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“You don’t even like your world, Mike,” she replies, with a bitter laugh. “What makes you think that I would like it any better?”
“Are you going to deny that there’s something between us? Come on, Violet, I expect better of you. I didn’t take you as a coward.”
“I’m not a coward,” she replies at once, but she says it quietly, and I have the strangest feeling that comment hurt her. “I’m a realist. We don’t fit, and nothing you nor I could ever do will change that fact. I’m not going to stop dancing. If you don’t like it, then you can fuck off. I make enough money dancing that I can pay tuition and that will help me get into the college of my choice. College will fix things so that I never have to depend on anyone ever again. My life goals are more important than your damn blackmail. I need a good recommendation from Black Mountain, a spotless record, and a written recommendation from three faculty members. Those are my goals. You fuck that up for me and I will never forgive you.”
“Christ, you’re thinking about college?”
“You’re not? You’re older than me, right? Jesus, are you planning on being in high school your whole life?”
“No, if I have my way, once I get out of this damn school, I’ll never go to another one.”
“I thought the girls said you were getting a free ride because of baseball?” she asks, stopping her tirade long enough to study me. Her question causes bitterness to rise up inside of me.
“They say that because that’s the story my father wants everyone to believe. He would pay a college to take me on as a player.”
“Well, I mean, it’s good he—”
“It won’t be about my love of the game or my skills, Angel. It will be because that’s what he wants. My father only does things that feed his ego or bring him pleasure. My wants sure as hell would never enter into his mind.”
“I’m not giving up dancing,” she says quietly.
I sigh, knowing if I push her too much, I’ll lose whatever headway I’ve made with her. It still pisses me off, though, and I know myself well enough to know it will fester.
“We’ll revisit the topic later,” I tell her, letting it go for now. I have a feeling that with Violet, I’m going to have to learn to pick my battles.
“Revisit it all you want, Slick. It’s not going to change my mind,” she says.
“Slick?”
“Trust me when I tell you that nickname fits you perfectly,” she says, while she cups her hand above her eyes to ward off the sun and grins up at me.
“I want to kiss you, Violet.”
“What’s stopping you?” she asks.
“Because when you kiss me back, I want to know that you’re kissing me because you want me and not because I know your secret.”
“Why, Michael S. Huntington, are you telling me that you’re going to table your blackmail threats?” she asks, and she sounds like she’s joking, but I can see the surprise in her eyes.
“You know my middle name?” I ask, because I don’t know many that do.
“I work for the school newspaper. I know everyone’s secrets.”
“Is that a fact?” I laugh.
“Well, okay, I don’t, but Camden does. Still, I think the ‘S’ should stand for Slick, not Scott.”
“Call me anything you want, honey, if that means you’re going to let me kiss you.”
“Are you going to stop trying to blackmail me?”
“Are you going to agree to explore this chemistry between us?” I counter, not blinking and looking her directly in the eye.
“It’s not going to end well,” she warns.
I slide my hand against her neck and pull her in close so that our lips are just a breath apart.
“That sounds like a yes,” I murmur, needing her more than I’ve ever needed anything in my life.
“I don’t share, Slick. You might want to rethink this.”
“I can deal with that, Angel. Just know it goes both ways.”
“I hope I don’t regret this,” she whispers, just before our lips meet.
Right then, I make a promise to myself, and to Violet, even if she’s not aware of it.
I’m going to do everything I can to make sure she never regrets being with me.
Hell, if I have my way, I’m never letting her go and I don’t care how crazy that sounds to Violet, because I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.20VioletI knew this was a mistake.
I was lulled into a sense of …hell, I don’t even know what Mike and I are doing. But, I wanted to trust him and the days that have passed since he picked me up to take me to school until this party, have been good.
Really good.
We’ve eaten lunch together at school, he’s walked me to classes, drove me home from school, and through it all we’ve talked, we’ve held hands… and kissed. I was beginning to believe in fairytales. And then… this party.
