Chapter 29 For pleasure too #2
I don’t waste another second before grabbing my phone from the center console. For a brief moment, the simple act feels strange. After weeks of my arm being trapped in a sling, having both hands free again feels oddly exhilarating, as though my body is relearning something it always knew.
Violet: What did you do?
His reply appears almost instantly, as if he’d been waiting with the phone already in his hand.
Rowan: Is everyone already there?
Violet: I don’t know what you mean by everyone. But there are two cars parked beside yours right now.
Even without seeing him, I can picture the smile that must be spreading across his face.
Rowan had messaged me earlier, right before we left the hospital. Then again while Vienna and I were sitting in the waiting room. And when texting apparently proved too slow, Archer called me with dramatic reluctance, announcing that he had been appointed messenger pigeon against his will.
Just remembering the conversation still makes me want to laugh.
He asked how I was feeling, what the doctor had said and whether the arm hurt.
And right before ending the call, Archer added casually, “Are you sure you don’t want me to tell her you love her?”
“Don’t tease my man, Arch,” I warned. “Especially when I’m not there to smack you for it.”
That had earned Zane’s laughter somewhere in the background before Archer replied, his voice thick with amusement.
“Your man is currently wearing the brightest smile I’ve ever seen, Violet. I should probably hang up before he starts scaring Dad and me.”
The soft chime of my phone pulls me back to the present.
Rowan: Since you’re finally sling-free, it seems like a good enough reason to celebrate. Doesn’t it?
A grin breaks across my face.
Violet: You’re crazy.
Rowan: That I am. But only about you.
My heart flips. Honestly, I want to kick my feet and spin around the way ridiculous teenagers do in movies. Rowan makes happiness bloom so suddenly and so completely that it almost feels unreal.
Rowan: Now go. Have fun. Take lots of pictures and send them to me.
Rowan: And Violet?
Violet: Yeah?
My heart beats faster as I stare at the screen, waiting.
Rowan: Miss me.
I laugh softly.
Violet: You don’t even have to say that.
“Look at my lovebirds,” Vienna teases from the driver’s seat.
It’s only then that I become aware of how wide my smile has grown and how warm my cheeks feel. I quickly slide my phone back into my bag.
“Now”—Vienna claps her hands together with renewed energy—“let’s celebrate your arm finally being free. And hopefully our boys coming home soon.”
“Ta-da!” Vienna throws the front door open, her arm sweeping wide like she’s presenting a grand stage.
The moment we step inside, a burst of cheers explodes through the house and confetti rains down over me.
I freeze in shock. “Oh my God.”
“You already know your gang.” Vienna points toward Daisy, Willow, and Elodie, each holding an empty confetti shooter.
“And this”—Vienna turns dramatically toward the other side of the room, where three women stand with amused smiles—“is my gang. Violet, meet Kristy, Rose, and Hope—the first-generation Elixir ladies, before you girls came along.”
These must be the mothers of Rowan’s cousins, Charles, Alex, and Raymond.
“I hope you don’t mind us intruding,” Kristy says warmly. “Vienna mentioned there was a surprise planned, and we decided we absolutely couldn’t miss it.”
I shake my head. “Not at all. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.”
Given how close everyone in this circle is, I’m sure that somewhere in the blank spaces of my memory, I probably do know them. But before that thought can take root, Vienna slides an arm around my shoulders, pulling me against her side.
“Don’t worry about that for a second. My gang and I are pretty unforgettable.
You’ll love us immediately. And girls, you already know Violet—my soon-to-be daughter-in-law and the future mother of my grandchildren.
” She throws both hands into the air. “Oh my God. Can you imagine me as a grandmother?”
There’s a beat of silence before the room erupts with laughter. Willow laughs so hard she bends forward, clutching her stomach, while Daisy leans against the arm of the couch trying to catch her breath.
Elodie gapes. “Are you pregnant?”
“No!” I shake my head with a laugh. “Not at all.”
Vienna waves a hand dismissively. “I was talking about the future,” she says with a mischievous grin.
“Okaaay.” Hope steps forward and takes my hand before gently pulling me farther into the room. “We need to keep you all at a safe distance from Vienna before she terrifies you completely.” She glances toward my friends. “Otherwise, we’ll have a bunch of very unhappy sons on our hands.”
Another ripple of laughter spreads throughout the room, which is transformed into something bright and festive. Bouquets of flowers cover nearly every surface, champagne bottles gleam on the coffee table, and a long spread of appetizers stretches across the dining counter.
