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I still want to kiss her. Hell, I think I want to kiss her more when she’s pissed at me than I do when she’s not. Maybe I am the twisted fuck my father always accuses me of being.
“Mike?” she asks when I don’t answer right away, and I pull my thoughts back to the conversation at hand.
“Parker got the call to move up to the major leagues this past spring. He’s made a huge impact on the game, and has even turned into the league’s poster boy. You’ve probably seen his face and name everywhere.”
“Uh…not really.”
“Seriously?” I ask, wondering how that’s possible. Shit, it’s all I hear, and it makes me sound like an asshole, but at times I hate the fact that Parker is my brother. I may love him, but living in his shadow is fucking impossible, especially with our father.
“I’m not much into sports, Mike. I’ve been too busy wondering where dinner was coming from or staying alive in general,” she mutters, and shit, I’m reminded again of how different we are, and that’s the last thing I want.
“Parker was on tap for setting rookie records, Vi. Then he was in a car wreck and he’s injured. He’s also feeling like shit about it all.”
“Why? I mean, it’s not like he can help having been in an accident. Unless he was drinking or something?”
“Parker doesn’t drink. He’s squeaky clean, always. Baseball is his life. He wouldn’t do anything to endanger that. I’ve only seen one thing that even comes close to being more important to him than baseball.”
“That’s kind of sad. I mean, it’s just a game.”
Her response makes me smile. Violet and I are more alike than she might ever know.
“Not to some people,” I reply, and I don’t even try to hide the cynicism from my voice.
“I guess,” she replies, and something in her tone makes me turn to look at her. She’s studying me and I think she can see more than I intended for her to. I forget how sharp Violet is. I quickly look back to the road, feeling uncomfortable. “You said I was going to a family party. Your brother being hurt and having his career derailed doesn’t sound like a reason for a party, Mike.”
“You would think that, wouldn’t you? Hell, most people would. Except for my father. He’s going to have a party to celebrate the Huntington name and assure people that Parker will be fine and back on the field in no time.”
“And will he?”
My hand automatically clenches around the steering wheel, as fear claws at my gut.
“I don’t know, Angel. I really don’t know,” I finally answer, and I hate responding like that. There’s not much in this world I’m afraid of. That’s an easy sentiment when you don’t like yourself much, but I’m afraid of Parker losing his dream. I wasn’t lying when I told Violet that Parker was the best person I know. He deserves everything good.
“Okay, so I can understand why you’re upset, and I feel bad for your brother, but that doesn’t change things, Mike. I’ve been a good girl playing whatever part I need to, so that you can create this fake relationship you’re trying to sell at school, but I don’t see how that means I have to go to this party and miss work. I need to work to pay my bills. I don’t have the luxury of taking a day off for a party,” she grumbles. “Your little blackmailing game can’t interfere with me being able to survive, Mike. I don’t have money at my disposal like you do.”
“What’s been happening between us has nothing to do with playing a game, Violet,” I growl.
“You know what I meant and quit trying to change the subject. You can’t just show up and tell me that Freddie gave me the night off. I have to work, Mike.”
“Fine. I wanted to wait to have this out, but I can see it can’t wait any longer,” I grumble, and because we’re so close, I flip on my signal light and take the upcoming exit.
“What are you doing? Where are we going?” Violet asks, but I don’t answer, or even look at her. It’s time we get a few things straight. I’ve gone easy on her, because I want her to come to me of her own free will, but if she’s going to play hardball, then she’s going to find out just how serious I am about this – about her.
I pull off to the small road that leads to the lake. It slowly dissipates into gravel and then just plain sand. I park and get out of the car. Violet just sits there in the car, clearly confused and still pissed off. I come around and open her door and hold out my hand.
