Page 41 of Might as Well

She wrings her hands anxiously. “I like Violet, I do, but at your age are you sure you want to get tied down to her with everything you have going on?”

With a tilt of my head, I ask, “What do I have going on besides work?”

Mom’s shoulders drop. “I’m sorry. Everything with her just seems so messy and complicated.”

I sigh. This is what I get for sharing details about my relationships with my parents. “You don’t understand, Mom. She only has Graham and that’s not much with how he’s been to her. Plus, he’s leaving soon. Even if we haven’t really gotten there yet, she’s mywife. I’m not abandoning her when she needs support and for someone to have her back. I’m surprised you want me to walk away because things are hard.”

“I’m just trying to look out for you.”

“Thanks, but I’m good. She’s the one, Mom. We’ll be fine.”

God, I certainly hope so. I can’t imagine losing Violet and I meant what I said, I won’t let her walk away. Not over fear. I can ease any she has, or at least counter them.

Mom, feeling satisfied that her work here is done, hops back on a plane to return home. When I next look at the clock, it’s half past six. I check my phone and see a text from Violet, sent about ten after.

Don’t send the cavalry. I got distracted with work. Will be there soon.

I order us Japanese to be delivered and hope she likes what I’ve picked for her. It takes another fifteen minutes before there’s a knock on my door, Violet opening it seconds later.

“Sorry I’m late.” She winces as she walks over to me.

“What’s the matter?”

Her cheeks flush, but she shakes her head.

“Violet.”

“I just need to take my shoes off.”

She toes out of her shoes, causing my gaze to drop and me to ask, “What the fuck happened to your feet?” Blood seems to be soaking in various spots on her socks.

“Shit,” she curses as she reaches down to pull them off. Violet ignores me as she wobbles on her heels into my bedroom and then my en-suite bathroom. She looks for and finds the bandaids.

“Violet. What happened?” I snatch the bandaids out of her hand and find gauze and a bandage wrap.

She sighs as she sits on the toilet, allowing me to take over and cover her feet. “When I heard the news report, I dropped my glass and then stepped in the broken pieces. Cut my feet up. My shoes rubbed the cuts and aggravated some of the worst ones.”

I lift my head. “Freaked out a little, huh?” I ask gently.

She holds up her hand with her forefinger and thumb showing a short distance between them. “Only a little.”

“Stay right there,” I order once I finish. I stand and find my bedroom shoes. “Here. Wear these.” Maybe it’ll be better than walking barefoot. The doorbell rings throughout the house. “That’s dinner.”

“You didn’t cook?” she teases with a raised brow.

“Not today.” She follows me, heading to the kitchen to sit at the bar while I grab the food. “Hope you like Japanese. I got a spicy shrimp tempura roll and yakisoba for you, but?—”

“That’s fine. Thanks.”

I watch her carefully while we eat. She appears fine for all intents and purposes, but she’s quiet. She only asks if my mom left already, which I confirm.

After dinner, I settle onto the couch. Violet took a quick trip to the restroom and upon her return, she surprises me by straddling my lap. But something about her demeanor tells me that sex is the last thing on her mind.

“I’m sorry,” she starts with a sigh. “I don’t want to walk away, but I’m overwhelmed and scared and my mind feels like a jumbled freaked-out mess.” She glances down at her hands. “I think…when I heard…my heart broke over thinking I’d lost you. I didn’t even believe your mom when she said you were fine because she hadn’t seen or spoken to you yet, so how could she really know despite what they told her? I just…I feel like a lunatic, Zane. I’m ready to run away.”

Her sad gaze pierces me. If I didn’t already know I wanted to do everything to make her happy and feel secure, that look would’ve done me in. She opens her mouth to say more, but changes her mind and crashes into me. Whether it’s because I’m a horny dick or because maybe this is actually what she needs, I let her lead me wherever she wants to go.

I happily drown myself in her touch, in her body, and in the bliss we create. Eventually, Violet rests her head on my shoulder, our skin slick with sweat.

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