“I’m not trying to date the man,” April said.
“I know. But what better way to get to know a guy than to go out with him a few times.”
April hated to admit it, but Zara made an interesting point. “You really think I should go on a date with him?”
“He gave you his number, April. I’m pretty sure that’s what he had in mind.”
“Maybe,” April conceded. “But only for Violet’s sake. I’m not actually looking to date anyone right now.”
“Of course not,” Zara said in a somewhat mocking tone. “Because why would my beautiful, brave, and smart as hell best friend want to find someone to share her life with?”
“Whatever,” April chided. “I can’t think of Tanner as a dating prospect. I have to stay objective about him.”
“Okay, so stay objective and let the man treat you to dinner. What could be the harm in that?”
April couldn’t believe she was actually considering this. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good. Give Violet a kiss from me when you see her in the morning, and tell her I can’t wait to read her stories.”
“I will. Thanks for cheering me up, Z.”
“Anytime. Let me know how your first date goes.”
April rolled her eyes. She hadn’t looked for Tanner Rhodes because she wanted to date him. Besides, a man like that would never date a woman like her. Not after he found out what she’d done. No, this was all for Violet. “Good night, Z.”
“Night, Ape.”
April cringed at her best friend’s annoying nickname for her and ended the call. Tanner could be the key to ending Ned’s reign of terror over her niece, or he could be a flake who didn’t want his own daughter. And Violet was anything but a normal child.
The Uber was quiet now, with just soft music playing in the background. April’s thoughts once again drifted to her brief encounter with Tanner. She couldn’t deny the attraction she’d felt for him, but that’s not what this was about. She needed to find out if he was -
The loud ringing of her phone caught April off guard and made her jump a little. It was coming from an unknown number, and April wasn’t expecting any calls this late at night. Shenibbled her bottom lip, debating on whether or not to answer. Just before it went to voicemail, she clicked the green button and brought it up to her ear. “Hello?”
“Hi Aunt April,” Violet’s sweet little voice said. “Don’t be mad that I called, okay?”
She wasn’t mad. She was shocked. “I could never be mad at you, Sweetie, but how are you calling me?” As far as April knew, her niece didn’t have access to any technology that could be used to communicate with the outside world. Not even an internet connection on her computer.
“I stole one of the soldier’s phones,” Violet said matter-of-factly. “He left it on a table and it didn’t even have a lock on it. So now I can play his games, too.”
April searched for the right thing to say. This could get Violet in so much trouble. “Sweetie, you shouldn’t have done that. What if Ned or Echo find out?”
“I don’t care,” Violet said indignantly. “It’s not like they’re going to hurt me. Right?”
April had no idea what Ned would do or how far he’d go in doling out punishment on his six-year-old step daughter. In the past, when Violet acted out, he would keep April from seeing her, or take away her favorite books or toys. It was beyond cruel considering how awful he already was to her on a daily basis. But Violet had never done anything like this before. “Maybe you should give it back to the soldier,” April suggested, not wanting to think about what the repercussions of her actions might be if anyone found out.
“No. Then I won’t be able to talk to you.”
The desperation in her voice was the only thing that kept April from giving her niece a lecture on stealing. “Violet,” April soothed, wanting to comfort her. She’d give anything to be there for her right now, but that was against the rules. “I’ll see you in the morning. Besides, shouldn’t you be asleep?”
Violet sighed. “I had a bad dream. Please don’t tell Ned about the phone, okay?” There were tears in Violet’s voice, and April had to swallow back the lump in her own throat.
“I won’t,” April promised. She’d made Violet memorize her phone number in case of an emergency. She just never thought her niece would resort to theft. “But I want you to turn it off and put it away as soon as we hang up. Somewhere no one will find it. Then go back to sleep, okay?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Violet said, adding a little sass to her tone.
April smiled. “I love you, Sweetie.”
“I love you too, Aunt April. Good night.” Violet ended the call, and April sat back in her seat. She had no idea when Violet would’ve had the opportunity to take the phone, or even from which soldier. Ned had an entire army of them in the building at any given time, all of whom were in constant contact with Violet, even if they didn’t know it.
