Page 103 of Come Back to Me

As Violet pulls into a parking space in front of my building, she shifts the gear into park and sits there for a bit.

“Are you okay?” I ask, leaning my head against the headrest and looking in her direction.

“Yeah. I’m not the best when it comes to receiving compliments, and I couldn’t digest all of those things you told me back there. It was a lot.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bombard you like that.”

“It’s okay. I know you didn’t do it on purpose.” She pushes the engine start/stop button.

Flinging open the passenger’s door, I race over to the driver’s side to open hers because it’s the least I could do.

“Thank you. Not just for getting the door, but for saying all those kind things about me.”

“I meant every word.”

Violet looks down at the ground, her eyes making all the movements they can make. “Uh-oh.”

“What?”

“Willow. I didn’t tell her we left. I’m going to text her.” She whips out her phone, typing away. “Okay, done.”

“You know that Willow is perfectly capable of taking care of herself, right?”

“Yes, but these are people she just met today. I never want to put her in an uncomfortable situation.”

“From what I observed, she didn’t seem uncomfortable. She seemed to fit right in with everybody. I’m sure she’s okay.”

“You’re right. I don’t know why I’m like this.”

“Like what?”

“I care too much.”

“You might see it as a weakness, but I see it as a super strength because there aren’t a lot of people who would go to great lengths to make sure their loved ones are okay.”

“I know you would do that because that’s the kind of person you are. There are so many good people in the world, but these days, we have to search harder for them.”

“Wow, that was dark and poetic at the same time.”

She flattens her lips to form a line. “Sorry. I didn’t mean for you to interpret it that way.”

“You don’t have to apologize.” I walk towards the staircase, gesturing to Violet to follow me. “C’mon, let’s go and surround ourselves with peace and quiet. No loud music. No obnoxious basketball players. No drinking.”

“I want you to take a minute and replay what you just said to me in your head.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Just do it.” She walks up the stairs, turning around and looking at me with her crystal blue eyes.

Goddammit.

“I’m twenty-three. What I said sounded like I was ten years older, but you know what? I don’t care. Honestly, I love quiet time because it’s not something that’s always a part of my daily routine.”

We walk down the hallway of the second floor, inching closer to my apartment.

She stands against the wall closest to the front door. “I feel like when we graduate college, it’s not going to be much different. We’ll be busy with our careers instead of cramming to get homework done and studying for exams.”

“It will be different though. We’ll be doing things we enjoyand genuinely love. I don’t think there are a lot of college students out there who like doing homework and studying for exams. I mean, I’m sure there are some. You understand what I’m trying to say, right?” I get out my key, inserting into the lock.