“Wouldn’t that make us superheroes?”
“Naw, you’ve killed way too many people for that. Plus, superheroes are too righteous and boring anyway. Supervillains are way hotter.”
“Is that so?” I asked, smirk growing on my face.
“Absolutely.” She nodded.
I started to pull her back in but the most obnoxious ringtone I’ve ever heard basted through the room.
“Sorry, it’s Amber.” She sighed and reached for the phone but stopped before she answered. “Could you make some popcorn?”
“Are you kicking me out?”
“Never.” She leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “I’m trying to divide and conquer so we can get to our movie faster. Please?”
I sighed as I got out of bed, kissing the top of her head. “You know I can never say no to you.”
She grinned at me as she answered. “Hey, bitch. What’s up?”
I made my way downstairs to make the popcorn. Two minutes later, I could still hear Violet laughing so I decided toputter around a bit more. Took some more time to melt extra butter, filled two more bowls with chips and chocolates. When five minutes passed, I made my way back upstairs.
“Sunday night, I promise we can go out then, okay?” She waited a few seconds and laughed again. “Not yet. Soon.” Another pause, that was when she noticed me with my arms full of treats. “I have to go. Sunday night, I promise.” She sighed. “Bye, Amber.”
“What was that about?” I asked setting all the bowls down on my nightstand.
“Just Amber being Amber.” She smiled. “What movie do you want to watch?”
“I get to pick?” I climbed into bed and pulled her into my arms. “Hm, this is a lot of pressure. I never get to pick.”
She looked up at me, shaking her head. “Then I’ll pick.”
“No, don’t be silly. I’m thinking action.Expendablesmaybe. Does that work for you?”
“Hell yeah! Let’s blow shit up!” She grabbed her laptop and got everything set up before looking back at me with a huge grin on her face. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I just really fucking love you.”
“I love you too.” She leaned over and kissed me softly. When she tried to pull away, I tugged her back into me, kissing her deeper. “But the movie,” she mumbled.
“Later. Right now, I’m going to love you. And you’re going to let me.”
She hummed. “Yes, sir.”
“Areyou sure you don’t want to run away?” Violet asked the next morning. She was playing with my wedding band, twirling it around my finger while she lay on my chest.
“Are you sure you’re okay to leave all your friends behind? All those kids you work with? Scarlett?”
I propped my free arm behind my head so I could get a better look at her. She sighed, eyes fixed on the black band she was still twirling.
“I just want to be able to walk down the street with you. Wear this beautiful ring out in public.” She reached for her own ring, hanging from the gold chain I got her for Winter Solstice. “Instead, I feel like I’m hiding you, and I don’t like it.”
“I’ll talk to Eva when we get home.”
She propped herself on one elbow to look at me. “Really?”
I nodded. “I’ve been thinking a lot. Landon and Carson—” she grinned wide. Damn it, she’d gotten these names in my head and I was using them. “They’ve come back with nothing for months. I think I was just being overly sensitive. If I’m being totally honestly, I miss her.”
Violet brushed the hair from my eyes and kissed my forehead. “I know, baby. And I know she misses the hell out of you. Every time I see her she asks if I’ve heard from you. It’s getting harder to lie to her.”
