The deer in headlights look vanishes, and fire blazes in her eyes. At leastIdidn't annoy her this time. "Me? Why the fuck are youfuckingin my grandma's living room?!"
I swear my eyes fall out of my head as I register her words. "Your what?" The question falls out of my mouth and my rambleworks itself into the conversation. "What the hell? Jamie said this was a family friend's house."
Violet eyes me for a second, brows furrowed. I yearn for her attention as she shifts to scanning the house. "Where are Derrick and Clara?"
"On vacation," Jamie answers.
Violet continues to frown at Jamie as if she doesn't quite believe what he's saying. "How do you know them?"
"Derrick and Clara are good friends with my parents. How doyouknow them? They're your grandparents?" Jamie looks skeptical, as if he would have known this if it were true.
Violet sighs and slumps against the wall. "Kind of. They're Jared's parents. Blue's in-laws. We're close."
It pains me to see her shutting down and giving minimal answers. I can't help but wonder if she's being short because Nate and I are here. She hasn't looked at me again, which makes my heart ache. Add on the fact that she looks exhausted...I'm feeling all the fucking things.
Jamie softens his voice and moves to cradle one of her hands in his. "They're on vacation and told my parents I could stay here. I don't think they know about the connection, but my mom and dad are going to be fucking thrilled,” Jamie shares with a smirk.
Violet rolls her eyes. "Sure they are. What aretheydoing here, though?"
Ouch. Her words sound so accusatory I have to restrain myself from getting defensive.
"They broke in the first night, and haven't fucking left," Jamie grumbles, but his eyes don't hold the anger his words do.Interesting.
Violet gasps, then turns to Nate and me with a glare. I hold my hands up and shake my head. "No. No, no, no. We didn'tbreakin. Thatbaddyover there left the door unlocked, so wewere basically invited." I point at Jamie and enjoy the way Violet blushes when I reference her drunk messages.
"So what? You've been fucking all over my grandma's house?" She crosses her arms, and I realize she's wearing a man's jacket.
"Whose jacket is that?" The stupid question pops out of my mouth before I can stop it.
"Have you been fucking on my grandma's couch?" she replies instead. Fury builds in her posture.
Over her shoulder, Jamie smirks, enjoying the ass reaming I'm for sure about to get. "No. This is the firstsexyencounter we've had here," I say, trying to lessen her anger.
Violet huffs something too quiet for me to hear, drawing a laugh from Jamie. Nate's been awfully quiet, and I wonder if he's freaking out a little.I am.
"Come, love," Jamie coos as he grabs her hand. "Let's go to my room."
Violet fucking growls at him. "I'm not having sex in my grandparents' house!"
Jamie laughs and tugs her further into the house. "I know, Sweets. We can talk, though, can't we? I really want to know how the hell you got here if you're hobbling like that and as tired as you look."
"Well...you see..." Violet's voice trails off as they disappear toward the guest room Jamie's staying in. I'd love to hear her excuse for putting herself at risk, but I let them have their privacy.
"Come here," Nate murmurs, voice thick with emotion. Glancing over at him, I see his hands are clenched, but his face is open. I do as he says, moving around the couch and stepping into his embrace.
"Yeah?" I'm not sure what he's feeling right now, but his hug is amazing.
He hums and kisses my forehead. "You need some aftercare, and I want to tell you how proud I am of you. You kept your emotions level, and you didn't say anything offensive."
I snort and burrow further into his hold. "Love you."
"Love you too, Ellis."
Twenty
VIOLET
You know that line in books when someone says, “You're thinking very loudly?” Well, I'm worried that might be possible.
