“I mean, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’m sure it’s a sensitive subject. I’m sorry.”
“No, no. I don’t mind talking about it. It’s a reasonable question, given I brought her up. I just… haven’t really talked about it much.” I pause again as I take a heavy breath. “She’d been anxious for a while, and she had frequent questions about what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. Then one night, not long after Jake was born, she came to me and said she didn’t think she wascut out for motherhood, and that she needed a break to figure things out.” I stare down at the sand. “She grabbed her things, and before the sun rose, she was gone. I got the divorce papers two months later.”
“What?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “I got her on the phone a few times and offered to help. Said we could do therapy or make some life changes to lighten her load, but she’d made up her mind. Being the mother of two young children was too much. So now, she doesn’t call, doesn’t want to spend time with them. She just moved on with her life like none of us ever existed.”
“Jesus!” Violet gasps, her hand landing on her chest. “I’m so sorry! That’s terrible!”
“It hurt a lot at the time, but I figure she did us a favor, leaving when the kids were too young to remember her.”
“So, Cora doesn’t talk about her at all?”
“At first she was confused, and it was really difficult getting her to transition, but as the years went on, she stopped bringing her up.” I glance out at the lake. “My heart still breaks for Cora. Every little girl should have her mom around, and the fact that someday I’m going to have to tell her that her momchoseto leave… it’s just,” I groan under my breath, “it sucks, which is why I swore off women after she left. Dating is far too risky with small kids.”
“Dating is far too risky in general.” Violet shakes her head back and forth as she swishes her feet in the water while we walk. “My dad keeps trying to set me up with this guy, Andrew. I’m pretty sure my dad’s the one in lovewith him, though. They go fishing every weekend together, and Dad takes him to sporting events from time to time. They’re really close, and he’s always giving me the hard sell. You know how it goes. The‘he’s a family friend, has a great job with the fire department, and he’s a real hero’stuff.”
Some weird form of jealousy washes over me at the thought of this kid I don’t know going near her. It catches me off guard, sudden and hot, curling tight in my stomach.
Why?
I’m sure he’s the right age. Probably has no children, no baggage, and a bright future. I’d bet he’s perfect for Violet. Yet, I feel an irrationally hot, burning rage inside of me that I can’t control. I don’t even want this guy on the same planet as Violet.
“Anyway,” she continues, “I don’t blame you for not dating.”
“You really should date, though.”Why am I encouraging it for the sake of conversation?“You’re young.”
“Exactly.” She kicks at the water, splashing little circles around a rock. “I’m still deciding what I want, and boys my age only want sex. I’m not ready to give that one special thing away yet.”
Is she a fucking virgin? A sweet, tight, innocent, little virgin!
My God, my cock is pulsing uncontrollably.There’s a breeze, but I’m sure I’m sweating as my mind runs wild with thoughts of stripping her down, sliding into her, and making her mine.
I’m no better than one of these fucking teenage boys she’s talking about.
Fuck.
“I think dating makes just as much sense for you,” she says, twisting her long dark hair to her shoulder. “The kids would benefit from seeing you in love, and… I think you would benefit from having companionship.”
“The kids are my focus until they graduate. I just don’t see a relationship happening unless she’s a family friend or someone I’ve known very well beforehand.”
Violet lands her hand on the back of my shoulder. “I get it. I’m always here to listen.”
How is this girl not snatched up? How is she not riding shotgun in the seat of somebody’s big fucking truck while they ride her around and buy her whatever the hell she wants?
“Oh!” She jumps up excitedly, her tits bouncing with the same enthusiasm. “That’s the food truck from online. They have all these frozen drinks we need to try too. Apparently, they’re famous for their strawberry-blueberry-lemonade slush. You know what you want?”
I shake my head. “I just found out about the truck fifteen minutes ago,” I grin, “so I’ll default to you.”
“Well, I think you’d like the grilled—”
“If it ain’t my best buddy and my firstborn out here today.”
My stomach tightens as I see Violet’s father walking toward us in this slow, deliberate way that makes me feel like I’ve done something wrong.
“Thought that was you two.” He nods toward a tall, built kid who’s jogging in toward Violet with purpose.“Andrew and I were out here fishin’ for trout and thought we’d get ourselves a snack.”
Andrew!
