“You passed out. Swear, I was a perfect gentleman.”
“What do you mean I passed out?” There’s no way I would have. “Violet? Is she still here?” There’s no way she would have left me.
“Yeah, she left last night. Tried to wake you up, but you were out. I told her to let you sleep. I slept on the couch.” This is not happening. I reach for my phone to check the time or see if I have a text from Violet—anything that explains this bizarre turn of events. I scroll through my log. He called again, but it’s not showing up as a missed call.
“Did you answer my phone?” I snap.
“Um, yeah, he kept calling. I thought it was important.”
“And? Did he say anything?””
“No…he hung up on me. That family friend again? What kind of friend is he exactly?”
Fuck! I scramble out of his bed, searching for my things. “Where’s my backpack? I have to go.” How could Violet leave me here?
“It’s…it’s out in the living room. What’s wrong? Nothing happened, I swear.”
It doesn’t matter. If I thought we were done before, Evan just put the final nail in my coffin. I grab my things and race out of there. My head is jumbled, caught in the fog of last night. Why would Violet leave me there? I run through campus, ignoring the stares, and dash into our dorm. When I burst into our room, Violet is sliding on her jacket.
“Hey—”
“Don’t fucking hey me,” I snap. “What the fuck, Violet?”
Her brows shoot up. “What do you mean what the fuck? What’s your problem?”
“Why did you leave me there?” I scream, confused.
“Haze, I texted you and told you I was leaving. You texted back saying you wanted to stay.”
“No, I didn’t. I never would’ve said that.” I scramble for my phone and scroll through my text messages, finding the one I apparently sent her saying I would work through the night with Evan and to take off without me. “No way. I would have never sent this.” Would I have?
This doesn’t make sense. I was really tired, and I had too much to drink. Maybe I was just too exhausted to leave. I trusted him, right?
“Hazel, you’re starting to scare me.”
“Well, I’m freaking out!” I yell, causing her to jump.
“Did something happen? Did Evan do something to you?”
Did he? He wouldn’t. I’m just so stressed out. I knew I shouldn’t have drank with everything on my mind. “No, it’s just…I’m not right. I must have just passed out.”
“Hazel, I’m not sure what’s going on. I’ve been super patient with you, but I’m done waiting for you to come around. Tell me what’s going on, or I’m telling Heath.”
“Are you kidding me?” I snap.
“No! I’m worried about you! You’re not okay. If you won’t open up to me then—”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Because I can’t. Because when I do, it will change everything.”
She comes up to me, cupping my shoulders. “Whatever it is you’re going through, you can’t do it alone. Not anymore. You’re suffering. I see it daily.” I shake my head and squeeze my eyes shut. I can’t tell her. Once this secret is out, I can’t take it back. It will no longer be our dirty little—
“Hazel, tell me. Are you in some kind of trouble? Did someone do something—”
“No, it’s nothing like that.” She waits for me to explain, but I stay silent. I don’t even know where to start. She squeezes me again and wraps me in her arms. The weight of my secret and the pain I’m carrying becomes too much, and I break down and cry.
“Oh, Hazel, it kills me to see you this way. Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.”
“I’m sleeping with my dad’s best friend,” I cry, hiccupping into her shoulder.
“Oooh…okay, wow. Didn’t expect that. That’s bad.”
“I know.” I sob harder.
“Oh, Hazel, how did this happen? Did he force you—”
I instantly pull away. “No. It’s not like that. I pursued him.” Her brows raise in shock. “I flirted and taunted him until he finally gave in, and now…”
“Jesus, don’t tell me you’re pregnant.”
I shake my head. “No, but he cut it off. He told me we could never be together because of Dad. He stole my heart and claimed every part of me, and then let me go. He doesn’t want me anymore.” I lose it again, and Violet captures me in her arms, letting me soak her shirt.
“Haze, this…this…maybe he’s right. Heath—your dad, he will murder Gabriel if he caught wind. This…this isn’t like—”
“You and my dad? I know. Gabriel’s made that very clear. Unlike you, we don’t get our happily ever after.” I pull away, needing space.
“Hey,” she says to me, “that’s not fair.”
Shit. I’m a jerk. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. It’s just…I want it to be like you and Dad. I want us to be okay. I want us both to go to my dad. He has to understand. I did for him and—”
“Hazel, I get where you’re coming from, and I agree with you, but you have to understand. You’re his daughter, his only child, who he loves and would do anything to protect. Gabriel is his best friend. Shit, as far as I can tell, his only friend.” We both chuckle, knowing how true that is. “This will truly crush him. It will be like being stabbed in the back and front. I…I don’t know what to say here, but I…I…shit…” Dropping her bag, she goes to our mini-fridge and pulls out our mini bottles of vodka. She twists off the top of one, hands it to me, then grabs another and takes a swig.
“Fuck,” I grunt, the liquor unsettling my already weak stomach.
“Fuck is right. I mean…Gabriel, huh?” She turns to me, her curious stare asking for more.
“Yeah.” I throw myself in my chair. “He’s so powerful, and ruthless, and dominating. He’s this entity in my world that breathes life into me. He’s attractive and kind in this broody sort of way. He handles me with utter care yet dominates me in a way I can’t even put into words. He…owns me. And I’m in love with him.” Forgetting my upset stomach, I swallow the rest of the shot.
Violet does the same, looking just as lost. We’re both quiet for some time before she breaks the silence. “So, what’s your plan?”
“I don’t have one.”
“Have you talked to him about any of this?”
That question has my bottom lip quivering, remembering the missed call and Evan answering. “No.” I wipe at my wet face. “He called me last night, but I guess I passed out. Evan said he kept calling, so he answered. Gabriel didn’t say anything, then hung up.”
“Oh shit.”
“Yeah. So, who knows what he thinks. He had rules, and I disobeyed.” Her brow raises again, her eyes widening, but I hesitate to further explain. She has that do-tell expression on her face, but I’m not ready to share those details. “I just want to talk to him. Tell him it’s not what he thinks. I love him. Maybe I am being selfish. I’m asking him to give up everything to be with me. Maybe that makes me the one in the wrong.”