Page 73 of Corrupt Obsession

Violet went ghost white.

“You…” she began in a strangled tone but was interrupted by the sound of the garage door opening.

Violet shoved him hard enough to make him rock back on his heels. She frantically wiped away her tears and then touched her hair and frowned as if she’d slept through him braiding it for her. He got to his feet but stole a kiss to put some color back in her face. He was on his way to the kitchen when Mom came through the door.

“Hey, kids.”

“Hey, Mom.”

When Jesse kissed her cheek, he caught the relief that passed through her eyes.

Mom clasped his face. “Are you okay?”

“Never better.”

Mom blinked. “Really?”

“Going to the park put things into perspective and helped me clear my head.”

He heard Violet’s stifled gasp from the living room, but Mom didn’t catch it. Mom followed him to the kitchen and perked up when she saw that everything was done.

“You’re in pajamas already?” Mom asked, plucking at his sweatpants.

“We were sweaty and filthy, so we came home and washed up. Dinner should be ready in a few minutes. You can shower if you want. I got this.”

Mom patted his chest. “Thanks, son. I think I will. Dad should be home soon.”

That evening turnedout to be busier than any of them anticipated. Coach Rick didn’t give up. He called the landline to speak to his parents again, and several teammates stopped by to confirm what they’d heard and pleaded with Mom and Dad to change their minds. Jesse could see Isaac teetering on his punishment, but he didn’t ask to be let off the hook.

When Isaac said he had to quit football, he’d been taken aback and initially pissed before he realized the time he would have spent at practice or at games could now be dedicated to Violet. If it came down to football or Violet, he would chooseher in a heartbeat. Ultimately, he saw this as another reward for beating Tucker’s ass.

It took two hours for his friends and teammates to accept defeat. He stood on the driveway as they let out dejected honks and drove away. Violet was beside him. She’d been drawn out of the house by the girls who’d come with their boyfriends or brothers. She was pale and subdued but functioning well enough that the only question her friends asked had been whether she was coming down with a cold.

Thanks to his behavior that morning and the parade of visitors, Mom and Dad were mainly focused on him at dinner. He thought no one noticed Violet’s listlessness and the fact that she took just a few bites of the taco he made her until Mom rested her hand on Violet’s arm.

“Honey, are you all right?”

As Violet visibly struggled to come up with a response, he asked, “I went too hard on you on the trail today, didn’t I?”

Violet gave a little jerk and gaped at him.

“You’re sore, aren’t you?”

He was pleased by the flicker of rebellion in her eyes and charmed by the blush that hit her cheeks as she shook her head.

He sighed loudly. “Stubborn.”

Violet yelped when he picked her up and snapped, “I’mfine! Put me down!”

“Don’t be proud,” he chided. “I’ll go easier on you next time.”

“You two,” Mom chuckled as he carried Violet to her bedroom.

He closed the door behind him and made his way to her bed. He flicked back the covers before he set her down.

“Do you need Ibuprofen?”

“I said, I’m fine,” she said sullenly and stared at the ceiling.

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