A sob got trapped in my throat, and I forced it down, but I couldn’t stop the burn of tears that blurred my vision. “I-I’m a blob. A fat, ugly blob. How could anyone possibly find me attractive, let alone the football god that is my husband?”
Shaw’s brows scrunched together as she listened to my outburst. For a long moment, she just sat there staring down at me, as if my words didn’t make sense to her. At first, I thought maybe she hadn’t heard me, but then fire lit her eyes and she exploded. “Those pricks got in your head, didn’t they? Those goddamn motherfucking dickwads who can’t keep their cocks hard enough to satisfy a gnat, all their bullshit got to you. Didn’t they, Violet?”
Unable to speak, I nodded. A few tears spilled down my cheek.
“You know better, Vi,” she scolded. “You, of all people, know they are just talking out of their asses because it sells. Not a single one of those bastards knows the truth, and they have to resort to disrespecting you just to keep the story going.”
“Y-yeah,” I croaked. I did know that. But I also had eyes, and I could see for myself how terrible I looked.
Reading my mind, she tightened her fingers on my cheeks. “Are you fucking blind? You’re the hottest piece of ass I’ve ever set eyes on. You’re beautiful. Sexy. And the only one Luca has ever wanted. Ever.”
“I know that,” I cried. “I do, really. He can’t keep his hands off me. It’s me, Shaw.”
There. I’d said it aloud. Finally admitted it. And it didn’t make me feel any better. If anything, I felt worse.
Hourly, every unflattering picture that had been posted of me on social media over the past several weeks would play on a reel through my mind, further reminding me how terrible I looked.
Someone even said I should be the next spokesperson for Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers. Each time it was mentioned, they would follow up with how long they thought my marriage would last if I didn’t start taking better care of myself. Because how could I possibly hold on to Luca Thornton if I resembled a beached whale?
Assholes.
Luca hadn’t heard any of their barbs. He didn’t watch sports-talk television, and he didn’t use any social media platforms. Otherwise, he would have already killed the men who had talked in such a blasé manner about me and my body. Apparently none of my friends and family had heard them either. Proof being that had it gotten back to Aunt Emmie, no one who had said those terrible things would still have a job.
Shaw released my face and clasped my hand. “It’s okay, Vi. We’re going to make everything better.” She kissed my cheek, and I shifted closer. Wanting her touch. Her comfort. All that she would willingly give me. I loved her so much. “I promise.”
Violet
After hugs from Lyric,Mila, Monroe, and River, while the men all greeted one another and talked about the flights, Shaw announced that the women needed some girl time and shooed all the men away.
Everyone but Gian was ready to follow her command. Instead, he made sure Monroe was comfortable on the terrace overlooking the west side of the island. Once she was tucked in her lounger with a fruity drink in one hand and a snack within reach, he gently kissed her and reluctantly walked into the house.
Her wistful sigh as her eyes followed him until he was out of sight had her twin and sister-in-law rolling their eyes. “More than a decade of marriage, and it’s still impossible for the two of you to go five minutes without each other.”
“I fail to see why that’s a problem, Mil,” Monroe said as she glanced over at her sister. Other than their shade of hair, Mila liked to keep hers dyed jet-black whereas Monroe kept hers its natural color, they were identical. But they also had a third. Their brother, Maverick, who was married to River, was the eldest of the triplets. “You’re the same way with Lyric.”
“I can go a few hours without having him up my ass,” she grumbled. “It’s called not being codependent.”
“And I don’t care what you call it,” Monroe said with a shrug. “You love your husband your way, and I’ll love mine my way.”
“But I want some of your time too,” Mila pouted. “You’re my other half.”
“Ladies.” Shaw clapped her hands to refocus their attention. “We are not here to judge one another for having obsessive husbands. They are all equally hot and loving. Kudos to us all.”
River lifted her glass of rum punch to toast her agreement. “Hear, hear. No one cares that Gian is a crazy, obsessed stalker when it comes to our Mon. He loves and spoils her. She’s happy. Nothing else matters.”
“Speaking of crazy, where are Piper and Cannon?” Mila asked Shaw. “Did they not want to join us?”
“Jags invited them, but my brother’s birthday is on Valentine’s Day. Piper already had something planned just for the two of them.” Taking a sip of her drink, she turned her blue eyes on me. “Ladies, I want you to hear the stupidest thing I’ve ever been told in my life.”
“Shaw!” I cried, fresh tears burning my eyes. “Please don’t.”
“Tell us!” Mila encouraged.
“This one—” Shaw pointed her glass at me “—thinks she’s not sexy.”
All three of the other women gasped and started talking at once.
“Are you blind?” Mila.
