Page 131 of Puppy Love

“You didn’t.” I grab her hands, and Violet’s eyes flick up to me. “Violet, this wasn’t a position you put me in. And it isn’t just a fucking contract. Fuck the contract. Forget about it. I don’t care about that anymore. You—” My voice breaks, and I clear my throat. “You changed me. And I know what a fucking cliché that is, believe me. But I was terrified of change. I was scared of anything being different than it was. I was scared that the slightest alter in my routine could be the one thing that ruined my life. Or ended it. And I wasn’t wrong to think that. It’s the truth.”

Violet blinks at me, tears filling her eyes, but she nods for me to continue.

“I’m rambling, I know. I’ll get to it in a second, just bear with me.” I take a slow deep breath, just like she showed me, and continue. “I was scared of everything, and I still am. And it would be romantic to say that the only thing I’m not scared of is how I feel about you, but if I said it, it would be bullshit. Violet—”

She blinks, tears spilling down her face.

“I am terrified by how I feel about you.” She swallows, and I take another shaky breath. “I am terrified by how I feel about you, but I am telling you anyway. Because you make me want to try new things.”

Violet’s lip quivers, and I rub the back of my neck.

“Fuck, I’m sorry. I wasn’t supposed to...”

But Violet cuts me off, pressing her lips against mine. I melt into the tender kiss, warm and loving. She pulls back, looking at me.

“You are the first person that has ever made me cry.”

I hold my breath for a moment before blowing it out awkwardly.

“Yeah well, sorry about that. Not my proudest moment but—”

Violet shakes her head.

“Thank you for making me cry.”

Her lips press back into mine in a body-melting kiss.* But they part quickly. Startled separation forms between us when a loud knock rings inside of the car. We look out the window, a dissatisfied beach blonde woman standing there tapping her acrylics on her arm.

I recognize that woman from her photo in the work group chat and her Facebook Friend Request. It’s Angela.

“Oh fuck.”

I swallow, opening the door of the car, and we both get out. Angela lets out a maniacal laugh.

“So imagine this,” she snaps, waving her hands in the air dramatically. “I end my trip early to come check on my business, to congratulate my manager for exceeding the monetary and rating goals we had set earlier in the year. And when I pull up—” her voice heightens now, to an unpleasant screech. “I see her making out with her newest employee!”

My breath hitches, my chest rising and falling in a panic.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I mean, I was ready to give up this job, but I didn’t think it would happen so soon.

In.

Hold.

Out.

“And I hope you don’t have too much shit to pack because you, Cameron Miller, are fired!”

I swallow, tears filling my eyes as I nod. Angela turns to Violet, her thin eyebrows arched angrily.

“And you?! Well, you’re lucky you reached those goals because they just saved your ass. If I get any word from anyone that you fail to do a single task, I swear—”

“Wait,” Violet cuts her off, stepping in front of me. “You’re firing Cam, but you aren’t going to fire me?”

Angela’s chest heaves angrily, her nostrils flared wide. “Don’t make me regret it, Violet.”

Violet scoffs and rolls her eyes.

“You can’t fire Cam, Angela. The customers love her. Look at the reviews. Look at—”

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