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My dad didn’t always have time to spend with me. But he nevereverleft me with any doubt that I was loved and wanted.
Violet makes herself smile. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get all serious. I just meant, good for you for knowing what you want. It’s better for everyone that way.”
I nod.
Part of me wants to track down Violet’s dad and beat him up for being a crappy dad. But a bigger part of me is selfishly glad that took Violet’s dad so long to figure out what he wanted.
Because I can’t imagine a world without Violet in it.
She looks sad right now, and I hate that. I decide I can sacrifice my dignity a little if it will make her give me a real smile.
“Did you bring your painting supplies?” I ask.
“No, why?” she asks.
“I’m having this fantasy about you wearing nothing but my jersey while you paint. Or we could do a role-play thing, where you wear that jersey and nurse me back to health. Preferably without a bra on.”
She laughs and throws her napkin at me.
I duck, grinning.
At least she’s smiling again.
The conversation moves on, and I spend the night carefully steering it toward topics that will keep a smile on her face.
I don’t know when it happened, but at some point, making Violet smile turned into a biological need. I lean into it and have one of the best dinners I’ve had in a long time.
19
GAGE
Back at the hotel, Violet and I retreat to our respective rooms. I’m in a surprisingly good mood for someone who’s looking at roughly another five months of blue balls.
Yes, I wish Violet and I were still sleeping together.
But I also just like talking with her. Spending time with her. Having her at my side as I put myself out there and try to buy the Coyotes. I’m not sure when it happened, but at some point, I started trusting her opinion as much as I do Tom and Jaylen’s.
You have a crush on her,Jaylen says in my head.
I shove the thought aside and change into my pajama pants. Whatever this is, it’s not a crush.
I’m answering some work emails on my phone when I notice a particularly annoying board member wants a meeting on Monday. I could open my laptop and check my calendar, but it’s just as easy to go ask Violet what my Monday schedule looks like.
I don’t bother to put on a sweatshirt. I normally sleep without a pajama shirt on, and it’s nothing Violet hasn’t seen before. When I see that Violet’s left her bedroom door open, I wander in without knocking. She’s sitting on her bed staring at her laptop.
“Hey, do you know if I can squeeze in a meeting with Ward Davis on Monday?”
She slams her laptop closed and looks up at me, blushing. “Um...I’m not sure. But I can check and come let me know in five minutes.”
There’s no way Violet needs five whole minutes to check her work calendar. She’s just trying to get me out of the room.
And I’m pretty sure it has to do with whatever’s on her laptop.
“Looking at something naughty online, Violet?”
“No! Of course not.” But she’s blushing, hard.
I can’t believe it. Good girl Violet is actually watching porn.
