Page 25 of Puppy Love

I scowl at the repetitive nickname, and Violet turns around, climbing into her driver’s seat.

“Wait, what are you doing?” I ask, stomping over to follow her.

“I’m turning off my car. We cannot jump start that thing.”

A stream of air huffs out of my nostrils.

“What? But I can’t just—”

Violet’s eyes lock onto mine, her gaze holding me hostage. I squirm uncomfortably, but for some reason, it works.

“Cam, this car is currently undrivable. I’m sorry, but you need someone who knows what they’re doing to come replace the battery.” She pats the passenger seat, and I swear a puff of dust flies out of it. Not that I’m really in the place to judge the condition of a car. “Hop in. I’ll give you a ride home.”

I step back from the door, my wet hair rubbing against the back of my neck in a way that drives me crazy. I shake my head.

“I can’t. I have Dawson in the car and—”

“Awesome! Reese will have a buddy.” She tosses her head to the side. “Get in.”

This feels like an absolutely terrible idea. “It’s okay. I’ll just text Avery. He can—”

“What is this? Stranger danger or something?” Violet hops down, back out of the warm comfort of her car, into the pouring rain. “Look. I’m not going to force you, but I’m also not going to go anywhere until I know you have a safe ride home.” She eyes Luigi for a second, then adjusts her gaze back onto me. “I wouldn’t put it past someone as stubborn as you to try fixing something you shouldn’t.”

I want to ask her what exactly she means by “someone as stubborn as” me. But I can’t seem to get my vocal cords to tighten in the way they need to get a single sound out. Besides, I’m starting to think that Violet Wolfe is not the type of person you just “say no” to.

I still scowl at her, because how dare she, before I stomp over to my car and practically rip off the handle of the back door. Dawson hops out wearily, crouching as he walks like it will aid him in avoiding the rain. Violet doesn’t even try to hide her smirk, and it only makes me more irritated.

“You might look into getting a new car soon,” she says, just as I close the Jeep’s heavy door behind me. I shoot her a glare and toss my phone, mapped to my address, onto her lap.

“You might look into minding your business for once.”

Violet laughs quietly to herself, and I immediately feel bad for snapping, even if she kind of deserved it. Maybe “deserved” is the wrong word, but nobody gets to shit-talk Luigi. She pulls onto the road, and I’m just about to apologize when she starts to speak.

“I’m sorry, I just, I have to ask. Are you this nice to everyone, or just people you make out with in bar bathrooms?”

I swear every blood cell in my body has rushed to the tops of my cheeks. I don’t need to look into a mirror to know they are bright red. I suck in a breath.

“Do you make out with everyone in bar bathrooms, or just people whose dresses you spill margaritas on?”

I expect something from Violet. A blush or a frown. Maybe a dissatisfied glance. What I don’t expect is the corner of her lip to twitch upwards, as she adjusts her rearview mirror that I know needs no adjusting.

She waits a beat before replying. “No,” she says finally. “Just you.”

I slump back into my seat silently. Not by choice. I just can’t find the words to express to this woman how badly she’s getting on my nerves. Especially because I planned to apologize.

“Look,” I say, sucking in a shaky breath. If there is any time to address this thing, it may as well be now. “I know about the policy, the no-fraternization or whatever. So, I’m cool with pretending nothing happened. I’d prefer it, actually.”

Violet doesn’t look at me, but she nods in acknowledgement, tapping the steering wheel with her fingertips like she’s listening to an imaginary song.

“Okay,” she says after a moment. “Me too.”

“Great.”

“Great.”

I almost feel the same relief I did I quit The Dog Shop. Like I just put in my two weeks’ notice of never talking about that night at Monsey’s again. Except this one is more immediate, which makes it even better.

Rain drops pelt the windows as Violet steers down the winding roads. I love the way it sounds, now that I’m not trapped inside my own car pleading for it to start. The sound is soothing and rhythmic, a song created by the clouds. As we make the final turn onto Jadewood Lane, Violet clears her throat, and all the little blonde hairs on my body stand straight up.

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