AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We chatted for a few minutes and she kept leaning close to me. I felt nothing, not a single stir of interest. It was pissing me off. I feigned looking at my watch and saying I had to go. It was only half past ten. If I went home now, the tossing and turning would begin. The thoughts and memories would crowd in. I headed to a club, and the deep thumping bass and flashing strobe lights carried me to the bar. I barely had the bartender’s attention before a woman I knew from a few months back hugged me from behind, squealing about how good it was to see me again.
I turned to greet her. Of course I didn’t remember her name, but I recalled she had an anchor tattoo for some reason on her ass cheek. Maybe to warn men she’d drag them down? I was desperate enough to take the risk and pulled her in close. Her body was toned and I could feel her breasts against my chest, but it was as erotic as hugging a sack of grain. I felt nothing. Frustrated, I kissed her, our tongues tangling.
Still nothing. She wasn’t Violet. All I wanted was Violet.
I pushed her away and stormed out of the club and back to my apartment. I was already pretty far gone, but poured myself a shot of whiskey and slammed it back. Then another. I lay down on my couch, hating everything.
Except Violet.
I couldn’t run from it or drink it away. I loved her.
Chapter 16 - Violet
I kind of regretted not taking Eli up on his spa offer. It would have been great to blurt out all my problems to a nonjudgmental stranger while she scrubbed the calluses off my feet. I decided nonjudgmental friends would have to do and called Ella and Norah. Ella arrived first, done with her graduate classes for the day, with a box of wine. We found enough ingredients in my cupboard to make sugar cookies and by the time they were done, Norah arrived with a bucket of fried chicken.
I burst into tears, grateful to have such good and caring friends in such a harsh world. I confessed everything, down to the fact my boss was the guy I’d blown off on our ill-fated journey into New York nightlife a month ago. How he terrorized me, and I valiantly fought back. I told them everything up until what happened that afternoon.
“Oh my God, he’s a monster,” Ella said.
“He’s a criminal dickhead,” Norah said.
I swallowed a bite of biscuit and chugged some wine. “I slept with him today. In his office. It was amazing, and I ran the minute it was over. I don’t think I can go back.”
All hell broke loose as they tried to backpedal their opinions. I held up my hand and assured them they were probably right. “But I can’t stop thinking about him.”
“There’s no reason you can’t go back to work,” Ella said. “If he tries to make you uncomfortable, sue his ass.”
Norah shook her head. “Let’s not jump the gun here. You didn’t talk to him at all, you just ran out?”
“I think I babbled a little first, but yeah, basically.”
We ate, drank, and hashed things over until the wee hours. They offered to sleep over like I’d been the victim of a crime, but I shooed them off. The consensus was that there was no reason to lose a job I loved over a mistake we both made. As much of an ass as he often acted, I didn’t think he’d lord this over me. He seemed genuinely concerned when I left. Disappointed too. Oh God, why did I run off? It was childish. I could control my feelings.
I mean, I didn’t have any feelings I needed to control. It was a one-off thing. He was sexy as hell, and I’d been dressing like a stripper gram as my own petty revenge. Things were bound to get out of hand.
The next day, I wore a turtleneck sweater covered by a boxy, oversized jacket with a long, pleated skirt. I was going to roast to death, but at least I wouldn’t be playing any part in our games anymore.
Eli arrived shortly after I did, dragging himself past my desk looking like a hot mess. He kept his head down, nodding and muttering a good morning before he closed himself up in his office. He looked as miserable and pathetic as I felt, but it was clear he’d been drinking something stronger than wine and probably didn’t have any fried food to soak it up. Maybe no friends to listen to his problems, either. I went from wanting to shake him to wanting to hug him in a matter of seconds. No, I wasn’t going to be able to control my feelings.
Yes, I had feelings.
But, I was a professional. I brought him a coffee and some notes to go over for his meetings that day.
“I have your schedule,” I said, sliding his coffee to him without leaning over.
He blinked and looked up at me. His eyebrows shot together as he took in my nun-worthy attire. His lip quirked up, and he burst out laughing. I was shocked at the sound. I’d heard him chuckle or snicker plenty of times, but this was a hearty, honest belly laugh. Tears actually glistened at the corners of his eyes, all crinkled adorably. It was infectious and soon I was laughing along, though I had no idea why. It felt good. Freeing.
We wound down and I still didn’t know what set him off and, at my confused look, he waved at my outfit and giggled again. He quickly got himself under control and shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I don’t understand you,” I blurted.
He sighed deeply. “I don’t understand myself most of the time,” he confessed, rubbing his forehead like it hurt.
Bloodshot eyes, clear headache, a sadness in his eyes despite just laughing like a loon for a solid minute and a half. I wanted to reach out and run my fingers through his hair.
“Have you eaten anything?” I asked.
He stopped rubbing his head and looked at me hopefully. “Not yet. Not since lunch yesterday.”
