I run a hand through my hair, trying not to show my aggravation.
“You okay?” Violet asks, her voice softer now.
“I— yeah,” I say quickly. “I’m fine.”
I’m really not.I’m making everything awkward.
She studies me for a second like she doesn’t quite believe that.
“Good,” she says like she just filed that information away for later.
I take another sip of my drink, mostly to keep my hands busy.
There’s something about the way she looks at me. It’s focused. Intentional.
I shake it off.
I’m reading too much into it.
Sebastian leans slightly closer.“Careful,” he murmurs.
I glance at him. “What?”
His gaze flicks toward Violet, then back to me.“There’s something off about her.”
Coming from you, that carries significantly less weight.
My eyes shift back to Violet.
My brother did marry his stalker.
Does that mean Violet could be one?
No. Stop it.
Sebastian’s just messing with you.
Just like he always has.
She’s laughing again at something Ivy said, completely at ease.She looks happy and... normal.
“I don’t see it,” I say.
That’s a lie.
I see it.
I just don’t care.
But tonight, I just don’t want to worry about it. Not when a beautiful woman is giving me attention.
Sebastian studies me for a second.“Yeah,” he says quietly.“That’s the problem.”
I exhale slowly, dragging my attention back to Violet.
She glances at me again, like she’s making sure I’m still here.
I take another pull from my beer.
