Page 115 of American Beauty

That voice.

Dread slithers up my spine before I even see her face.

The woman from the hallway slides onto the stool across from me, a smug grin playing on her mouth.

Magnolia, oblivious, beams. “Vi, this is Alex.”

Vi.

As in Violet.

As in Magnolia’s best friend.

As in the one person whose opinion matters.

I don’t move. Don’t blink. My mind rewinds, in perfect clarity, every second of that hallway encounter.

She set me up.

Shefuckingset me up.

She watches me like a cat who just trapped a particularly interesting mouse.

“Violet and I already met.”

One thing is clear—Violet is going to make me work for her approval.

Magnolia looks between us. “You’ve already met?”

Violet’s smirk sharpens. “Oh, you know. Just a little pregame warm-up.”

She leans forward, resting one elbow on the bar. “Had to see for myself what we were working with before we got to this part.”

Magnolia’s eyes narrow, suspicion sharpening her features. “Violet… what did you do?”

She taps a manicured nail against the bar, slow and deliberate. “Just ran a quick loyalty check.”

Her gaze cuts to me. “He was about as tempted as a vegan at a barbecue competition.”

Violet lifts the drink I ordered for her and takes a slow sip. “I may have run into him outside the restroom. Recognized him. Pretended to be a random woman trying to pick him up.”

Magnolia makes a choking sound. “You did what?”

Violet flashes a wicked grin. “Magnolia, meet ‘love your accent’ girl.”

Understanding dawns on Magnolia’s face. “Ohhh. Now it all makes sense.”

Violet shrugs, unrepentant. “Had to see how he’d react.”

We both know I passed. I just want to hear her admit it. “And?”

She lifts her hand, examining her nails like she’s grading me. “Wasn’t charmed one bit. Very impressive… for a man.”

I don’t know whether to feel relieved or insulted.

Magnolia groans and drops her head into her hands. “Vi, you can’t ambush people like that.”

Violet smirks, unfazed. “I can, and I did. And honestly? If he had hesitated or even thought about it, wouldn’t you have wanted to know?”

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