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It felt vulnerable, letting someone into her locket, but Julia nodded and Vic used her free hand to click open the clasp.
She felt so close. So impossibly close. Julia could smell the champagne on her breath mingling with the scent of her.
“My mum is amazing. We have always been so close, but she lives in New York so I don’t see her that often. She was a single mum, but I always felt so loved and so supported. Even now, she is still my biggest inspiration and my biggest strength.”
“They both look beautiful,” Victoria said, smiling. “I’m so sorry about Helen,” she said again, as though determined to show how genuine she was in her sorrow and Julia felt the warmth from her.
Victoria could be one thing and then another and Julia realised she had no idea how she would be from one day to the next. Julia just felt the draw of her, every time she was near her.
“You look beautiful, too,” Julia said as she took in Victoria. She was wearing a short, tight, green dress and sneakers. Her legs were long and coltish. With Julia’s heels on, they were a similar height, but despite pregnancy and childbirth, Victoria had remained lean and long limbed throughout. The dress was tight around her thighs and Julia wondered for a moment how Victoria had got away with wearing Nike sneakers to a party like this. She smiled to herself.
“I like your sneakers.”
Vic smiled, and she was radiant for a second before her face resumed it’s normal slightly angry intensity. “Thanks, my only clean pair! Not sure our Queen is delighted about me wearing them for the photos but, you know, these days I just fucking wear what makes me happy. They make me happy. Heels are not for me.”
Victoria’s hair was in long, loose, beachy waves. Golden honey streaks through light brown. It looked perfect and for once, not like some kind of wild birds’ nest. As though she could sense Julia’s thoughts, Vic answered her. “Alicia did it. My hair. If you were wondering why I don’t look like hell on earth for once, that’s why. She did my face, too. I look almost presentable apparently according to Queen Alexandra.”
Julia smiled. “Alicia is very talented. But you always look nice when I see you, Victoria.” Julia felt herself blushing. “I mean, you know, the messy look, the natural look, it’s very you. I’m glad Alicia has done natural makeup on you. You wouldn’t look like you with too much on.”
Ugh, could you be any cheesier with the lines? Come on, Julia.
She looked at Victoria to find her blushing too, just for a second. Then she took a big gulp of champagne. “Thanks. You can call me Vic you know, if you wanted to? Do you like my dress?” Vic turned around suddenly and the dress was tight around her ass. It finished high on her thighs. Julia knew damn well that Vic was flirting with her. She knew how good the dress looked from the back. She knew how good her ass was.
Oh, God.
Julia gulped down a big drink of orange juice. Julia felt herself blushing furiously. “The dress looks amazing.”
Your ass looks amazing.
Vic turned back around smiling wickedly.
“If you don’t mind me calling you Victoria still, then I will keep using it. I think it is such a beautiful name. Or V. I think V suits you, too.”
Vic plucked another glass of champagne from a passing waitress and started drinking. “You can call me anything you like. Can I call you Swoolia?” Vic winked at her and looked her up and down again with the same hunger her eyes had in them earlier. Julia wondered how long it was since she had felt desired in the same way that she felt now. It was disarming and seductive. Vic was in full flirt and confidence mode and it suited her.
Julia knew about this nickname Vic had for her; she had let it slip when she had been high on painkillers whilst giving birth. It was flattering. “I guess you can call me Swoolia, why not?” Julia smiled at her. “You think I’m swoony?” Julia flirted back.
God, what am I doing?
“YES! Fuck yes,” Vic responded enthusiastically. “I think you are the most utterly swoony gorgeous woman I have ever seen.” Vic looked mildly drunk but deadly serious.
Julia felt a bolt of desire rush through her, and she felt it between her legs. She looked away first.
“Anyway,” Julia picked up a gift wrapped in shiny red paper with a silver bow that was on the nearby table. “I got this for Hyzenthlay.”
Vic’s eyes lit up and she smiled happily. “Let’s go outside and we can open it.” Vic picked up the gift as though she was the child whose birthday it was and started heading keenly outside, Hyzenthlay in one arm and the gift from Julia in the other. Julia picked up Vic’s champagne and another orange juice for herself and followed them.
Vic put Hyzenthlay on the floor and then plonked herself down on the grass next to her in the corner away from everyone else. Julia kicked off her heels and sat down next to them, trying to elegantly sit on the floor in a pencil skirt was not an easy feat.
Vic was endearingly never bothered by a need for elegance. Julia caught more than one glimpse of black lace underwear at the top of long bare legs as Vic adjusted herself on the ground and showed Hyzenthlay the gift, and for a second Julia desired to see Vic in just her underwear.
Stop it. She’s here with her child.
Vic looked delighted as she unwrapped the silver ribbon for Hyzenthlay.
“See here, Tiny One, a lovely present from Auntie Swoolia.”
“Swooooo,” Hyzenthlay said and Julia laughed.
