But as April stared back at Vicki, at her mesmerizing eyes and her charming smile, she realized she couldn’t stay mad at Vicki for long. And Vicki looked so captivating in that suit. April allowed her eyes to wander down Vicki’s body, then back up again…
April frowned. “Vicki?”
Vicki’s gaze had shifted to something behind April, her face set like stone and eyes filled with fury. April turned to see an older couple, a man and a woman with striking blonde hair. The man was glaring at Vicki with the exact same expression as Vicki.
“Victoria,” he said.
Vicki’s narrowed her eyes. “Dad. Mom.”
These are Vicki’s parents? The very same parents who had all but disowned her years ago? No wonder Vicki looked so angry.
“What are you doing here?” Vicki asked. “You never come to these things.”
“Your mother wanted to attend,” her father replied curtly.
For a moment no one spoke. April glanced at Vicki’s mother. Her face was vacant, like she was pretending Vicki wasn’t even there.
Vicki’s father looked his daughter up and down. “Still pretending to be a man? I see you haven’t changed.”
“No, I haven’t changed,” Vicki said, her voice filled with venom. “And I’m never going to.”
“Of course you’re not. You just can’t help but do everything you can to humiliate us.”
April gaped at him. How could anyone treat their own child with such disdain?
“I see you haven’t changed either,” Vicki said. “You still believe the world revolves around you. How arrogant do you have to be to think that I am who I am just to spite you?”
“Why else would you persist in behaving this way?” her father asked. “It’s like everything you do is some selfish ploy to shame the family. Dressing like this. Taking a job with those Oasis bastards. Parading around the city with gold-digging sluts on your arm.” He gestured toward April.
Vicki seethed. “Say what you want about me, but don’t you dare speak about April that way.”
“Why not? Whoever this woman is, she’s clearly only after you for your money. Why else would she be with someone like you?” He jabbed his finger in Vicki’s direction. “You’re a disgrace to the Blake family name.”
April’s hands curled into fists. She had heard enough. “How can you say that?” she said.
Vicki’s father looked at April like he’d just been addressed by the wall. “What did you say?”
“How can you say these things about Vicki? Anyone else would be so proud to have a daughter like her! Look at how successful she’s become. She’s smart, and hardworking, and thoughtful, and brilliant. I don’t know how she turned out this way when she had parents like you!” Blood rushed in April’s ears. “It’s you who should be ashamed.”
Vicki’s father’s face turned crimson. “I’m not going to stand here and be insulted by some lesbian tart.”
“Then walk away,” Vicki said.
Her father scoffed. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
“Do you really want me to make a scene in front of all these people?” Vicki asked coldly. “I know how much you care about your reputation. I’m not beneath smearing it even more.”
Her father glanced around.
“I’ll say it again. Walk away and don’t come back. Don’t ever speak to me again.”
Vicki’s father scowled. “Don’t come crying to us when you end up in trouble.”
“It’s been ten years,” Vicki said. “Ten years since you cut me out of your lives. And I’ve been doing just fine. I don’t need you. I never have.”
Vicki’s father opened his mouth to retort, then shut it again. He gave Vicki one last glare then took his wife’s arm. “Let’s go.”
Vicki watched them walk away, her body wound tight as a spring.