Page 33 of Love & Other Disasters

“Explain myself? Oh you did not say that to me. I don’t have to explain anything. I’m the only woman in history to not have a one-night stand in college. When I finally manage it, he keeps showing up in my life wanting to talk about it. You’re a dude. You’re not supposed to want to talk about anything.”

“Well how about me, sweetheart. I’m the man who wants to talk about it. There’s something about you and that night that makes me want to talk about it. I think I deserve to know why you gave me a fake name.”

Emotions whirled through Violet, but she only sighed and stared out at the dead grass, turning away from him. He was one hard-headed man.

“I overstepped today, this wasn’t the best way to go about it. Can I claim insanity with everything going on right now?”

“What if these roles were reversed, and you were the one in my shoes right now?”

“I’d never give a fake name.”

“I hadn’t either up till that point. And it was Elle’s idea of a joke, and after we found out you were Brent’s friend, I tried hard not to connect with you.”

J.P. reached over and stroked her hand; she let him take it.

The backdoor opened and her mom stuck her head out. “Dinner’s ready,” she called.

Violet’s mom disappeared back into the house. He shouldn’t stay, he’d already intruded on her private life enough. She had every right to be angry with him, and his selfish reasons weren’t good enough. Although, she’d given him more insight into her than she’d meant. She tried hard not to connect, but failed. It was there, between them, pulling them to each other. They stood there with her delicate hand in his, and he liked it. This was dangerous and stupid, but no one accused him of playing it safe.

J.P. kissed her hand. “I won’t stay.”

Violet laughed a little maniacal sound, “Oh no, dear, you’re not getting off that easy. Your punishment is going to this freak show as my boyfriend.”

Her boyfriend for the evening didn’t sound like a punishment at all. He smiled. “Whatever you say, dear.” She laughed and started toward the house; he moved along side of her. “Speaking of getting off, with me, you’re always the one getting off first.”

She choked on a laugh and slapped his bicep with her free hand, catching his eye before rolling hers.

“Not all guys hold that philosophy,” he said.

“Trust me, I know,” she said, ascending the back porch steps.

What did she mean by that? And did she describe dinner as a freak show?

Violet pulled open the back door, and he reached around to hold it open for her, the odor of burned food hit him. They coughed.

“What on earth is that smell?” Violet asked.

“I made vegan paella,” her sister announced. She stood at the stove over a pan that she pointed to with a flourish, like she was spokeswoman on the home shopping channel.

What was her name again? From the dominant fragrance, she’d burned it to a crisp. What was she so proud of?

“It’s burned,” Violet said.

“No, that’s how it’s cooked. See you don’t stir a traditional paella at all, you let it sit and a crust forms on the bottom giving it flavor. Isn’t that right?” she asked the guy who sauntered over the threshold into the room—the one who sat crossed legged on the floor in a meditation pose earlier. Her sisters’ boyfriend. He also suspected dude was high with the crooked smile, relaxed demeanor, and glassy eyes.

In the compact square kitchen with its white cabinets now cramped by another body, J.P.’s instinct was to pull Violet away from this guy. But she’d moved to the other side of the room, opening a window, the blue and white checkered curtains blowing from the fresh breeze. Thank god. The stench of burning food overwhelmed him.

“That’s right, darling,” the words slurred a little at the end. The dude’s glazed-over eyes scanned him. “Hey man, I’m Geoff with a G.”

“I’m J.P.,” he replied, “with a J and a P.”

“Right on,” Geoff with a G responded, bobbing his head as if in time with unheard music. “I hope you like ethical food.”

“What’s ethical food?” He’d like it fine as long as it was not burned to a crisp.

“Vegan food, man. We should not use animals for our consumption. I’m bringing vegan food to this household. I’m evangelizing for these animals, man.”

He hated to tell him that his shoes had leather in them.

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