Page 12 of Corrupt Obsession

“Always taking care of everyone,” Violet murmured as she settled back against the pillows. “Who takes care of you?”

He stiffened. “I take care of myself.”

“Not anymore. You take care of me; I take care of you.”

“I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”

“Yes, you do.” She patted the empty space beside her. “Come lie down.”

“What?”

“You may have gotten more sleep than me, but you’re tired too.”

“I’m okay.”

Her eyes narrowed before she pouted and batted her wet eyelashes. “You’re just going to leave me after I bawled my eyes out and confided my worst fears to you?”

He glared at her before he rolled his eyes and rounded the bed. When he stretched out beside her, she rolled into him. Her voluminous skirt flopped over his black slacks. He grumbled, even though her weight against him felt nice.

“I love you,” she whispered.

He stopped breathing.

“I’ve said it to Mom, and she’s said it to me, but you and I haven’t… I just wanted you to know.”

He couldn’t speak past the obstruction in his throat, so he didn’t say anything. Minutes passed. He stared at the ceiling and fought the pull of sleep but was just starting to drift off when she slapped his chest.

He jolted. “What was that for?”

“Aren’t you going to say it back?” she demanded.

His mouth curved as he murmured, “I love you, Violet.”

Chapter 3

JESSE

2 YEARS LATER

Jesse snaggeda soda from a cooler and retreated to the shade. As he took a swig from the icy can, he took in the view. It was a beautiful summer day at the lake. Kids cannonballed off the pier under the watchful eye of their parents and the older kids who waited for their turn to ride one of the jet skis that someone had brought. The air was filled with gleeful screams, someone playing a guitar, and shouts from a football game.

He spotted Mom sitting on Isaac’s lap near the grill. Isaac hadn’t wanted to request time off from work to camp with church friends, but his smile said he was enjoying himself. Mom was a good influence on him. In the two years they’d been married, they had their fair share of disagreements, but they were happy.

“My turn!”

He followed the sound of Violet’s voice and saw her wading through the water toward a group playing chicken. She stopped in front of Malcolm, a boy a year older than him. Malcolm leaned down to whisper something in her ear. Violet wore a one-piece bathing suit with shorts, but her back was completely exposed.Jesse’s eyes narrowed as Malcolm’s fingers brushed the base of her spine.

A second later, Malcolm sank beneath the surface, so Violet could hop on his shoulders. When Malcolm straightened, he reached up to steady Violet and took advantage of her position to grip her hips and smooth his hands down her legs. He playfully staggered, making Violet shriek and clutch at his head, the only thing available for her to hang onto. Malcom’s broad smile said he was enjoying this a little too much for Jesse’s liking.

He started forward as Malcolm and Violet faced off with Marissa, who was on Benny’s shoulders. The guys moved forward so the girls could battle. Marissa was older and outweighed Violet by a good thirty pounds, but if he had to bet on either girl, his odds were on Violet. He was proven right less than five seconds later when Marissa toppled off Benny’s shoulders and hit the water with a splash.

Violet did a celebratory shimmy as Marissa got back on Benny’s shoulders. By the time he reached them, Violet had dethroned Marissa a second time.

Marissa sputtered as she came up for air. “Your sister’s ruthless.”

When he started to pass, Marissa grabbed his arm.

“You’re taller than Benny. Maybe I can beat her if I’m on your shoulders.”

---