50. Drew
DREW
The cameras are installed.
That should make me feel better.
It does.
Mostly.
I lean back in my chair and stare at the small camera mounted near the front door.
Security.
Protection.
It should make me feel confident I’m safe.
Except there’s one tiny detail my brain refuses to ignore.
Violet helped arrange it.
The woman with a binder containing my daily routine helped arrange my security system.
I drag a hand down my face. “It’s fine. Just because she knows him doesn’t mean anything. What could possibly happen?”
Luna, stretched across my desk like she owns it, flicks her tail.
“The guy’s a professional.”
She blinks judgmentally.
“Don’t start. Sebastian uses King Morine, too.”
That makes it normal. Responsible.
I open my laptop and stare at the spreadsheet I’ve been trying to finish for twenty minutes.
I’ve completed two rows of data.
Two.
“This is ridiculous,” I mutter.
Luna yawns.
“Easy for you to judge. You don’t have complicated relationships.”
She rolls onto her side.
“Right. Sorry. Your life is so stressful.” Sarcasm drips from my tone.
Luna is completely unbothered.
I look back at the screen.
Focus on your job.
Do literally anything except think about Violet Quinn.
I type three numbers.
Then delete one because it’s wrong.
I’m distracted. All I can think about is her.
And the nagging worry about the binder and picture in her room.
I should be more freaked out.
And I am.
Mostly.
But then I remember the way she cleaned my wounds.
I sigh, glancing at my phone sitting beside my laptop.
I pick it up.
Set it down.
Then pick it up again.
“Oh my God.”
Luna lifts her head.
“It’s nothing. Go back to sleep.”
She lowers it again.
I unlock my phone and open Violet’s messages.
I type.
Do you want to—
No.
Delete.
Are you busy tomorrow?
No.
Too casual.
Delete.
I groan.
“I broke into her house, got attacked by a rake, fell into a bush, and got hit with a tennis racket, but apparently asking her out is where my confidence ends.”
Luna says nothing.
“Helpful.”
My phone buzzes.
I jump.
“Dammit.”
Violet: You’re thinking too hard.
I freeze.
Slowly, my eyes drift to the camera mounted over the front door.
No.
No way.
I stare at the tiny device mounted in the corner.
The camera I willingly had installed.
“She does not have access.”
Right?
No, she wouldn’t.
Stop overreacting.
I look at my phone and type a response.
Me: I’m not.
Her reply comes immediately.
Violet: Yes, you are.
My eyes narrow.
Me: How do you know that?
The typing bubbles appear.
Disappear.
Appear again.
My pulse picks up.
Violet: Because you told me you had work to catch up on.
I stare.
Another message appears.
Violet: And instead of working, you’re probably sitting there thinking about everything that could possibly go wrong.
My shoulders slowly relax.
Oh.
Right.
Logic.
She isn't watching me.
She just knows me.
Somehow, that feels even more dangerous.
Me: Lucky guess.
Violet: Educated guess.
I huff out a laugh.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I start typing.
Me: I don't know if this counts as a date since we've already had one maybe-date and adopted a kitten together, but..
I stare at the words.
No way.
Delete.
Me: Would you be available tomorrow evening for a movie?
I grimace.
I sound like I’m scheduling a quarterly audit.
Delete.
Me: I can't stop thinking about you.
I freeze.
Absolutely not.
She'll think I'm a psycho.
Delete.
Me: I know this is probably weird, but I keep thinking about you. I was wondering if you'd like to go to the movies tomorrow?
I stare at it.
Too much.
Way too much.
Delete.
I grit my teeth.
Then I type:
Me: Want to go to the movies tomorrow?
I hit send before I lose my nerve.
Then immediately regret it.
“Oh God.”
Luna blinks.
“I did it.”
She yawns.
“I asked her.”
She blinks at me.
“Your emotional support skills need work.”
My phone buzzes.
I nearly drop it.
Violet: Are you asking me on a date?
A date.
Is that what I'm doing?
I mean...
Yes.
Obviously.
That's literally what asking someone to the movies is.
Jesus Christ.
My fingers hover over the screen before I finally respond.
Me: Yes.
Three dots appear.
I stop breathing.
Violet: Then yes.
I stare at it.
“She said yes,” I whisper.
Luna jumps down and walks away.
“Wow. Really? Biggest moment of my life and you’re leaving?”
She disappears down the hall.
Great. Even my cat has no confidence in my dating abilities.
I look back at the phone.
Me: Tomorrow night? 7:00?
Her answer comes quickly.
Violet: I’ll be ready.
I smile... Then it fades as reality crashes into me.
I have a date.
With Violet.
Oh, crap.
I’ve never actually planned a date before.
I lean back and stare at the ceiling. “This is a terrible idea.”
It absolutely is.
Except I haven't stopped smiling since she said yes.
I pick up my phone and read her message again.
Then again.
I don't think I've ever smiled this much over three words before.
“Yeah,” I whisper. “This is definitely a date.”