Page 30 of Outplayed

Chapter Eight

Travis

Icould have killed Link for telling Violet about the photograph in my office. I was sure she’d run from the room scared. She hadn’t. It had killed me to see the tears in her eyes, how her body shook, her hands fisted, but she’d stayed. I could have kissed Link instead.

After dinner, Izzy took Violet to her room to see the fairy lights Violet got her. That had shocked me as well. Violet bought Izzy a present. Knowing she’d thought of Izzy was sweet. While I knew my girl was amazing, I hadn’t thought Izzy would manage to capture Violet so quickly, especially since Violet used to tell me she never wanted children.

Things could change.

Hopefully, they kept changing.

For her, for me, for us.

As I was coming from the hall near the staircase, I watched Izzy holding Violet’s hand coming down the stairs. They were talking about something, well, mainly Izzy was, but Violet was grinning down at her. They were lost in each other and didn’t even see me as Izzy guided Violet towards the living room. Seeing their hands clutched together was… something beautiful.

Izzy didn’t know her mother, and if I could, I would make sure it stayed that way. I wasn’t interested in Violet as a replacement mother figure for Izzy. I was selfish and wanted Violet for myself, but seeing them interact with each other tightened my chest in the nicest way.

Walking into the living room, I spotted Izzy sitting on the couch and Violet on the floor in front of her. “I love your hair,” Izzy commented.

“And I love yours.”

“You can do mine after, if you want?”

“I’d enjoy that.” She winced when Izzy pulled too hard.

“Be sure to be gentle, Izzy.”

They both looked over at me. “I will, Daddy.”

My steps stopped when Violet smiled up at me.

She was smiling at me.

At the man who’d tapped her phones. I was a fucking idiot.

At the man who pimped women out.

Violet was smiling up at me.

It started to fade because I stood there staring at her like a goddamn fool. Quickly, I grinned back and then asked, “Would anyone like ice cream for dessert?”

“Me! Me, me, me,” Izzy said, bouncing on the couch.

Violet glanced behind her, laughing. She looked back at me. “I guess I’ll have some too, thanks.”

Christ, I could picture this every night for the rest of my life. I wanted it to be true. I wanted Violet always at my side.

I had to make it happen.

Nodding, I said, “I better go get some before my princess turns into a monster.”

“Daddy,” Izzy whined. “I’ll never be a monster.”

“Sure, Izzy. Sure.”

She cackled.

By the time I made it back in with a tray of bowls full of chocolate ice cream, it was to see Izzy holding Violet’s head and shouting, “See, Miss Violet, that’s Ariel. Isn’t she beautooful?”

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