“Tommy is such an asshole.” I can’t disagree. The man was no friend of mine when I was struggling with PTSD. “I can’t believe you remained friends with him especially after the way he treated Violet in high school.”
This is news to me. “What do you mean? He didn’t do anything to Violet in high school.”
“Man.” He shakes his head. “Tommy had you fooled. He bullied Violet anytime you weren’t around.”
“Why didn’t she tell me?”
He raises an eyebrow. “Seriously? Who would you have believed?”
Violet, of course. Only I can’t be sure I would have. When Tommy ran to me claiming George and Violet were hooking up behind my back, I believed him. I didn’t ask Violet for her side of the story. I didn’t ask George. Nope. I opened my big fat mouth and spewed vitriol on them. I can blame the PTSD all I want, but the truth is I was a total asshole.
“You know why Tommy bullied Violet?” How would I know? I didn’t realize he was a bully until thirty seconds ago. “He wanted her. Tommy asked Violet out before you ever noticed her. She wouldn’t give him the time of day. Then, suddenly, she developed breasts and you were all over her.”
I rub my hand over my beard. “How could I have not known this?”
“I told you he was trouble, but you didn’t want to believe Tommy had changed. He was your friend from way back in grade school, but he turned into an asshole. He always was a jealous bitch whenever the two of us did anything without him.”
And this is the fucker I told to look out for Violet while I was gone. “What happened when I left? He didn’t harass Violet, did he?”
“Nah. She was off in the city doing her college thing. She avoided the shit out of him whenever she was home.”
“I know I don’t deserve to know, but what happened? How did Tommy manage to see you and Violet together?” I haven’t asked Violet to explain. I want her to forget I’m an asshat, not explain how much of an asshat I am.
“It was at the grocery store of all places. I ran into Violet and she looked like shit.” I wince. “Sorry, man. Just telling you like it was. She started blubbering and told me the entire story right there in the cereal aisle. I hugged her until she stopped crying. I didn’t think anything of it until you decked me.”
Yeah, I’m a real son of a bitch. After I unloaded on Violet, I got shit-faced and went in search of my so-called best friend. Naturally, I didn’t give him a chance to speak. I just called him a double-crossing asshole and punched his jaw. He went down and I walked away. We haven’t spoken since. Until yesterday when I manned up and called him.
“Tommy must have seen you.”
“That fucker didn’t waste any time telling you lies. How did he get to you before you saw Violet? I know she was waiting for you on the tarmac at the airport. There was no way Tommy could have been there. He didn’t have any family in your unit.”
Tommy’s timing was impeccable. He called while I was boarding the plane in Germany to come home. If he had called five minutes later, I wouldn’t have wasted a decade of my life without Violet. I should beat the living crap out of Tommy. I won’t. I promised Violet I’d leave the man alone. I can’t say no to her. If we have a little girl who looks like her, I’m in serious trouble.
When I finish explaining, George asks, “You seriously going to try again with Violet? Or are you just with her for the baby?”
“I love her. Baby or no baby, I’m not going anywhere. Do you want to see a picture of Baby Bud?” I pull the echo out of my pocket to show him. The picture is already tattered on the corners since I can’t stop myself from looking at it every five minutes. Good thing Violet framed her copy.
“Yep.” George nods. “Looks like every ultrasound I’ve seen.”
“You have kids?”
We order another round of beer and settle in to catch up on each other’s lives. By the time we leave the bar two hours later, I’ve had too much to drink and end up calling Violet for a ride home. Being able to call Violet when I need help feels good. Now, I need to work on getting her home and my home to be ‘our’ home. I have no intention of Baby Bud entering this world until Violet is wearing my ring on her finger and living in our home with me.
Chapter 29
Why do they always ask what superpower I would choose? If I’m getting superpowers, I’m getting all of them! ~ Violet’s Secret Thoughts
I startle and nearly fall off the couch where I parked my ass several hours ago when Luke strolls in my living room. “Crap. You scared me. How did you get in here?”
“You gave me a key.”
I did. When? Oh yeah, when I was puking my guts out. “I gave you a key because I was sick. You weren’t supposed to keep it. Have you ever heard of knocking?” I may be extra grumpy because I look like a dump truck ran over me and then reversed and ran over me again.
“I did knock.” Luke lifts his hands to show me the bags of Chinese food he brought. “You cancelled our date because you were tired. I thought I’d bring the date to you.”
“You could have warned me,” I grumble as I quickly pull my uncombed, ratty hair into a bun.
“You look beautiful, Petal.” Luke kisses my forehead before heading to the kitchen. “I got all your favorites – egg rolls, cashew chicken, fried rice, and sesame chicken.”
My stomach rumbles in anticipation. I force myself to stand from the sofa. I’m wearing a pair of raggedy sweats and a t-shirt with the neck ripped out of it. Date material I am not. Luke stops me before I can enter my bedroom.
“You don’t need to change for me. Just relax. We’ll gorge ourselves on Chinese food and watch a movie. Can you think of a better way to spend a Saturday night?”
I snort. “You can’t tell me you actually want to spend your Saturday night chilling with Chinese food.”
“I don’t care what I do on Saturday night as long as it’s with you.” I open my mouth to call him a liar, but his head descends and his lips crush mine. I sigh and his tongue invades my mouth. I grab his shoulders and pull him close. He pushes his pelvis against my lower belly and there’s a distinct bulge there. He yanks his mouth from mine. “Told you I’m happy to see you.”
I giggle. “Corny.”
“Come on.” He grabs my hand and drags me back to the living room. “Let’s eat before I ravish you.”
Ravishing me doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Except I haven’t washed my hair and I don’t think I showered today. Who knows when the last time I shaved my lady parts was. Sigh. Food and a movie it is. I follow him into the living room where he’s laid a feast out on the coffee table.
“Dig in.”
No need to tell me twice. I practically inhale a plate of fried rice. My stomach grumbles in happiness.
Luke chuckles as he shakes his head. “Baby Bud must be hungry.”
I wipe the rice clinging to my chin away. “Are you saying I’m a pig?”
He raises his hands in surrender. “I wouldn’t dare.”
“I’m eating for two, you know.”
“I do know.” He smirks.