Page 117 of Violet

Also berries, and a thick plain yogurt that’s so creamy and decadent I could eat it by the spoonful. Then in the pantry I pull out the nut and seed granola. Perfect.

I look at my phone. New message is through.

Rue

Tell Mom we r going. U r. W Asher. Ur the envy of so many. If he doesn’t have a bro, does he have a friend who’ll wait 4 me?

I text back, and I slice the berries and heat the pan.

No brother, and I’m not sure Heath’s going to allow you to be with an older Emporia man.

Rue

He’ll b a star!!! No. I meant here. I might want 2 move, but not sure.

She says this like she’s twenty-one and about to have her first Season. I bite down on my smile as I whisk the eggs and chop the spinach. It probably needs tomatoes but there aren’t any. I find some parmesan and grate it, adding it to the feta. I wilt the spinach in the pan, quickly adding some twists of pepper, then I toss that on the cheeses.

Rue

No, I want 1 of his friends from here.

Heath will kill you and the guy.

Rue

Heath’s so stuffy.

Oh, Heath will love being called stuffy. But he can barely tolerate me with one of his friends. I don’t think he’d let another sibling run off and mate with one of Stephan’s.

Rue

Heath’s spending time with Asher’s agent! Anyway, Vi. The BALL. Monarch announced it and the QB. I luv her. I want 2 go as her. Mask wise. The ball is honey and nectar. I could just DIE, Vi. Anyway, how’s the S-E-X? As good as all the books I read? The Stitch graphic novels? It looks really raunchy. Esp 4 Omega/Alpha. Knotting iz hawt

She breaks off. And there’s nothing.

I’m about to text her when I get another message.

Rue

Don’t encourage her. As far as she knows, you and Stephan hold hands.

It’s definitely from Heath. It reeks of stuffiness. I shake my head and text Heath back.

Give Rue her phone. Or maybe I will share every sordid detail.

Heath

Fine. But first, fair warning. Everyone’s coming to visit soon. Mari got it out of me where you are. Then she and Iris are in the middle of an argument with the red-headed hanger-on about the virtues of an at-home honeymoon and if it can be called that. Shit. Now Rue’s involved. Dahlia’s playing Beethoven’s fifth. And Mom just joined in and said he’ll take you somewhere nice soon. I better go deal. Love you, Vi.

Love you too. Allof you.

I smile.

Wedohold hands.

I lower the heat and put a chunk of butter in the pan, then pour in the eggs to make the omelet. When they’re almost done, I add the filling, fold it, and the toast pops up right on time.

The scent of oak envelops me, warm and slightly spicy with a hint of sweetness, as Stephan wraps an arm around me.

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