31. Violet
VIOLET
Callie is lounging on the couch when I walk into the living room.
Good. We need to talk.
“You almost gave me away,” I snap, irritation blooming through me.
Callie doesn’t even look up from her phone. “I didn’t know he was here,” she says, completely unbothered. “It was after one in the morning.”
“That’s not the point.”
“It feels like the point,” she counters, finally glancing up at me. “If I had known your target was standing in my kitchen, I would’ve adjusted.”
I narrow my eyes. “He’s not a target.”
Callie grins. “Right. He’s your future husband. My mistake.”
“And don’t forget it.”
She smirks. “I like that you go after what you want. Even if you do it in a different way than I—”
“You’re a loose cannon.”
“I’m decisive.”
“You almost had a restraining order against you,” I say, my hands on my hips. “Your first semester at college.”
She waves a hand. “He was dramatic.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re impatient. Irrational. And could have gotten in real trouble if I hadn’t intervened.”
She wrinkles her nose. “And you’re controlling and boring.”
“I’m not boring, Callie. I just... do things differently than you.” I level her with a look. “I’m careful. Patient—"
“I’ll say.” She looks at her phone again. “I’d already have a ring on my finger. You’ve only gone on one date with Drew.”
“You may have ruined any chance of another date. You said stalking,” I remind her.
“I covered it with walking,” she shoots back.
“I don’t think he believed you.”
And that’s what worries me.
What if she chased him off?
“Don’t worry. He’ll be back.”
I stare at her. “How do you know that?”
She looks up, staring right back. “I just do.”
Something about the way she says it settles wrong in my chest.
I huff out a breath. “You can’t say things like that,” I tell her, keeping my voice level. “Not when he’s around.”
“Again, I didn’t know he’d be here.” She snaps her gum, knowing how much I hate that sound.
“That’s because you leap before you think. Everything is instinct with you.”
She gasps, mock-offended. “I prefer passionate.”
I drag a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. “You’re going to ruin this for me.”
“I said I’m sorry,” she mutters.
We stare at each other for a few beats.
“Just don’t mess this up for me,” I say finally.
She smirks. “No promises.”
I roll my eyes.
Of course not. Callie would never make a promise she can’t keep.
My phone buzzes, distracting me.
I pull it from my pocket, eyes widening when I see who it is.
Drew: Do you want to come over for dinner? Ivy wants to meet Luna.
I stare at the message for a full three seconds.
He invited me over. Again.
My lips curve slightly.
Good. Callie didn’t ruin things.
I read it again before typing back carefully.
Not too fast.
Or too eager.
Me: Sure. Just tell me what time.
Luna meows softly from the blanket I set up for her.
I crouch beside her, running my fingers gently over her tiny head.“You’re going to meet your dad’s family.”
She blinks up at me, unbothered.
Lucky her.
My phone buzzes again.
Drew: Around 5?
Perfect.
I type back, “We’ll be there.”
I set my phone down and stand, already running through everything in my head.
Timing.
Clothing.
How to handle Sebastian.
Ivy already likes me. That much was clear the last time I had dinner there.
Sebastian is suspicious. He’s the one I need to focus on. I can’t have him scaring Drew away.
Not until he sees what I already know. Then there won’t be anything anyone can do.
I glance toward the stairs as Callie’s feet thud against them.
“Next time, try not to ruin things,” I call out. “Think before you speak.”
There’s a pause.
“I make no promises,” she calls back, laughter in her voice.
I roll my eyes.
Good thing they’re not coming here. No telling what Callie would do.
I look down at Luna again. “You’re the easy part,” I tell her.
She purrs.
If only everything were that simple.
By the time I pull into Sebastian’s driveway, I’m exactly on time.
Not early—that would look anxious.
Not late—that’s just rude.
I step out of the car, adjusting my hold on Luna’s carrier before walking toward the house.
I took her to the shelter earlier to scan for a chip.
Nothing.
The vet confirmed she’s healthy, just underweight. Probably dumped by someone who didn’t have the patience to earn her trust.
