Page 23 of Might as Well

“Still here?” she mutters.

“Yes, stop being so surprised.”

“Why didn’t it work out with you and Deanna?”

Her question catches me off guard, causing me to falter as I take my shirt off. “What do you mean?” I ask carefully. She already knows what happened. I don’t understand her question.

“You’re so nice; why couldn’t she see that?”

“Being nice isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.” I don’t know what it is with women, but I’m absolutely sick of hearing about how nice I am, only to watch them walk away at some point. Am I supposed to be a mean bastard? I don’t get it. “Besides, we were like pieces of the same puzzle, but we didn’t fit together. Brayden’s her missing piece.”

I walk out of the room to get a glass of water. Graham storms into the house and stops short when he sees me.

“You again,” he states.

“Got a problem with that?” I ask, not caring either way.

“Why are you fucking around with my sister?”

“Why do you care?” I counter.

“Because we don’t need some asshole hanging around.”

I raise a brow at him. “Last I checked, the only asshole around was you. Is there a reason you’re twenty years old and having your sister take care of you?” I’m overstepping big time, I know, but Violet doesn’t deserve the way he treats her. And if she won’t say something to him, I certainly will. I can’t seem to help myself, especially after I come home from a trip and she breaks down because of an argument they had.

“You don’t know shit about what happens here. You don’t have room to talk either considering you’re married and fucking my sister.”

Locking down my temper, I simply state, “I’m not having an affair with her.”

Graham snorts. “Yeah, okay. Just stay the fuck out of my way.” He walks past me and rams into my shoulder.

“Get a job and move out and you won’t have to worry about me.” I walk back to Violet’s room before he can respond.

She sleepily opens her eyes at hearing me return. She scoots over to snuggle against me once I join her. “My grandma would’ve loved you.”

Her mentioning her family surprises me. “Yeah?”

“Yeah; she loved watching the Food Network, too.”

I smile and chuckle. I’m not exactly surprised to hear an old lady liked the channel as well.

“Thank you,” Violet whispers.

“For what?”

She lifts her head, appearing a bit embarrassed as her cheeks flush. “For not leaving and not pushing me.” Violet leans forward and presses a soft kiss against my mouth.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I tell her seriously. I earn another smile before she rests her head on my chest again. We’re definitely talking tomorrow, though, so I hope she’s ready for all my questions.

Her body relaxes and her breathing is nearly even when she whispers, “I appreciate nice guys.”

I kiss the top of her head and close my eyes to get some rest.

In the morning, I forewarn Violet that we’re talking this afternoon and ask her to meet me at my house for dinner; I don’t want to chance Graham being around. It’s a relief when she agrees to do so.

Before practice, I find Cal, who frowns when he sees me. “Everyone gets a woman and then vanishes on me. I expected better from you, Z.”

I laugh. “You have a woman too.”

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