NOTE TO SELF- Seek connection not validation

 

Vicki wasn't quite sure what was happening. Honestly, she'd never seen Steve like this. Suddenly, it was as if they were a couple. Maybe.

At Mick's she watched from a distance. She was certain Steve might take over with consoling Jools, but that didn't happen either. Suddenly, he was so informative and he was calling her Victoria and holding her hand. She had no time to ask.

Now she felt as if she was reliving someone elses's life. Not hers. She stared in silence at the photo area of the drugstore.

"Well, what happened?" Alfie wanted to know. "You, were going to tell me." His dark eyes looked at her with concern. They were both working behind the counter.

"Was I?" She drew a blank as she looked back. It seemed as if it had been a long time since they'd talked. He was always worried about Poppy and wondering what he'd do if Jory showed up at the drugstore. Naturally, she always told him he had nothing to worry about. Of course, she wasn't worried at the moment. Just in shock.

"Oh, well.." she winced wondering if Alfie even needed to know. Although, she knew Alfie was one of Steve's closest friends.

She smiled, thinking about how cavalier Steve was. They'd gotten to the car after they left Mick and Jool's and he was still holding her hand. She thought she might be flying. And then he turned back to her as if he remembered something he needed to do that had nothing to do with the two of them.

"I think we should date," he'd said. She thought she might turn to mush. She couldn't help but smile.

"Oh," she grinned like a fangirl, of course. "Can I..can I dye your hair pink?"

"No."

She laughed then and when the palm of his hand reached for the side of her face, suddenly she was still thinking this might be the end instead of the beginning. She took a deep breath because when he kissed her she might as well have been falling to the bottom of the ocean. It was that crazy. But good, and breathtakingly so. She needed to remind herself of this. Even now. Yet it was so unexpected. 

"Well," Alfie's dark eyes looked at her as if she best spill while no customers were around and they were in the lull of the afternoon.

"Steve and I are dating," she smiled but realized how chapped her lips were because it was evidently as good as snogging. She guessed. Although, she wouldn't mention it to Alfie. 

"Dating?" His face tensed as if that was just crazy. "Are you sure?"

Vicki nodded. No way was she doubting Steve now. 

"What did you do to him?" Alfie wanted to know.

"Me?" Vicki squinted back. "What would I have done?"

Alfie shook his head. She could see he didn't believe her. He thought it was just some fantasy of hers.