Page 121 of Black
I replayed his words in my mind.You should only fall in love with a person who enjoys your madness. Not an idiot who forces you to be normal.
“Gabriel isn’t an idiot,” I said in a sharp tone.
“Maybe not, but he’s a fool if he thinks he can change you.”
“He did change me… well, maybe not him alone, but Bruce and Gabriel did change me.”
Violet tilted her head and there was a small smile in the upper corner of her lips. “Change you how?”
“I grew stronger… more confident… and I didn’t need…” I trailed off and looked down at all the black clothes.
“That’s right, you don’t need him,” Daniel said. “You got us.”
Without thinking I reached my hand up to pull the black beanie off my head and let down my blond hair.
But Darren wasn’t going to dwell anymore on my major life crisis and the revelations that were going through my head. He was already moving on to the next subject.
“By the way, Miss Violet, who was the man in the charcoal gray shirt that you kept looking at all night?” Darren asked. “Don’t think I don’t see what goes on in my shop.”
Violet played with her long hair, which was hanging loose tonight. “Oh, that’s just Jake. He was here with my older brother Christian.”
“You like him!” Darren said. Not as a question but a statement.
Her smile was enough to confirm Darren’s observation. “I’ve had a crush on Jake since fifth grade, but he doesn’t see me that way.” There was a chipper smile on her face that didn’t hide the sadness below. “Jake is three years older than me and he always just saw me as Christian’s annoying younger sister.”
“But a three-year age difference means nothing when you’re both in your twenties,” I objected.
“No, I guess not, but back when we were kids it did, and maybe that’s why I’m still invisible to him.”
“Are you sure he isn’t just shy or something?” I asked.
She laughed. “Yes, I’m sure. Jake tolerates me because I’m Christian’s sister, but he thinks I’m a candidate for an asylum, I think.”
“You don’t know that.”
“No, strangely enough I can’t read him very well. He’s not a very emotional guy, and while I pick up all sorts of things from other people, Jake has always been a bit of a mystery to me. But” – she threw her hands in the air – “it doesn’t take supernatural abilities to figure out that when someone avoids being alone with you or never asks you any questions, it’s not a sign of affection.”
“He’s a jerk,” Daniel said. “I would be ecstatic if you would be my girl. I don’t care how crazy you are, you are kind, intelligent, and beautiful.”
“Oh my, aren’t we a little support group tonight,” Darren said dryly. “It’s time for you to move on, Cherry Pie, it’s obviously not meant to be.”
“I know,” replied Violet. “I just always hoped that someday he would look up and see me, but it’s like I’m air to him.”
“What does he do?” I asked.
Violet brushed some nonexistent crumbs off her dress with a sad smile on her face. “Jake is a scientist and very rigid about everything having to be based on evidence. You could say that he’s my complete opposite since I’m all about intuition and spiritual energy.”
“Sometimes opposites attract,” I said to make her feel better.
“True, and sometimes opposites clash, but in our case I just seem to be tidally locked to him, like the moon rotating around the earth, but never getting closer.
She reached out and squeezed my hand. “Thank you for trying to cheer me up, though.”
“Enough of your soppy love stories,” Darren said and sat down his glass. “Too bad it’s only Tuesday or we could go and get hammered at some bar and get you two ladies laid.” He put his hands behind his head and leaned back with his elbows pointing out. “I have the equipment to do it of course, but I’m afraid I would have to be extremely drunk to find you attractive enough to offer my services, since I’m more into…” He eyes trailed to Daniel. “Well, handsome men obviously.”
Both Daniel’s palms flew up. “Sorry, champ, but I’m straighter than straight.”
Darren made a long heavy sigh and his arms fell down in his lap. “Well, isn’t that just great… then I’ll join the sad chorus of those two lonely ladies over there.” He waved a hand in the direction of Violet and me. “That leaves only you, Daniel, do you at least have a love life worth sharing?” he asked Daniel, who coughed.
