I followed them back in the direction I’d just left. Their heads were bent together in a hushed conversation. I fell a few steps behind them, but obviously I was listening.
“Mads, what are you doing?”
“Are you kidding me? You should be thanking me. He’sfine.”
“You and Amber are going to be the death of me.” Violet sighed. “She’s throwing me at Officer O’Neill and you’re throwing me at random strangers.”
“The fact that you’ve been out with him twice?—”
Twice? I was going to kill Eva. How could she not tell me?
Because you’re going cold turkey, remember?
The taunting voice in my head sounded a bit too much like my sister. And it was right. Every time she had even tried to bring up Violet, I did exactly what I did two minutes ago—downed a drink and left.
“—is answer enough that it’s not going anywhere. You need to get laid. You’ve been hopped up on smut, lusting after a supervillain for months. Time to let yourself have a little fun.”
“Madeline,” her tone sounded exhausted. “I’m not doing this with you right now and I’m not doingthatwith him ever. Drop it.”
The red-headed woman huffed. “Well, if you don’t want him, I’ll just shoot my shot.”
“Whatever.” That was the most genuinely irritated I’d ever heard V sound.
We arrived at Crossroads, ending their conversation. Violet pushed the door open—violently. Then she stomped over to Eva—who already had shots lined up. Maddy sighed and turned to me.
“Sorry about my friend, she’s been in amoodall week. I practically had to drag her out of her apartment.”
“I don’t mean to intrude. I can go.”
“No, no. I promised you a drink, let’s get you a drink.”
An hour later,two more of Violet’s friends showed up, but she was sitting alone at the bar not participating in conversation. I did let Maddy buy me a drink then I fucked off to the corner, hoping Violet might perk up. She didn’t.
“V, you could at least pretend to be having fun.” Her friend Ashley slung an arm over her shoulder. “He’s not worth it.”
“I don’t know why you all think it’s because of a guy and not the fact that I’ve been dragged out for the third time this week, I have a headache the size of Nunavut, and none of you will leave me alone to read a book or binge watch my favourite show. I appreciate all your concern, but I just want to go home, have a glass of extra fruity wine, and read a book.”
“We keep dragging you out because you’re miserable. You need people, social interaction!” Amber was tipsy. She stumbled over to Violet and crushed her in a hug.
“No, you need people. I need quiet and space.” She shrugged off Ashley’s arm and pried herself out of Amber’s grip.
“Where are you going?” Amber whined.
“Bathroom.”
She started to follow, but Maddy grabbed her arm.
“Amber, drop it. Just because you need to be around people when you’re sad, doesn’t mean everyone else does. Let her be alone for a minute. She needs it.”
That was great advice. Amber took it, I didn’t. I was waiting outside the bathroom when she walked out. She saw me but she didn’t engage.
“Violet, wait.”
She ignored me.
“Violet, please.” I went to grab her arm before I could think better of it. She ripped out of my grip and kept walking. “Violet?—”
“What’s your game, Blondie?” She whipped around. “You go around handing out my information, we spend over two weeks basically attached at the hip, you bust me out of jail, I spend almost two weeks trying to distance myself from you but your relentless phone calls finally wear me down. Then you spend a week being distant and weird, call me and act like a jealous and possessive asshole when I tell you about my dateandHemlock’s relentless flirting, list every physical trait I have as your type, then radio silence for another week. What’s your game? Why don’t you just leave me alone? Stop playing with me like I’m some kind of toy you can pull out whenever you’re bored. I’m exhausted. I tried, Av. I really tried to move on like I never met you but every time you pop back into my life like you never left and it hurts. So either you stay or you stay gone. I’m done playing.”
