Gulf States Law Dog, an online news site devoted to the political happenings in our southern region. Would you care to comment on the details of your wildlife conviction? I understand you were young at the time. Is it true you were married to Austin Galbraith? I assume you are aware that your ex-husband is running for district attorney? Can you tell our readers what role Mr. Galbraith played in that dark chapter of your life?”
Austin. Victoria felt her stomach twist painfully as she began to think this through. Definitely, he had some hand in this. It was the only explanation that made sense, even though it made no sense. That was the only good thing about their arrangement. She’d never had to mention it, but they both knew that if the truth ever came out, he had more to lose than she did. Until now. Was he jealous of her success? Unlikely, she hadn’t even really had any yet. Angry that she’d allowed Scarlett to skip his dinner? That was the only explanation she could come up with at the moment.
Henry’s fingers wrapped around her elbow with a firm grip. “I’m sorry,” he announced to the small crowd now gathering. “Victoria can’t comment right now. As you all probably know, our schedules are jam-packed, and we have another engagement that we’re already late for.” Pizzas forgotten, he led her to the elevators.
* * *
SETH STEPPED OFF another elevator with a full heart and an empty stomach. Victoria should have been back up to his room by now. His texts asking her what she wanted to drink had gone unanswered. A quick scan of the lobby didn’t reveal her presence either. He rechecked his phone. Nothing.
Walking further into the space, he spotted Hazel seated on one of the leather chairs in a far corner. Face set in concentration, head bowed over her phone, scrolling away and muttering to herself. Completely engrossed in the task, she didn’t even flinch until he was standing right in front of her.
“Hey, what are you doing down here? Have you seen Victoria?”
Her head snapped up, troubled eyes latching onto his. “Seth.” One word, that’s all it took. Something was wrong.
“Hazel, what’s wrong? Are you okay? Did you and Cricket get into it again? Do you want to tell me what happened?”
“This isn’t about me,” she answered elusively. “Or him.” Expression steady and intent, she asked, “Victoria isn’t on Twitter, is she?”
“What?” The question threw him off. “Uh, no. She doesn’t do any social media. And by any, I mean she doesn’t even have accounts. She barely tolerates her phone.”
Hazel exhaled with a series of quick, shallow nods. “Good. That’s good. I’ve just been checking your accounts, and right now, I’m very glad that you are so inactive. When you don’t respond, it won’t be as weird. For now, I don’t even want you to get on there to check your notifications, okay?”
“Why?” Hazel knew all his passwords. Most of his accounts she’d set up for him years ago, and he’d never bothered to change passwords. He mainly used them to keep up with the angling world, rarely posted, and never anything very personal.
“Seth, you are about to face a social media storm of epic magnitude.”
“Did someone find out about us?” Seth asked in a hushed tone.
“Not that I know of. I hope not. That would be even worse for both of you. Because, Seth, this is... Do you know where Victoria is?”
“Not at this exact moment.” He explained about the pizza. And then, searching the lobby again, he muttered, “I thought I might see her down here...”
“Okay, so you have no idea what’s going on? Of course, you don’t. You wouldn’t be standing there all calm if you did.”
“Hazel, this is getting irritating. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“Sit.”
He took a seat next to her. “What is this about?”
“This is about you. Well, technically, it’s about Victoria. So you, too, by extension. This is really bad.” Tapping the display on her phone, she began reading aloud: “‘Hey @RomeoReels how does someone with a wildlife conviction get considered for a pro angler job? Victoria Thibodeaux needs to go back to the swamp that she crawled out of. She’s nothing but #alligatorbait #poacher #VictoriaThibodeaux #ProPlusFishingOutdoorShow.’
“Here’s another one: ‘All you have to do to score a chance at a six-figure spokesperson salary with @RomeoReels is have a pretty face and get away with a major fishing violation. Well done Victoria Thibodeaux! #LousianaOutlaw #rewardthecriminal’
“And then
there’s, ‘@RomeoReels has hooked a real winner! #VictoriaThibodeaux revealed to be a champion all right. A champion poacher. I’ll be buying their products real soon. NOT! #boycottRomeoReels’
“It goes on. There are tons more. It’s on other platforms, too. Did you know about this?”
“No. They’ve got the wrong person. That’s all ridiculous.”
Sweeping his gaze around the lobby again, he was struck with a new urgency. He needed to find Victoria so she could straighten this out. That’s when he saw the pizza boxes. On a table adjacent to the doorway leading to the elevators, they were just sitting there with no one around. Pushing to his feet, he crossed the room, his pulse pounding nervously. Once there, he stared down at the boxes while his stomach knotted tight with dread. Reaching down, he lifted the cardboard top, and the smell of anchovies hit him with full force.
* * *
WHEN THE ELEVATOR dinged and the doors opened, Victoria half expected to be met by police or security guards even though she knew that was ridiculous. The reporters had made her feel like a criminal. Trekking down the long hall, she willed herself not to cry and forced herself to think.
Her phone, still buzzing wildly in her pocket, erupted with Scarlett’s ring tone.
“My daughter,” she told Henry. With trembling hands, she answered the call. “Scarlett, hey, honey.”
“Mémé and Gram have been calling and calling you, and Daddy is trying to reach you, too. He says it’s an emergency. A reporter guy came here, and Mémé shooed him away. People are calling here and asking for you. Mama, are you okay?”
Victoria was so far from okay that she didn’t know how she was still standing. It took effort just to breathe through the severe tightness in her lungs. But she managed to reassure Scarlett because that’s what she had to do.
“Okay, well, call Daddy. Gram wants to talk. I told Quinn I’d go out searching for snakes later if he’d fish with me tomorrow. But I’ll take my phone, so you can call me and tell me when you win.”
