She shakes her head, resting her hand on my chest. “It’s not for me either. But my situation hasn’t changed. My life is just so up in the air, and the last thing I want to do is hurt you.”
“Why do you think you get to make the decision for me?”
Violet’s eyes widen. “What?”
“You heard me. Isn’t it also my decision? Don’t I get a say in whether or not I’m willing to take the risk?”
She glances down at her hands and then back to me. “Of course you do.”
“Then how about you ask me what I want, Vi?”
It takes a moment before she speaks again. “Okay. What do you want?” she asks, her eyes filled with hesitation.
“You,” I say without pause. “All of you. The baby. A chance at a life together. I want our second chance.”
Tears fill her eyes, but she holds them back. “And if I have to leave Ember Falls?”
“Then we come up with a solution—together.”
I can see the wheels turning in her mind, and I take her chin between my thumb and pointer. “Look at me, Violet. I’m not afraid, even though my heart has always been yours to break, but I’m not afraid of it. I’m not running away. I’m standing here, willing to take whatever time we can have together. If it’s a week, a month, or a lifetime. What are you afraid of?”
She drops her head to my chest before letting out a long breath. “I’m afraid that if I have to leave here, after falling back in love with you, it will absolutely destroy me.”
“Do you think it won’t if you don’t give us a chance?”
Violet laughs and she pushes at my chest, starting to pace. “No, I know it will no matter what, but if we do this, and we have this relationship, then what?”
“Answer me this, do you think about me?”
“Ever?”
I grin. “Let me rephrase. Do you think about us, what we could be?”
She nods. “Every day.”
“And would you rather live those days together or apart?”
Just then she grabs at her side, wincing. “God, that hurts.”
Fear grips me as she doubles over.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think I’m going to be sick!” Violet says and then runs to the bathroom.
“Violet?” I call after her, but she shuts the door.
“Don’t come in here!”
Then I hear her getting sick. Yeah, that’s not going to happen.
I push the door open and rush to her side, pulling her hair back behind her, as she gets sick again. Violet pants and I grab a towel, handing it to her.
“Does your stomach still hurt?” I ask as she dabs at her mouth.
“Yes, but ... I really didn’t want you to see that.”
“You know I’m a doctor, right? I’ve seen my share of puke, poop, and blood. Nothing scares me.”
