Page 93 of Corrupt Obsession

At lunch today, Brody nudged her and jerked his chin across the cafeteria, where Jesse sat with an odd mix of people.

“What’s going on there?” Brody asked.

“No idea,” she’d said, but her gaze was on the stunning redhead who had her hand on Jesse’s arm.

Georgia had pressed against her back to whisper excitedly, “Ooh. Are they dating?”

She’d turned away with a shrug while Brody said, “Jesse and Faye? He hasn’t said anything about her, but it sure looks like she’s willing.”

While the guys joked around, Georgia said, “They make a striking couple. Jesse hasn’t dated anyone this year, has he? What’s the deal?”

When Violet bit into her sandwich to avoid answering, Georgia poked her in her side.

“You’re his sister. You should be able to give us the inside scoop. I can’t believe he doesn’t tell you anything. You guys are always together.”

“Jesse’s a gentleman,” Marie interjected. “He doesn’t kiss and tell. He’s the only guy I know who’s stayed friends with all his exes. None of them has a bad thing to say about him, except for the fact that he broke up with them. He gave them princess treatment for a few weeks—opening their door, pulling out their chairs, buying them flowers, and thenbam.” Marie clapped her hands. “He says they’re done. No warning, no explanation other than it wasn’t working out. None of them can make sense of it. They’d take him back in a heartbeat if he asked.”

“I think Madyson took it the hardest. I heard Trent broke up with her because Jesse’s all she talked about.” Georgia looked around before she added, “It’s been, like, a year. You’d think she’d be over him by now.”

“Can you really blame her? Jesse’s everything any girl could want in a boyfriend.”

Violet tuned out her friends and fantasized about her senior year when she wouldn’t have to listen to her friends gush about what a gentleman Jesse was. If they only knew what he’d done to her on the way to school that morning…

Jesse’s gaze abruptly rose and speared hers. Her stomach clenched. She switched her attention back to Dad and forced herself to eat, even though she wasn’t hungry. She hoped Jesse dated Faye and transferred all his kinky, erotic fantasies to the gorgeous redhead instead of her. He was a sex fanatic. Perverted, twisted. He never missed an opportunity to have hisway with her. The only time she was free of his advances was when she turned in for the night and locked the bedroom and bathroom door. The next day, the battle to avoid him began anew.

Jesse was still staring at her. She resolutely ignored him and focused on Dad, who laughed as he told a story about his coworker who had to defend himself against a guy wielding an umbrella like a sword while high on some psychedelic drug.

“And then, Derrick leaps at him and says…” Dad chortled.

“I joined the Air Force.”

Jesse’s statement was said so casually that Violet ignored it. It wasn’t until silence fell, and she registered that Mom and Dad were both gawking at Jesse, that she processed what he said.

Shock made her fingers fumble her fork, which clattered loudly as it dropped on her plate. She assumed Jesse would go to college, but if he went into the military, that would be even better! Her lips curved in what felt like the first genuine smile she’d had all year.

“You didwhat?”

Lynne’s hoarse voice snapped Violet out of her giddy delight. Registering the tension in the air, she bowed her head to hide her joy, but at Jesse’s silence, she glanced at him and found him watching her through narrowed eyes.

“Jesse?”

Lynne’s tone was part plea, part demand. Slowly, Jesse transferred his attention to his mother who sat across the table from him.

“I enlisted,” Jesse said calmly.

“H-how? You didn’t ask for my consent. I didn’t sign anything allowing you to?—”

“I’m eighteen, Mom.”

Lynne’s expression went from horror to outrage as she shouted, “You haven’t talked about the military for years!”

Jesse didn’t bat an eye at his mother’s outburst. “Because it upset you, not because I changed my mind.”

“You saw what losing your father did to me, and you’re volunteering to put yourself in the same position?”

“I made a promise,” Jesse said quietly.

Lynne slammed her fist on the table. “Do you think your father would ask you to honor that promise if he knew he would die at thirty?”

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