It's probably for the best though because I don't think I'm capable of being gentle right now. She's cried so much today. Getting some water in her is first on my agenda.
Some of the tension releases as we step into my apartment. I may be imagining it, but Violet seems to relax a little as well. She kicks her shoes off and hangs her jacket like it's the most natural thing for her to do. I love how comfortable my sweet woman is in my space.
"I'll get you some water," I mutter. Grazing her lower back with my hand as I walk past her, I strut into the kitchen with purpose.
As I'm filling the glass, my mind conjures up what they could have talked about. How cruel was Ellis? Did Nate demand too much from her?
"It's full," Violet tells me, shocking me out of my head. Cool water flows over my hand and onto the floor. Quickly I move to the sink and dump some before tossing a rag on the floor to mop up the mess I made.
My heart pounds in my chest as I slide the glass across the island to where Violet sits. On top of the counter with her legs crisscrossed, V looks like she belongs here.
"Here you go, Sweets."
She offers me a small smile which settles me a bit. "Thanks."
I watch like a damn weirdo as she takes a sip. "More," I urge, needing my woman hydrated again.
Eyes narrowed on me, Violet does as she's told, and before I know it, half the glass is gone. With that out of the way, it's time I figure out what the hell made her panic the way she did.
"I know you have questions," Violet says, sighing. She plucks at the strings coming from the holes in her jeans, a sure sign that she's anxious. "They wanted to know where I ran off to. I told them I went on a road trip to escape the reminders of what happened to my mom because of me."
I bite the inside of my cheek so fucking hard I draw blood. There will be plenty of time for me to tell her she's wrong, but right now I need to know the situation at hand.
"My answer wasn't good enough," she whispers, and I can't help but feel like she meanssheisn't good enough. "So Ellis asked me if there was someone else."
"He what?!" I snarl, my hands slamming down on the counter. That's a fucked up accusation.
Violet's lips twist as she sniffles. "I told him no and that I didn't blame him for asking me that. Then I—then I lost it a little. I apologized, but I don't think they believed me. So I kept telling them how sorry I was for leaving them the way I did."
Jesus fucking Christ."What did they say?"
She shrugs, and my heart clenches at the sight. Reaching forward, I wrap my hands around her thighs. "I don’t know what they said, I guess. Or if they saidanything. It felt like I couldn't breathe, and my ears sounded like they were under water. I was panicking. I needed them to believe me, but it felt like I was pleading with a brick wall."
I remember this part. This is when I started moving and heard the worry in Ellis and Nate's voices. Part of me doesn't want to tell her how scared they were so I can just keep her all to myself, but she has a right to know how her words affected them.
"Ellis kept saying your name," I begin slowly, forcing the words out. "Nate was trying to get your attention so you could match his breathing or something."
"Really?" Violet's frown is equally cute as it is heartbreaking. It should not be shocking that people care about her.
Nodding, I rub my thumbs along her thighs. "Really. When Nate stood up and Ellis started panicking right along with you, you launched yourself out of your chair."
Violet nods. "Then you were there."
"Then I was there," I confirm, smiling even though it hurts. "Do you remember anything between then and demanding I turn the car around?"
I lose her eyes, but I allow her to hide from me for a moment. She needs to know she's safe with me, even when I demand answers. All I want is to help her.
"You put my jacket on me and walked me out of the restaurant. I don't know what else. It's all kind of a blur because I was trying to control my breathing. I don'tlove panic attacks, you know," she teases, glancing up at me.
Chuckling, I grab her ass and scoot her closer to me so her crossed legs touch my hips. "Does anyone enjoy panic attacks?"
Violet nods. "Yeah. Readers love when the main character has a breakdown."
"What?" My eyebrows shoot up, a little surprised at this turn of conversation.
She nods with a little more life in her eyes. "Yeah. In books. The leading lady panics, and the guy or guys is supposed to swoop in and bring her back down to earth."
"We'll come back to that odd desire, but first, did you say guys? As in plural. Is that something you want? To have multiple men loving you and doting on you?"
