He points toward himself and the cat that is very clearlydigging its claws into his arms in a feeble attempt to get him to release her. “Us. Me and the demon cat. It’s blistering hot in Coach’s apartment, so you’d defrost in no time.”
Defrosting sounds incredibly tempting. Still, a weekend with him alone was out of the question. “Thanks but?—”
“C’mon Violet, I can’t go back knowing you’re at risk of freezing to death here.”
“I’ll be fine. My oven’s already heating up the place.”
“Oh yea your lips are only slightly blue now, as opposed to when I first got here.” He raises an eyebrow, a challenge. I make no move to collect my things. “Well, if that’s how you are going to be then I guess we’re staying.” He walks into the living room and sinks down onto my couch.
“Hey, no. What do you think you are doing?”
“I told you; Coach’s apartment is super hot. I had to open a window to let a breeze in and that’s when the demon cat got out. If I go back, I’ll have to crack open a window, and we wouldn’t want Penny to get loose again now, would we?” He shakes his head. “I guess you’re stuck with us here.”
“So my options are freezing my ass off with you here, or sweating it off in Coach’s apartment?”
“Precisely.”
Maybe it’s time to reconsider Violet. One of those options ends in hypothermia, which I hear is hard to come back from.I rack my brain for any excuse to stay in my apartmentalonebut came up with nothing. “Fine. Just give me a few minutes to get ready.”
fifteen
. . .
Violet
three years ago
night before chicago
Mason
All set for your flight tomorrow?
Packing as we speak! Can’t wait to see you. You have no idea how BADLY I need this trip
Oof all caps. Sounds rough. Want to talk about it?
Saw my dad today. For the first time in like…14 years. He is still as awful as Iremember.
Jesus Vi, I’m sorry. If you weren’t on your way, I’d fly out there and beat his ass
Now that I would pay to see
You say the word and I’ll square up
Seriously though, if you need to talk tonight let me know
I’m fine. I just want to get to Chicago and let this whole day go
When my mom moved us to Castle Harbor to escape my dad, I truly believed I would never see him again. Aside from finalizing the terms of their divorce, I had assumed my mom cut off all communication with him. I was wrong. Apparently, he had been sending her letters throughout the years. Evidently, it’s not that hard to track down your ex-wife when the law office grants him access to files with her address. The thought that my dad knew we were in Castle Harbor this whole time makes my skin crawl. Even worse that he's now stepped foot in the town that’s been my safe space away from him.
“Violet, honey. Can we at least talk before you head out to Chicago?” My mom’s broken whisper hits me, and it takes everything in me to hold the water works back. There’s nothing I hate more than fighting with her. The woman who has been my rock, and my hero, so many times in my life. But right now, I can’t even look her in the eyes without wanting to break out in tears.
“I really don’t have it in me right now to hash things out, Mom. And I don’t want to say something I’ll regret.” I throw an extra pair of leggings into my suitcase and dig through my drawer for my favorite hoodie but come up empty.
My mom shakes her head and takes a seat on the bed so she’s staring right at me. “Just tell me what happened. What did he say to you?”
“What do youthinkDad said to me?” I spit, hearing his cruel words rush back in my head.‘I’ll never know why she chose you over me. We had a good life until you came around and ruined everything…No one ever wanted you.’