“Thank you.” A gentle warmth unfurls inside me. “Thank you so much for doing this.”
“You don’t have to thank us. This is entirely Rowan’s doing. All we had to do was show up.” Kristy gives me a warm smile.
Vienna places a dramatic hand over her chest. “I still cannot believe my Ro is such a romantic.”
“And I don’t think he’d appreciate you announcing that particular characteristic to the entire room.” Kristy tosses a piece of popcorn in Vienna’s direction.
The easy laughter between them, the teasing affection, the effortless closeness—it shows me what Daisy, Willow, Elodie, and I might look like years from now. The thought makes me smile.
Leaving Vienna and the others chatting on the couch, I wander toward the drink table, where my friends are pouring champagne for everyone. The moment I reach them, they all pause.
“How are you feeling, Vi?” Elodie reaches toward my arm, the one that had been trapped in the sling for weeks. She stops halfway and I smile to reassure her that it’s okay.
“I actually feel really good. And to be honest, I cannot wait to shower using both hands again.”
Willow’s grin spreads instantly. “I always assumed Rowan would’ve volunteered to help with that particular task.”
I bite down on my lip as I shake my head. “He’s far too much of a gentleman for that.”
“Yes,” Elodie says calmly, “as his twin very clearly pointed out earlier… you two still haven’t had sex.”
Daisy gasps. “You didn’t have sex? But you made out, right?”
I nod, my cheeks warming slightly. I don’t see the need to explain that even that has only happened once.
Willow nudges Daisy with her shoulder. “Why so surprised, Daze? Did Charles pounce on you on the wedding night of your contract marriage?”
My head snaps toward Daisy. “You had a contract marriage?”
Daisy laughs and nods. “But we’re so in love now that it feels almost absurd to think that’s how we started.” Then she nudges Willow right back. “What about you, Willow? You spent years wanting to kill Raymond. When exactly did you two stop being enemies and end up in bed together?”
Willow lifts her champagne glass, a playful smile curving her lips. “Well, without going into too many details, I will say one thing. These Teager men have incredible self-control.”
“Hey, girls, don’t leave us old ladies stranded over here,” Kristy calls from the couch.
We each grab an extra champagne glass before we walk back toward the others.
The room is buzzing with warmth and conversation, the worries about Zane pushed gently to the background for some time.
Vienna rises from the couch and lifts her champagne flute high. “To Violet’s sling-free day and her finally having both her arms back to herself.”
We all begin to lift our glasses toward our lips when Vienna suddenly clears her throat loudly.
“My speech is not finished.”
Kristy raises an eyebrow. “There’s a speech now? Alright then, go ahead.”
Vienna straightens, looking entirely pleased with the attention. “Having two arms is extremely important,” she continues with all seriousness. “Especially on days when your man is away.”
She winks directly at me and I chuckle.
“So,” she concludes with theatrical flair, raising her glass even higher, “to Violet—for regaining her independence and also her pleasure.”
Laughter ripples around the room before we finally take a sip. The champagne feels light and celebratory as it slides down my throat.
“We heard you and Rowan might be getting engaged soon.” Hope leans forward. “Have you two decided on a date yet?”
As the conversation turns toward me again, I notice Rose sits quietly beside the others. Her soft smile suggests she enjoys observing the room more than participating in it.
“We haven’t really talked about dates yet. Rowan wanted me to heal first. But once he’s back, that’s probably the next step.”
Vienna nods thoughtfully before her attention shifts.
“Elodie,” she says, turning toward my friend with unexpected seriousness in her expression. “I need to say something to you.”
“Yes?”
But before Vienna can continue, Kristy reaches across the table and smacks her lightly on the wrist. “Vienna, don’t.”
The warning might have sounded serious if Kristy herself wasn’t seconds away from dissolving into laughter. “Please stop before you actually scare the girls away.”
Vienna blinks innocently. “Why would I scare them? It’s something very serious.”
“What is?” Elodie asks, her gaze shifting between the two of them.
The mischievous sparkle in Vienna’s eyes makes it very clear she’s enjoying every second of this.
“Your three best friends,” she says slowly, pointing toward Daisy, Willow, and me, “are either married to or deeply involved with our three boys.”
Her gaze then drifts toward Rose. “We all know where Alex’s heart is.”
Rose smiles back at her, amused but unsurprised.
Vienna turns back to Elodie. “So that leaves only you and Archer. I would absolutely love to have a second daughter-in-law like you.”