She watches me for a moment, not saying anything. I can tell her first reaction is to tell me no. If I had to guess, I’d say Violet isn’t used to being turned down or not chosen. And I’m willing to bet it’s probably a bruise to the ego. Finally, she blows out a breath, rolls her eyes, and opens the door wider. “Fine. Come in.”
Inside the house, I take a seat on the couch while Violet chooses to remain standing.Alright then.
“Well, talk,” Violet huffs as she folds her arms over her chest.
“Ash is hurt, and he hates the idea of y’all not bein’ okay.”
Her eyes narrow into slits. “Maybe he should’ve thought about that before doing what he did, Finn. I don’t really know what to tell you.”
“Don’t be like that,” I mutter, annoyance flaring inside of me at her flippant attitude.
“Excuse me?”
“He’s your brother, Violet.”
She scoffs. “I’m well aware who he is to me, thank you.”
My hands tremble with the restraint I’m showing. Every part of my being is thrumming with a need to yell some sense into her. She’s being immature and petty, and Ash doesn’t deserve that. But yelling at her isn’t going to make anything better, and I run the risk of Ash not forgiving me for it. So, blowing out a steadying breath, I stand up, holding her gaze.
“Listen, I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to find out the way you did, and I know Ash didn’t either, but what’s done is done. You’re standin’ in the way of your brother’s happiness, though, and I can’t watch you do it and not say anythin’. He doesn’t deserve the way you’re treatin’ him.”
Violet doesn’t say anything, arms still crossed over herself, but her jaw flexes, giving away how she’s feeling, so I continue.
“Your opinion and approval mean a lot to him, though I don’t really understand why, since from the outside lookin’ in, it appears you don’t give a shit ’bout his opinion?—”
“That’s not true,” she snaps.
“Regardless,” I cut her off, holding up my hand. “He cares what you think, and it’s eatin’ at him that y’all ain’t talkin’ right now. You need to fix it, Violet.”
Her eyebrows raise as she juts her chin out. “You’re not the boss of me.”
“You’re right, I’m not,” I mutter. “But whether you like it or not, I need you to hear me when I say this is a forever thing with Ash. It’s not some quick fling, Violet. I’m in love with your brother, and I don’t see this endin’ any time soon. Believe me when I say I’m sorry for hurtin’ you. I should’ve opened my eyes and seen how much more into me you were than I was.” She winces. “And I don’t say that to be mean. I thought we were on the same page, and it’s my bad for not seein’ what it was for you. I never meant to lead you on, but don’t take your anger toward me out on your brother. He doesn’t deserve that.”
“And I deserve watching my brother take my leftovers?”
“Knock it off, Violet,” I bark. “You can’t honestly bethatself-absorbed that you can’t see how bad Ash feels, and how much he wants to make it right with you. He’s spent his entire life feeling less than beside you. He’s happy now; can’t you be happy for him too? Be mad at me all you want, I can take it. But fix shit with your brother. Be the bigger person and hear him out. Be happy for him, support him, and acknowledge the part you’ve played in him feeling the way he has for so long. Own up to it, Violet.”
Some of the tension in her shoulders relaxes, but the twisted-up look on her face remains. “How the hell was I supposed to know how he felt when he never told me?”
“Don’t play dumb,” I grit out. “Yeah, he might not have told you in so many words, but you’d have to be blind to not realize how he felt. I didn’t even know y’all back then, and I clocked the way he felt right away.”
Having said everything I wanted to, I walk toward the door, hand coming to the knob. Before I leave, I turn toward her and say, “You’re absolutely right, Violet. I’m not the boss of you, and frankly, I don’t need you to like me. But he does, and you need to make it right with him. If you have even a shred of humandecency inside of you, like I think you do, you’ll do the right thing.”
Staring at me, wide-eyed, lips parted and forming an O, she doesn’t say anything as I walk out the front door. I don’t know if she’ll listen to me and make things right with Ash, but at least I can say I tried.
Chapter 39
Ash
Sitting in one of the folding camping chairs we brought down to the lake with us, one foot crossed over the other on top of the log in front of me, I watch the scene before me with butterflies. Bright and early this morning, before the sun even had a chance to kiss the horizon, I packed breakfast and lunch for Tucker, Finn, and I, while Finn loaded the truck with all the gear they need for fishing before waking Tucker so we could hit the road.
I’m not a fisher, nor will I ever claim to be, but I know Tucker is. He goes often with his grandpa and his uncle, but this is the first time I’ve seen Finn take Tucker, and there’s something so undeniably adorable about watching a father and his son bond over something like this. Even if fishing feels like the most boring way to spend your Saturday morning slash afternoon. We’ve been here for a few hours now, and a whole lot of nothing has happened so far. Luckily, I was smart enough to bring some stuff to keep me entertained; otherwise, I probably would’ve died from boredom by hour two. I’m working on a crosswordpuzzle under the shade, the Texas heat mild today compared to most days.
Finn’s grandpa music plays softly from the Bluetooth speaker he brought with us, and I must admit…it’s growing on me. Not all of it, but some of it isn’t as bad as I originally thought. I may have even added a few songs to my own playlist. Not that I’d ever admit as much to him. Can’t have him gloating about being right.
Tucker and Finn are wearing matching cowboy hats, white t-shirts, and Wranglers, and I don’t think it was on purpose, but it’s so cute I can’t hardly stand it. It’s been a week since we told Tuck and their family about us, and I swear, Tucker’s been on cloud nine ever since. He’s started to refer to me as ‘Mommy Ash,’and it’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.
When he asked me if it was okay to call me that, we were in the middle of eating dinner, and it was asked so casually, like he was asking me to pass the rolls. He had no idea how much my heart burst with love at that moment. While I can honestly say that name was never something I saw myself going by, I can’t help but love it. We live in the South, he’s young, and all he’s ever seen is the heteronormative family dynamic, and until we can expand Tucker’s sweet little worldview, I’m more than happy—and honored—to be what he needs. It’s a surreal experience being with Finn, and being so out in the open. Everyone in his family has been super supportive.
