“Okay.”
Another silence fell. I leaned my head against the wall and stared at the black of the ceiling. I was in a dark, enclosed space with a beautiful girl who was clearly into me. And I felt nothing. Had nothing to say. Not even my prescribed lines.
Violet jumped in. “How are football practices going?”
“Good. Long. You play a sport too, right?”
“Soccer. We don’t start until spring.”
“Cool.”
The convo sputtered and died.
Enough of this bullshit. Just do it. Like tearing off a Band-Aid.
“So, Violet.”
“So, River.”
“Homecoming dance is in a few weeks.”
“Yes.” Hope came alive in her voice.
“Are you going with anyone?”
Miller Stratton maybe?
“Nope!” she practically shouted.
“Cool. So…would you like to go with me?”
“Yeah. Yes. I’d like that. Thank you.”
Mission accomplished.
“Great. We can work out the details later.”
“Sure.”
Another silence fell. I’d come to do what I needed to do, but Violet’s expectations filled the quiet until a rapping on the door jolted us.
“Time’s up! Come on out, Violet. River, stay put.”
“That’s my cue.”
Violet started to rise, and all I could think about was Holden Parish lying stretched out on the carpet, watching me. Getting into my head and monopolizing my attention.
His tongue tasting that drop of tequila…
My hand shot out and grabbed Violet’s like a lifeline. I inhaled the scent of her perfume—something sweet and flowery and feminine—and willed it to have the same intoxicating effect on me as Holden’s cologne. Violet’s breath caught, waiting for my kiss. I waited too, for my body to respond to the beautiful girl in the dark, wanting this.
My lips landed on her cheek.
“Thank you, Violet,” I managed weakly. I lingered there for a minute because I should kiss her again. A real kiss. She was ready, and I should’ve been willing…
Instead, I let her go and slumped back down on my side of the closet, humiliation burning my skin. “You’d better get out of here before Evelyn starts screeching.”
“Oh. Right.” Disappointment laced Violet’s words as she stood up and made her way to the door. “Okay…uh. Bye.”
