Free Crossing the Line Part One (A Novella) by Samantha Long Page B

her.
    Victoria refused to back down, even though
his closeness made her skin crawl. He didn't control her anymore.
She stepped around him to the middle of the living room, giving
herself space. "They're upstairs packing their bags. They'll be
done in a minute."
    "Good. I'm taking them to the restaurant to
have dinner."
    Of course he did. He couldn’t wait to show
off how he was such a good father to his twin daughters. Victoria
pitied him and hated him in the same breath. He had no idea what he
missed out on in the girls.
    Helena flew down the stairs, beaming at
Roger. Score ten to him, she thought. She tried to ignore the pain
it caused her to know that she couldn't make Helena smile like
that.
    "Daddy!" Helena jumped into his arms, her
bag forgotten at their feet. "I'm so glad you came."
    Roger patted her back absently before
stepping away from her. "Yes. Me, too."
    Helena didn't see her dad's disinterest and
Victoria sighed. When she eventually noticed, it would break her
heart.
    "Hi, Dad." Lucia offered Roger a smile,
nothing more, then hugged Victoria. "See you Sunday, Mom. I love
you."
    Victoria held Lucia probably longer than
necessary, it was so tough to watch them leave. Helena ignored her,
not even giving her a smile as they walked out the door. She shut
it behind them and leaned against it. This was literally only the
third weekend she'd ever spent without them. What was she going to
do with herself? Should she call her sisters?
    No, Halle had a nursing conference in Long
Island and all Addie had talked about this week was her date
tonight. Knowing Addie, she'd end up with the guy all weekend, if
he didn't bore her to death. At the thought of that kind of
freedom, Victoria smiled and shook her head. She hadn't been on a
date in years, a decade really. She'd have no idea what to do.
    The house creaked in the silence around her.
The TV wasn't on, blaring reality shows, and her girls weren't
arguing over something or giggling over something else. The
quietness settled around her and she sighed. All her life, she'd
been surrounded by people. First her family, then her dorm mate,
and then Roger and her girls. Being alone like this struck her as
unnatural. Maybe she should get a dog.
    Her cell phone pinged a message tone from
the arm of the couch and she picked it up.
    Nick: Hey, you busy?
    Victoria laughed at the screen. She was so
far from busy and she couldn't deny that maybe, a little, she
wished he'd ask her out. After seeing Roger, remembering the years
of blandness, of settling, she might just want a hint of the
passion Nick had to offer.
    No, what's up?
    She'd expected him to text, so when her cell
rang she jumped. She answered the phone, her belly fluttering. "Is
something wrong with the office?"
    "No, it's nothing like that." His voice
carried over, sending goose bumps over her body. Even though, he
sounded nervous.
    "Oh? Is everything okay?" She paced, like
she always did when she talked on the phone.
    "Yeah, yeah." He paused. "Um, I need a big
favor. I have this friend, one I used to fight with on the circuit,
and he's getting married tomorrow night. With work, I forgot about
it."
    The butterflies multiplied. "Okay?" She
really couldn't think of anything else to say. She sank onto the
turquoise, pillow top ottoman.
    "I need a date. I know he's invited this
girl, one I used to…hang out with…and I really don't want to go by
myself."
    Victoria pressed her lips together. Those
butterflies shriveled up and settled heavy in her stomach. He
didn't really want to go with her, he only wanted a buffer. "Why
don't you ask one of your many, many one night stands? Maybe find
someone who's available?"
    Nick's was silent, then he sighed. "That
came out wrong."
    "I bet it did. Look, I wasted enough time on
a man who didn't really want me, who wanted to use me to further
his image to get higher in his career. I don't need to be used
again. So, good-bye, Nick." Victoria ended the call. She stared at
the screen for a