Page 29 of Might as Well

“Hey,” I reply just as softly. “What’s wrong?” I walk down to the end of the hallway where a couple of chairs sit across from an elevator and take a seat.

“I miss you.”

“I miss you too,” I reply easily. A lull takes over. I could easily speak and share more about my trip with my dad, but I don’t in hopes it pushes her to share.

Violet sighs. “Cassie and I met for lunch today. Graham was nasty to me this morning and she’s pushing me to say something to him. I just…don’t want to push him away when he’s already so far away. And I already know you agree with her.”

“I do. I know you want to take care of him, but you shouldn’t have to, especially considering how he treats you. Forcing him to grow up and take care of himself is the best thing you could do for him, Violet.”

She sighs again. “I’m tired, Zane. The powers that be must hate me for this to be my life.”

“Hey,” I start softly and gently. “Life may be hard, but you aren’t alone. A heart-to-heart with Graham may be just what you guys need to clear the air and get his head out of his ass.”

“Maybe.” She pauses for a moment and then changes the subject. “How’s the trip with your dad? I saw y’all did great tonight.”

We talk for about an hour before I let her go and return to my room to get a little shuteye myself. Hopefully things between her and Graham improve. It annoys the hell out of me that she has to worry about him when she already has so much on her plate.It makes me wish I didn’t travel so much so I could be with her more.

“Graham, that isenough! I’m sick and tired of your shit.”

Neither notice me enter the house, but it’s clear the two are at a standoff. Between knowing the tension was growing between the two and hearing yelling, I let myself in.

“You’ve got one month. Get a job and start paying your part, or I swear to god?—”

“You’ll what?” Graham taunts.

“That ismycar you drive,mycell phone, and those aremyclothes you wear because I buyeverythingfor you. I will take itallback except the clothes on your back and kick you out of here to finally fend for yourself. You will never get your trust if you don’tgrow the fuck up!” Violet takes a deep breath. “Graham, I love you, and I don’t mind that you stay here, but you’ve been hateful to me ever since Grandma died and I’mdone.

“All I’ve tried to do is pick up the pieces and keep us together and you keep trying to tear me down instead. I do the best I can to provide for you on my income because I don’t want to touch the money that was left for us if I can help it, but I’m tired of spending my hard-earned money on an ungrateful asshole! I have so much fucking shit on my plate, the last thing I need is your bullshit. I don’t understand what I did to you?—”

“You remember them!” Graham explodes.

“What?” Violet asks quietly, rocking back on her heels.

“Mom and Dad. You remember them; I don’t. Not really. Not enough. Not like you do. And then Grandma died.” His voice cracks and if I didn’t feel like I was intruding before, I certainly do now. “She had her stroke while I was on that trip to the beachwith my friends and you didn’t call me, Violet! She was in the hospital for two days before she died. You didn’t think it was important for me to say goodbye?” His voice is raw with emotion and it’s clear this is the root of why he’s pissed. “I feel like I’m lost in the middle of the fucking ocean, Vi, and there’s no one around to save me.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I’m so sorry, but you didn’t see her in the hospital like I did, Graham, and you should be thankful. She…I still have nightmares. I didn’t want your last memory of Grandma to be her hooked up like she was. When she would wake up, she was so disoriented and surged upright with a gasp. She looked at me so utterly terrified, reaching out to me like she was begging for help, before collapsing and losing consciousness. I don’t think she ever realized I was there, Graham. I’m sorry you disagree with my choice, but I don’t regret that you didn’t see her like that.

“All we have is each other, Graham. I would like for us to get along instead of tearing at each other’s throats. Can we please do that? Can you please get a job?”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” Graham interrupts with horror as if he actually wants the same bond Violet does.

Violet takes a step backward as if he just slapped her. “What?No. I’m trying to do right by you. You need to work and make your own way. You don’t have to move out unless you want to.”

I clear my throat, feeling like another second can’t go by without them knowing I’m here. They both turn toward me.

“Don’t you know how to fucking knock?” Graham asks, the hatred returning just that easily.

“I did.”

“Shouldn’t you be at home with your wife?”

“I am,” I answer before I can think better of it.

Graham’s eyes widen and he turns back to Violet. “You gotmarried? When?” I can’t tell if he’s hurt or mad.

“In Vegas,” she admits.

“You went to Vegas to get married?”

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