I rolled my shoulders. “Would’ve been awkward if it was Julian, wouldn’t it?”
Her nostrils flared. She stormed past me into the kitchenette, yanking open the first-aid kit. “Sit.”
I arched a brow. “I’m?—”
“Sit.”
I sighed but dropped onto the sofa.
Violet marched over, ripping open an alcohol wipe. “What did you say to him?”
I smirked, but it hurt. “Didn’t say anything, actually. He threw the first punch.”
Her fingers curled around my chin, rougher than necessary, tilting my face toward the light. “Yeah, and I’m sure you didn’t do anything to deserve it.”
I scoffed. “Defending myself is a crime now?”
She pressed the wipe to my lip.
I hissed, jerking my head back. “Bloody hell?—”
“Stay still.” She gripped my jaw.
I grumbled under my breath but let her work. Her touch was gentle, but the frustration in her eyes was anything but.
“You didn’t have to fight him,” she muttered.
“I didn’t.”
Her fingers hesitated for half a second before she dabbed at my lip again, the sting biting deep.
“Right,” she murmured, voice clipped. “You just happened to walk into his fist.”
I caught her wrist, stopping the alcohol wipe an inch from my face. Slowly, I pried the wipe from her grip and tossed it onto the table.
She barely had time to react before I lifted my other hand and pressed my palm to her jaw, fingers spanning the soft curve of her face, tilting her head up to meet my gaze.
Her breath hitched as my thumb brushed her cheek.
“I mean it, Vi.”
She swallowed hard, staring at me for a beat as some realization flared in her eyes. Then she dropped her gaze, but didn’t pull away.
“You’re such an idiot,” she muttered, twisting out of my grip.
I huffed a low laugh, leaning back against the sofa. “Yeah? Tell me something new.”
Violet picked up a new alcohol wipe and started dabbing again.
“Callaghan’s an idiot,” she muttered under her breath.
“Finally, something we agree on.”
Her fingers paused for a fraction of a second before she pressed harder than necessary.
I winced. “Sadist.”
“Shut up.” She dropped the used wipe onto the coffee table and grabbed a fresh one.
