Swoon

by Lauren Rowe

Violet’s blue eyes flash with anger. “Colin wants to have sex with you, and play house with you, and bring you to parties and to my house to hang out, until we’re all head over heels in love with you . . . all while telling you it’s only casual?” “In fairness, we both agreed.” “But that’s not what you want?” Violet says. “You agreed because you figured some of Colin was better than nothing?” I swallow hard and nod. “But now you feel like his side chick. His guilty pleasure. You feel like he cares more about your brother’s feelings than yours.” This time, she’s issuing statements, not questions. And I can’t stop nodding like a bobblehead. “Get out of my head, Violet Morgan,” I whisper, trying to deflect my embarrassment with humor. But Violet’s not smiling at my remark, so I clasp my hands and press my lips together, feeling bare and vulnerable under her blue gaze. Alessandra shifts in her seat. “For what it’s worth, I can tell Colin really likes you. Every time I’ve seen him with you, it’s obvious he’s totally smitten with you.” My heart leaps with hope at Alessandra’s pronouncement . . . until I see the look of skepticism and fury Violet and Maddy are exchanging. “You two don’t agree,” I say. Violet returns to me and smiles sympathetically. “Of course, we agree Colin is smitten with you. That boy is happier around you than he’s ever been. That’s what makes what he’s doing so infuriating.”

The ladies unhappy with Colin again...he's reaping all the benefits