“What’s on your mind?”
“Nothin’,” Violet answered softly.
Simon didn’t believe her. For the better part of the evening, he’d suspected something was off. She was wild and sassy andfun whenever her family members came around, but when she was left alone with Elana or him, she lost the sparkle in her eyes.
Simon had a feeling it had to do with him, and he didn’t think it was necessarily bad. Melancholy seemed to be a better word for it.
Last night had sealed the deal for him and he hoped that Violet had felt some of that, too. Whenever he thought about leaving town, he felt very similar to the way she looked now. And if he was thinking about it, Violet was probably thinking about it, too.
Even now, he wasn’t sure whether she would want his company or if she intended to send him on his way once he walked her to the door.
“When are you goin’ back to Dallas?” she prompted as he was turning down her street.
Well, that certainly answered that.
He exhaled heavily. “By the end of the week,” he said, hating every word that came out of his mouth. But it was true. Regardless of what he wanted, he had things he needed to take care of. He couldn’t avoid it forever.
However, should she ask him to stay, his trip home would be simple. He’d be going there to pack up his shit so he could move.
Violet’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“I have to. I’ve been gone longer than I planned already.”
She didn’t respond as he pulled into her driveway. He barely got the car inParkbefore she hopped out.
Oh, boy.She’s runnin’ already.
Simon turned off the engine and hurried after her, all but running to stop her at the front porch.
“Violet. Talk to me, please,” he insisted, stopping her from opening the screen door.
“There’s nothin’ to say. I knew this was only temporary.”
He wanted to tell her it didn’t have to be, but he hadn’t yet figured out how to make it work. For the first time in his life, he wasn’t ready to walk away. He wasn’t sure he ever would be ready. But until he figured out a way to make this permanent as well as slow it down so that he didn’t scare her, Simon didn’t want to get either of their hopes up.
Simon cupped her face, using his thumb on her jaw to tip her head, forcing her to meet his gaze. “We’ve still got some time.”
Her eyes glittered from unshed tears. Seeing them nearly broke his heart.
“Would you stay here until you go?”
It took a moment for her question to make sense. When it did, he leaned in and kissed her. “I would love to.”
And he meant that with every breath he took.
Simon released her, taking her hand and opening the screen door. “Come on. Let’s get you to bed.”
“I’m not tired,” she said, focusing on the key she was inserting in the door.
“No one said anything about sleep,” he teased. “Anyway, it’s probably not all that comfortable to sleep with boots on.”
She flashed a smile over her shoulder.
“Why don’t you go get changed,” he suggested. “I’ll feed Harry and Hermione.”
“You will?” Violet’s shock was palpable.
“Yeah. I’ve watched you do it enough times. I think I’ve got it figured out.”
