4. Drew
DREW
I don’t understand what’s happening.
I’m sitting here, holding my beer, watching Violet laugh with Ivy like they’ve known each other for years—and none of it makes sense.
They’ve been talking for maybe five minutes. And somehow, they’re already finishing each other’s sentences.
Or maybe it makes perfect sense, and I’m just in denial.
Sebastian stands beside me, quiet and composed, watching them. “Wow. They’re hitting it off.” He shoots me an amused look.
I don’t like that look. It makes me nervous.
I drum my fingers on the table, then take a long drink. “Yeah, they are.”
I frown at them.
Violet looks up and catches my eye. She gives me a big smile that makes my heart pound faster.
I should not be acting this way.
Ivy says something to her, and Violet responds.
I take another sip, watching her.
She’s animated now, hands moving as she talks.
Her smile is easy and genuine, like this is normal.
Like she didn’t just appear in the parking lot tonight, scaring the hell out of me.
Like I didn’t almost get my ass kicked by Smoke ten minutes ago.
And would have if she hadn’t stepped in and stopped it.
“You don’t know her, huh?” Sebastian asks, eyes moving from Violet to his wife.
He’s still Ivy’s protective guard dog. It got worse after Silas kidnapped her. He hasn’t let up since, always acting like danger lurks around every corner.
My grip tightens on the bottle. “No,” I admit. “We just met tonight.”
“Hmm,” he says.
“What?” My tone is slightly defensive.
He stares at me, raising his brows.
I start babbling like an idiot, telling him what happened in the parking lot. The CliffsNotes version. Telling him the whole story... well, he might get even more suspicious.
“She saved me from getting my ass kicked. Having a drink with her seemed to be the least I could do.”
“She knocked a biker guy on his ass?”
I shrug. “She dropped him before he could swing.” I shake my head. “I didn’t even know what was happening.”
“Who was he?”
“She called him Smoke—”
“Smoke?”
I nod. “He had tattoos.”
Sebastian crosses his arms over his chest. “She smacked down a biker before he could kick your ass.”
Embarrassment crawls up my neck. “Yeah.”
“And then she pulled you inside and offered to buy you a drink?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Instead of you buying her one?”
“I’m not cheap,” I blurt out. “I was stunned. And why shouldn’t I let her buy me a drink?”
My brother blinks at me.
“No harm in that.”
He just stares at me, making me more uncomfortable.
Stupidly, I find myself blurting out, “I want to know her.”
He cocks his head, studying me like he’s trying to figure out if I just said that or if he imagined it.
I shift slightly in the seat.
“I mean, she just seems...” I trail off, not having a word for it. Different doesn’t feel right. Interesting sounds too simple.
I’m curious about her.
It should bother me.
It does.
Well… not enough to walk away.
My brother cocks his head. “Crazy?”
I blink rapidly. “No.” It comes out too fast.
He chuckles.
“Just... different.”
Sebastian smirks at me for another second before looking back at them. “Ivy likes her.”
“Yeah, they seem to get along.”
“A little too well.”
I glance at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He shrugs. “Nothing.”
I hate when he does that. “Sebastian.”
“Just saying. Ivy has a type.”
I frown. “A type?”
His mouth twitches. “People who don’t understand normal boundaries.”
I roll my eyes. “You married her.”
“Exactly.”
That’s not reassuring. If anything, he just made it worse.
Across the table, Ivy laughs, and Violet leans in like she’s drawn to it. Something about it makes my chest feel tight.
I exhale slowly. This is a bad idea.
I’m not spontaneous like this. I don’t chase things that don’t make sense.
And yet, here I am.
Violet glances over at me. Our eyes lock, and everything else fades. The music, the people, even the constant noise in my head.
Which never happens. My head is a busy place.
She smiles at me, and something in my chest shifts.
I look away, dragging a hand down the back of my neck.
“She’s just hanging out with me,” I say, glancing at a spot behind Sebastian’s ear. “It’s just one night. I’ll probably never see her again.”
Saying those words should make this easier. But it doesn’t. If anything, it makes an ache start inside my chest.
Which is stupid.
I’m Mr. Logic, not Mr. Emotional.
Sebastian hums beside me. “Uh-huh.”
Ivy says something that makes Violet laugh. It’s a genuine laugh. The kind that pulls at something low in your chest and makes you want to be the reason for it.
I don’t even realize I’m still watching her until Violet turns to me.
Shit.
I straighten slightly in my seat like that’s going to somehow make me look less like I’ve been staring at her for the past five minutes like some weird stalker.
Oh, hell. Am I turning into one?
My brother stalked Ivy...
After she stalked him.
I really need to Google stalker genes.
Unless… they’re contagious.
Oh, God.
Violet’s mouth curves in a knowing smile. She props her chin on her hand, turning the full force of her attention on me.
Jesus Christ.
Her eyes are so blue, they almost look violet. I’ve never seen eyes like hers before. They’re captivating. Mesmerizing.
And now, I’m thinking poetic thoughts, which is really strange.
“Sorry I got carried away talking to Ivy.” Violet picks up her glass and drains it, her eyes on me.
“Oh, um. It’s okay.”
Great. Strong start.
I’m sure she’s impressed.
“I feel like I abandoned you,” she adds, tilting her head slightly.
“You didn’t—I mean, you were talking—”
I stop.
Jesus Christ.
Words. Use them.
She patiently waits, not rushing me. Just watches me like she’s curious how I’m going to recover from whatever that was.
“I mean,” I try again, clearing my throat, “you were talking to Ivy. She’s... nice.”
Smooth. So smooth.
Truly elite conversational skills.
Her smile deepens like she finds me entertaining.
“I was,” she agrees. “But I came in here with you.”
The way she says it feels... intentional. Like there’s something more to her words.
My chest tightens. “Oh,” I say. “That’s... nice.”
Apparently, I’ve lost the ability to form full sentences.
Or think.
Now I’m just a moron in a bar, staring at a badass woman who saved my ass. Super macho.
Across from her, Ivy looks between us like she’s watching her favorite show.
Sebastian subtly shifts beside me.
I ignore him. Or pretend to.
I run a hand through my hair, trying not to show my aggravation.
“You okay?” Violet asks, her voice softer now.
“I— yeah,” I say quickly. “I’m fine.”
I’m really not. I’m making everything awkward.
She studies me for a second like she doesn’t quite believe that.
“Good,” she says like she just filed that information away for later.
I take another sip of my drink, mostly to keep my hands busy.
There’s something about the way she looks at me. It’s focused. Intentional.
I shake it off.
I’m reading too much into it.
Sebastian leans slightly closer. “Careful,” he murmurs.
I glance at him. “What?”
His gaze flicks toward Violet, then back to me. “There’s something off about her.”
Coming from you, that carries significantly less weight.
My eyes shift back to Violet.
My brother did marry his stalker.
Does that mean Violet could be one?
No. Stop it.
Sebastian’s just messing with you.
Just like he always has.
She’s laughing again at something Ivy said, completely at ease. She looks happy and... normal.
“I don’t see it,” I say.
That’s a lie.
I see it.
I just don’t care.
But tonight, I just don’t want to worry about it. Not when a beautiful woman is giving me attention.
Sebastian studies me for a second. “Yeah,” he says quietly. “That’s the problem.”
I exhale slowly, dragging my attention back to Violet.
She glances at me again, like she’s making sure I’m still here.
I take another pull from my beer.
I’m not going anywhere.
Not tonight.
Who would be stupid enough to leave her?