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Being around Violet brings out some primal, barbaric side of me. I want her, but since I can’t have her, I end up acting like a giant asshole.
I knew Violet was going to be here. She’s most of the reason I canceled my date and tagged along with Jenkins and Taylor. I thought maybe it would be an opportunity for us to hang out and bury the hatchet, so to speak.
She lifts her chin defiantly. Her first words make me suck in a breath. “I lost my virginity to a jerk who pretended to be super into me.” I swallow the acid burning my throat. “A week later I found him in bed with my roommate.” Every word is a physical blow. “And finally, the same jerk crashed my weekend camping trip with friends while continuing to hook up with every girl that crosses his path.”
“Tell me the part again about how you made him check the tent for a wild animal.” I cringe. When Daisy and I got back Sunday, we spent a lazy evening chilling with our roommates, Dahlia and Jane, and of course, Gavin showing up and crashing our weekend was a hot topic. “It was so embarrassing.” “Yes, maybe, but he did it. He still likes you.”
“I never meant to hurt you, Violet. You were amazing. We had so much fun together. I don’t even remember leaving with Bailey that night.” At the mention of her old roommate, she stiffens. “You know what? You can keep your apology. I don’t want it, I don’t need it, and I do not accept it.”
there’s something about Jane Austen. It’s the language and her strong heroines. And the way they always know exactly what to say to cut the hero to the quick. And, of course, he gives it right back while still being so very obvious to everyone but the heroine how much he cares for her.
This is going to be the whole plot
“Can I get you anything?” She lies on the couch and curls up into a ball, holding her stomach. “No. I just want to lie here until I die.” “Don’t die on me. Then who would I fight with?”
My brain might know this is temporary, but my heart is punching to get out of my chest. It’s belonged to her since the first time I met her.
“Contrary to what you think, Vi, I care about you. If I thought you needed something, I’d do a lot more than kick down a door to get to you.”
I have a few other memories of those days, talking to dad on the phone. It’s one of the few times we talked while he was on the road traveling with the team. He liked to focus, drown out all the noise, while he played. I guess I never realized until now that included me and my mom.
“Six hours?!” “No one is forcing you to watch them with me, Leonard.” “I’m invested now. Plus, I need to know what a hand flex is. Sounds kinky.”
why do you have four copies of Persuasion?” He picks up the top one from the stack on my nightstand. “I told you I like the story.” “So get one copy.” “They all have different covers.”
“Can I come back tomorrow? We can watch six hours of Darcy and Elizabeth, if you want, or I’ll read some more Persuasion. I want to spend more time with you.”
The truth is my dad says very little about ball. Ever since I told him I wasn’t interested in playing professionally, he stopped pretending to care.
They say hindsight is 20/20, and I think that must be true because when I see them together, it makes two things in my life crystal clear. Number one, my parents never had that. Or at least not as far back as I can remember. Number two, I want that. And I can only picture it with one person.
She’s here out of obligation and misconstrued guilt, which pisses me off for some reason. Maybe because I want to be her friend. Nah, fuck that. Not her friend. I want to be her everything.
And after a year of wishing for a second chance, I finally have a date with Violet.
“It took a couple of minutes for it to register, or I would have immediately agreed.” He holds the door open for me, and something in his playful smile and dark brown eyes holds me captive as he says, “I always hear you, Violet.”
Violet is a freaking ten any day of the week, but tonight, in that blue dress with her hair wavy and those shoes… damn those shoes, she steals the air from my lungs.
“You banned them from coming outside?” I ask, smiling as I think about how that conversation must have gone. “I wanted a few hours with you to myself.”
I think I could die a happy death while Gavin plays with my hair. It’s just about the sexiest thing ever.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re very beautiful and sometimes very frustrating?” “Only you.”
“You really hurt her. I know she plays it off like nothing gets to her, but deep down, Vi is sensitive and idealistic. She deserves someone who won’t trample on her romantic heart.”
“I have to go. I’ll see you later.” “Boyfriend.” “What?” she asks, taking another step away. “I’ll see you later, boyfriend,” I say. She holds my hand until the distance pulls them apart. “I’ll see you later, boyfriend.”
It was just easier to hate on the entire jock population than admit I was in love with someone that didn’t want me.” “I wanted you.” He traces my bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. “I fucked up, but I have always wanted you.” Gavin places a soft kiss on my lips and then his gaze snaps back up to meet mine. “Wait, did you just say you were in love with me?” He cocks his head to the side. “Past or present tense?” “Past and present tense.”
“Mhmm. Two truths and a lie.” “Okay.” I give him a tentative smile. “Number one, I have the hottest girlfriend alive.” “Two, I can’t imagine my life without you.” “And three?” I ask. “I have been in love with you since the night your sandal broke, and I carried you to your dorm.” My heart threatens to burst in my chest. “Which one is the lie?” “None of them.” He grins. “They’re all true.”
