Page 67 of Freeze Frame

“Do you want a bite?”

He shook his head. “I’ll stick with my burger, thanks though.”

I shrugged and took a big bite. Violet shuddered again.

“And you let him kiss you with that mouth.” Hannah curled her lip in disgust.

Tired of having my food choices picked on, even if it was in good fun, I decided now was a good time to launch the news.

“And he’ll be the only one I’m kissing from now on.”

Violet blinked at me. “What?”

“I retired. I hung up my… Well, I’m not sure what porn stars hang up when they quit, considering they’re naked for most of the job… but anyway. I retired. I’m still editing and working as a cameraman on shoots, and Lukas said I could try my hand at taking control of an entire project if I wanted, but I’m done performing.”

Violet was quieter than I expected her to be. I thought she’d cry with relief and make a huge deal out of my decision. After a moment, she put her fork down and took my hand. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but did David ask you to quit?”

“No. He wouldn’t. It was all my decision.”

Violet searched my face for any sign that I was lying. I don’t know what she saw there, but when she spoke again, it was barely above a whisper. “Really?”

“Really, really. It was all my decision. I won’t bore you with the specifics, but performing was no longer right for me.”

“In that case, I’m happy for you.”

“And I’ll pretend not to be insulted that you thought I’d quit for a boy.” I made a show of rolling my eyes. I leaned over to David and loved the way he draped his arm around me in response. “But if I were to quit for a boy, it would’ve been this one.”

“I’d never ask you to,” David reminded me, and I looked at him and smiled.

“Yeah, and that’s why I would have quit for you.”

“Do we get to celebrate this new chapter?” Violet asked. “Because I would love a slice of pie.”

“You don’t need a reason for pie,” David said. “Pie is the reason for pie.”

The way Violet smiled at him when he said that had my heart doing happy little backflips in my chest.

“I think we’ll keep you around, David. You get it.”

“You just got the scary big sister stamp of approval.” I kissed David on the cheek. “How do you feel?”

He met my gaze. He turned slightly so he was facing me a little more and he cupped my cheek. “I feel like you should get the lemon pie, and I’ll get the chocolate pie, and we can share is how I feel.”

“Did you fall out of my wildest dreams?” I asked, unable to hide the sappy, moony expression. I was totally, sickeningly, head over heels for this man. And he’d been nothing short of wonderful, especially where Violet was concerned. Not only had he not held a grudge, but he’d been willing to meet her again and had tried to give her an out so she could pretend that nothing had happened.

“That’s funny, because I’ve sometimes wondered if you fell out of mine.”

“You two are really cute in a sugar rush sort of way. It’s a little nauseating actually.”

“I agree.” Hannah laughed and clinked her glass against Violet’s.

“Thanks. Love you too.”

Dessert had been so good that David ordered a couple of slices of pie to go and had tucked them away in the fridge for later after we’d returned to his place.

Too full to move, or breathe, we’d curled up on the couch together and I’d attempted to watch a movie with him, but sleep dragged me under. I didn’t realize it until David was hoisting me up into his arms.

“Whu?” I tried to question him, but I wasn’t exactly coherent yet.