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“So, you were really attacked by four guys.” Her eyes were wide with distress. “Weren’t you scared?”
I smiled. Violet was probably the only person in the world, outside my family, who thought I was capable of the emotion. Who might actually worry if I was. “I think the word you’re looking for is pissed. It was right before the playoffs, and I didn’t want to get an injury. They got a few good punches in, and I landed a couple in return, but I still came out of it with some pretty bad bruising. They ran off when they saw my brothers coming though, so they didn’t do too much damage.”
“They just ran off? I heard you left them lying unconscious.”
“Not quite. But I’m glad to hear you think I could manage it.”
She rolled her eyes. “I guess I’ll have to tell Chrissy from econ she was wrong.”
"Thanks.”
“No problem,” she continued. “I’ll make sure she knows you didn’t fight off four guys. In fact, you took on the whole team, and I saw their hearts displayed on your shelf with my very own eyes.”
“Geez, Sunshine. Are you trying to make my reputation worse?
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” She flashed a playful grin before her expression turned serious again. “You and your brothers really look out for each other, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “They might drive me crazy most of the time, but I know they always have my back.”
“They don’t seem so bad—when they’re not donning their Devil masks.”
I chuckled. “Be honest, my whole family is even more terrifying when they’re smiling. I’m surprised they haven’t already driven you away. They can be a lot, especially my siblings.”
“I like them,” she replied with a warm smile. “Even your siblings.”
“Even Parker?”
“Even Parker.” She laughed. “You weren’t kidding about how intense they are, but they seem fun. I wish I grew up with a brother or sister. Mia’s the closest thing I’ve got.”
“You two seem pretty close.”
“Yeah.” Her expression softened as she looked down at Stanley who she was still gently petting. “Mia’s the best. We lived near each other growing up, and when she and my uncle Luke moved out here a few years ago, I missed her so much. I wasn’t exactly keen on the idea of moving to Sunshine Hills to finish school, but it’s where my mom and Luke are from originally. And I do love living with Mia and my uncle.”
“Do you miss your mom?”
“I-I do.” She stumbled over her response, like it wasn’t a simple question to answer.
“What’s she like?”
“Uh.” Violet paused. “She’s a bit of a workaholic, which is great if you’re her employer. Not so great if you’re her offspring. She’s always been too busy to pack lunches for school or make sure I get my homework done. I know she loves me, but she struggles to juggle it all.”
“What about your dad?”
She scoffed. “Next question.”
It was obviously a sensitive subject, and I immediately regretted asking her about him. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”
“No, you weren’t.” She shook her head. “I just don’t know my father, so there’s not much to say. My mom dated him in college. She got pregnant, and then he wanted nothing to do with us. He was a star football player who didn’t want to let anything get in the way of his career. I don’t think he ever did make it to the NFL, but he has his own family now, and I’m nothing more than a dirty secret to him.”
My heart sank at how matter-of-factly she spoke of her relationship with her dad. I was so close to my family, and I couldn’t imagine what it would have been like to grow up with a father who didn’t want me and a mother who was too busy for me.
It was also a glimpse into the reasons why I might never stand a chance with Violet. I’d thought Jeremy was the one who put her off hockey players for life, but her father had probably cemented her distrust of jocks long before Hoffman showed up.
“That must be hard.”
“It’s fine,” she said with a shrug. “You can’t miss what you’ve never known.”
Stan nuzzled Violet’s cheek again, making her smile return. My mom was right about Violet’s smile; it really was beautiful.
