“Slade.” Violet nodded. “He’s havin’ a rough go of it. I think he’s in love.”
Surprised by the gossip, Simon’s eyebrows lifted. “Lemme guess. He’s a cousin of yours?”
“No.” She reached for her spoon. “He’s a Jameson. I’m a Walker.”
He had to admit he found the way they referred to themselves amusing. Like a family rivalry or something. Although, based on what little he’d gleaned from being in town, there didn’t seem to be any animosity between the families.
Violet continued. “I think he’s got a thing for Atticus, a guy Elana works with. But Atticus might have a thing for Carson, whoismy cousin. If so,that’scomplicated because Carson and Slade used to have a thing, but they don’t anymore.”
Simon leaned forward. “Just so you know, for those of us who aren’t from here, it’s not easy to keep up with all the names or the family affiliations.”
Violet grinned. “I know. But it’s fun to toss it all out there and pretend you do.”
“I take it you’re close to your family,” he said simply to keep her talking.
“My mom and my kid sister, yeah. My older sisters moved away when I was ten. Whitney, the oldest, she just recently moved back.” She took a sip of her iced tea. “What about you? Where’s your family?”
“I’m an only child. My parents divorced when I was fourteen. It was civil for the most part. My mom … she lives in Florida with her third husband. Tom. Nice guy. Old enough to be her father, but nice.”
“Your dad?”
“He’s in Dallas. Got remarried a couple of years ago. His new wife’s got some kids younger than me. I see him every few months or so.”
The next half hour flew by as Violet gave him an animated update of recent gossip, most of which he couldn’t remember.There were so many names, and without faces to go with them, he had to shove it all into thejust noisebox in his head for his sanity.
While he didn’t care much for gossip, Simon loved to listen to her talk. There was a lyrical tone to her voice that resonated deep in his soul. No, it didn’t make a lick of sense, but for whatever reason, he didn’t really care.
“Well, I guess I should get goin’ since I crashed your dinner and all,” Violet said after Simon had paid for his meal.
He’d offered to pay for hers, but Violet had already paid, intending for it to be a to-go order. The fact she’d opted to stay to eat with him made him feel all kinds of weird shit.
“I’ll walk you out.”
She stared at him as though he’d lost his mind.
“I know.” He chuckled. “Nice guy, no chance.”
Her smile lit up her entire face. “As long as we’re on the same page.”
They weren’t, but Simon didn’t bother telling her as much. What was the harm in pursuing her while he was in town? If something happened, it would be brief and casual. Surely, she could deviate from her norm for a temporary fling.
Not that he was banking on it. Simon would be content as her friend if that were all he was allowed.
Maybe if he said it enough, it would be true.
Chapter Six
Walking out of the diner, Violet wasviscerally aware of the man behind her. It was weird, but she felt a strange connection to him.
Not physical because there wasn’t one. Not unless you considered how his fingertips lightly brushed the small of her back as though he was guiding her. She didn’t think it qualified because it felt almost as though he wasn’t quite comfortable touching her.
It was sweet, though. So was the way he reached around, pushing the door open—more nice guy points for him—then holding it so she could go out first.
It wasn’t until he was walking beside her that she realized how much bigger he was. And it wasn’t just his height. At barely five feet, most people were taller than her, so she was used to that. He was a few inches shorter than Holt, likely putting him right at six feet.
And she wasn’t sure it was the breadth of his shoulders, either. The man obviously worked out. She knew he didn’t earn that physique from sitting behind a microphone or whatever he did to record a podcast. Not unless he lifted weights while he did it.
“What?” he asked, glancing over at her.
