“We’re just friends. There’s nothing there.” That’s the biggest lie I’ve said. There’s definitely something there.
“It didn’t look like that last night. You looked like you were ready to lasso the moon for her.”
“You need glasses, old man. I don’t have the time or the energy to put into any relationship. Between work, my mother, Frisbee, and sleep, there’s not a chance in hell I can dedicate more of myself. Not to mention, Violet and I have already failed once, and she’s leaving in a year, and then she’ll probably move back to California.”
Which is what she’s alluded to and I have to remember if I feel myself slipping.
“Did she say that?” Killian asks. “Hazel was talking about her staying around longer.”
No, no, no. I can do a year. I can’t do forever with her here.
I’ll fucking lose my mind.
“That’s news to me.”
Killian clasps me on the shoulder. “It’s a good thing, then, that you guys are just friends.”
Yeah . . . just friends.
fifteen
Violet
Imade it through the day without any major catastrophes, which is a win in my book. The kids behaved, we made it through more ofRomeo and Juliet, and tonight I don’t have to cook.
When I stopped in Prose & Perk for some required caffeine, Hazel invited me for a girls’ night where I can get to know Penelope and Ainsley better. I’m really excited because I miss Ana and that close friendship with other women.
I drop my bag and head upstairs, flopping on the bed.
The bed.
This bed.
The bed he bought me and where last night there was very little sleeping. I roll over, burying my head in the pillow, and catch the remnants of all things Everett. Fresh air, woodsy, and a little bit of farm, but when you bundle it together, it’s just him.
I flop back over, refusing to be a pillow sniffer, and grab my phone as it rings. Well, this should be eventful.
“Hi, Mom,” I say in a sweet singsong voice.
Whenever I talk to her, this is how I sound. My mother doesn’t like unpleasant people, so I’ve spent my entire life being—happy.
“Hello, Violet. How are you?”
“I’m good. You?”
“Wonderful. Your father is off on a hike today while I stayed back at the village.”
“And you’re in Peru?”
“Yes, it’s wonderful here. Very hot, but we’ve made some interesting findings that could lead to a real discovery.”
I love my mother, but this is the script she follows all the time. Not that she hasn’t already done some incredible work, but she’s had a lot more misses than wins.
“I’m sure that no matter what, the work you’re doing is meaningful.”
“Yes, dear, that’s why I continue to do this. How is teaching? Have you spoken to Dylan?”
“Teaching is great, I love my students. I haven’t spoken to Dylan in a while other than when he called me asking for me to get him out of the PR nightmare he was in, but he fixed it.”
