“I know. She helped me wear down Violet’s defenses.” He smirks again.
“Try being on the receiving end sometime.”
“No thanks. I’m very happy with the fantasy that I already have at home.”
“Jesus. Where’s Tobias when I need him? You probably would have made him literally throw up in his mouth a little with that, you know?”
“Just saying. You should try it.”
I grunt in response because the sad truth is that Joss is the fantasy for me. I’d realized it yesterday the second we were arguing in the boathouse and confirmed it in the shed. Even when we’re arguing she lights every tinder inside me. She’s all I’ve been able to think of since, and the fact that she planned to get under my skin, wearing all my favorite things, just makes me that much more determined to prove to her that I’m not the blubbering kid I was when she ran the last time.
“I don’t like the look on your face,” Ben mutters, and I realize he’s watching me.
“I made an ass out of myself the last time. I want a chance to show her I’m not a fucking kid anymore.”
“I told her that.”
“You what?”
“I just reminded her that I wasn’t a kid anymore and that you aren’t either.”
“Fantastic. You tell her I graduated out of the Power Wheels too? Drive a real car now…”
“Listen. I’m just trying to keep the peace between you two. Last time it caused a lot of strain between all of us when you two decided to blow up like a fucking supernova. I’m not against the two of you together. Fuck… I wish you would work your shit out. I just want it to not kill everyone in the process.”
“I can handle myself.”
“I know you can—in any situation that doesn’t involve her. When she’s involved…”
“I can handle her too.”
“I guess we’re about to find out.”
NINE
Joss
That eveningwhen I’m back at the house, I find Violet in the kitchen getting a drink of water and I grab one and join her at the counter.
“So what are we doing tonight? Cocktails downtown? Dinner on the water?” I ask when I see her, grinning because I love that I’m getting to see my best friend this much. “Is Harper coming?”
“Harper and Scarlett are out doing something together tonight after they finish up at the museum.”
“Dang. I was hoping to talk to her some more. I need to schedule some time with her to sit down and talk logistics and planning for the nonprofit. We have so much paperwork and stuff to file. It’s going to be exhausting for a bit.”
“Yeah. Let me know what I can help with. I’m glad you two have teamed up but happy to be an auxiliary member of the team.” Violet smiles at me.
“Will do. So plans for tonight?”
“I rented out the aquarium for Ben’s birthday. He doesn’t know that though. I just told him I got us some tickets to an after-hours event there tonight and then I thought we could maybe get a late dinner. Not too late though because Ben has early practice tomorrow since they had a short one today.”
“Okay. That sounds like a date though. Am I crashing your and Ben’s date?” I frown.
“Crashing our date? Do we have a date?” Ben suddenly appears from around the corner, a sweaty wet mess in what appears to be running clothes. He leans over and kisses Violet, and her face contorts as she kisses him back.
“I love you, but you need a shower.”
“That’s where I’m headed. Colt and I just went for a long run.”
