Page 32 of Corrupt Obsession

He waited a second before he asked, “You’re coming, right?”

“I’m not sure. My friends asked me to do something Friday night.”

On cue, her phone chimed.

“Who’s texting you?”

“Georgia and Allison and…”

Another chime sounded.

“And?” he prompted as he turned into the school parking lot.

“Huh?” Violet looked around and waved when she spotted her friends. “There they are!”

He parked and tried to tamp down the flurry of emotions in his chest as she prepared to leave. “Violet.”

“Yeah?”

“Hang on a minute.”

Her body visibly stiffened. The unease he dismissed last night came back full force. He assumed they could finally talk openly, but Vi clearly wasn’t ready.

“Look at me.”

She made eye contact with him several times this morning, her eyes filled with rabid good cheer. Not now, though. They were more green than hazel, a sure sign that her temper was on the rise.

“What, Jesse?” she asked impatiently as her cheeks bloomed with color.

He wished he could touch her, but in the mood she was in, he had no idea how that would be received. She was skittish and on edge and couldn’t make it plainer that she wanted to get away from him. What the hell was happening?

“Is everything okay?”

His voice was gruff with panic. He had the crazy urge to keep her in the car and drive to some secluded place where they wouldn’t be interrupted so they could sort this out.

“I’m fine. I’ll see you later,” she said and slid out of the vehicle.

He didn’t move as she hurried over to her friends. He sat there for a full minute, his mind racing. She’d been with him every step of the way last night, so what was the issue? Had she just become aware of his feelings and her own? Did she need more time to wrap her mind around this? He wished she would tell him, so he wasn’t left feeling like everything he wanted was slipping through his fingers before he had a chance to grab hold of it.

Her feelings had changed somewhere along the way, she just didn’t want to admit it. For weeks now, he’d sensed a subtle change in her gaze. She thought he wouldn’t notice, but he was so aware of her, he felt the weight of her intrigued consideration during his games, on their commute to school, and when they watched TV. He thought he might have imagined it, but after last night, he was certain. To help her along, he stripped in front of her whenever possible, like yesterday after pinning her on thecouch. Was she worried about what people would say? Their parents? He didn’t care what they faced if he had her, but Violet didn’t feel the same. So, where did that leave them?

He hissed through his teeth as he stepped out of the SUV and resisted the urge to slam the door. He wouldn’t push it for now. Pressuring her would only cancel the progress he’d made. He’d lasted this long. He could wait a little longer, especially with last night’s victory under his belt.

Good things come to those who wait, he reminded himself.

“So,this is where you’re hiding.”

He turned to see Brody enter the gym.

“Hiding?” he echoed before he turned back to the hoop and took his shot.

Brody let out a disgusted sound as he made his way across the court. “Are you practicing for the NBA?”

“You know I’m going into the military.”

“I was hoping you changed your mind,” Brody muttered.

“I haven’t.”

---