I cradled her to me on the way home, promising she had a forever home with Drew and me.
The door opens before I even knock.
Ivy beams at me. “Hi, Violet. Glad you’re here.”
“Hi,” I say calmly, holding up the carrier. “I brought the star of the show.”
“Oh my God,” she gasps, immediately stepping aside. “Come in, come in. Let me see her.”
I step inside like I belong here.
Drew is already in the living room.
Our eyes meet, and a smile lights up his face.
I’d do anything to keep it on his face.
Soon, Drew.
Soon.
Ivy drops to her knees in front of the carrier like she’s meeting royalty.
“Hi, baby,” she coos.
Luna meows.
Instant success.
“I love her,” Ivy declares immediately, looking up at me. “She’s perfect.”
“I agree,” I say.
“Of course you do,” Drew mutters.
I glance at him.
He looks… tense. Like something’s off.
“Relax,” I say lightly. “She hasn’t attacked anyone yet.”
He exhales like he doesn’t believe me.
“Yet,” he says, his eyes on Luna.
A low growl cuts through the room.
I turn.
Mr. Pickles stands a few feet away, body still, eyes locked on the carrier. Assessing. Judging.
I straighten slightly, watching him as carefully as he’s watching us.
“Mr. Pickles. Don’t be grumpy,” Ivy scolds.
I shrug. “Well, it is his house.”
“That doesn’t mean he needs to be a bully.”
His tail flicks once.
I crouch slowly, opening the carrier just enough for Luna to peek out.
She blinks, then hisses.
Mr. Pickles does not hiss back.
He steps closer, slow and deliberate. He looks… curious.
Drew moves beside me.
“This feels like a bad idea,” he mutters.
“It’s fine,” I say calmly.
Mr. Pickles lowers his head slightly, sniffing.
Luna puffs up. She looks so tiny and ridiculous.
I reach in and scoop her up gently.
“It’s okay,” I murmur, smoothing my hand down her back.
She settles almost immediately.
Mr. Pickles watches.
But he’s not impressed, either.
We’ll get there.
Everything does.
I look at Drew.
Eventually.
“I’m obsessed,” Ivy says, still crouched beside me. “She’s so tiny.”
“She tried to attack me,” Drew says.
“She was defending herself,” I reply.
“From what?”
“You.”
Ivy snorts.
Sebastian laughs quietly from across the room.
I glance up.
He’s leaning against the wall, watching everything like he’s studying a problem.
“Funny,” he says, pushing off the wall slightly. “You just happened to be out walking at night when all this happened?”
There it is.
I meet his gaze easily. “Yes.”
Let him doubt me. He’ll understand eventually.
His expression doesn’t change. “Late night walks your thing?” he asks.
“Sometimes,” I reply.
The silence stretches.
“Sebastian,” Drew mutters, pinching his brow. “We have enough drama with the cats.”
I look at them.
Mr. Pickles hasn’t moved.
Luna is purring because Ivy is petting her.
He nods once, unconvinced.
That’s fine. I’ll win him over.
I shift slightly, adjusting Luna in my arms.
Drew is watching me again, like he’s trying to figure me out.
I let my fingers trail lightly over Luna’s head, calm and steady.
“This is nice,” Ivy says, standing and brushing her hands off. “We should do this more often.”
I look at Drew.
He hesitates.
“…Yeah,” he finally says.
This is how it starts. Small moments that build and layer until it feels natural.
Inevitable.
Until he stops questioning it altogether.
I glance toward Mr. Pickles.
He’s still watching.
He looks curious. Not threatening.
“Do you want to meet Luna?” I ask.
Mr. Pickles glances at me, then at Luna.
He slowly approaches.
I remain squatting, holding her.
Luna is calm now, watching as he approaches.
He gets close enough to sniff her.
Then he sits, tail flickering.
I glance at Drew. He looks between the three of us in amazement.
Good.
Eventually, he'll stop questioning me altogether.