Chapter 14 Violet
VIOLET
Unknown Number
Welcome to the first of many LADIES’ NIGHTS. Tomorrow night. Carnival grounds. Leave your phones in the car. LADIES ONLY: We’re expanding the activities, and you can win big if you choose to participate. EVERYONE: Bring cash. Don’t forget to dress up. Happy Halloween
Here it is. The invitation I’ve been dreading, yet anticipating, and dare I say, looking forward to?
Okay, that might be a bit of a stretch, but there is something to be said about having an ominous opportunity to earn some extra cash, and the last few weeks have been killing me.
I’ve gone back and forth, weighing the pros and cons while overthinking the endless list of possibilities as to what sort of event I’d potentially be signing up for.
Is it a game of beer pong or something? Maybe I’m serving drinks during a poker night?
I’ve heard those are pretty epic, and the players tip big if they’re winning.
But this? This is all I get? Absolutely zero context other than the bare minimum?
Ladies can win big if we choose to participate?
In what? Gee, thanks, Ford. I’d love to sign up for something I have no idea about. Sounds like a great plan.
I stretch out my legs on the threadbare couch as a television show plays from across the small room.
Not that I’m one to talk about size. Lexie’s place is a little bigger than mine.
It sports two rooms instead of one, and is nicer, too.
Okay, nice is a bit of a stretch. The small house could use a fresh coat of paint and some new floors, just like mine, but the smell of piss and beer is replaced with vanilla and clove.
Or at least, it usually is. Now, there’s an undertone of men’s cologne.
I wonder if Lexie’s noticed it yet. The small, almost unnoticeable changes around here that appeared as soon as her brother started staying with her.
Probably not.
And if she did notice, she wouldn’t say anything.
Nope. My no-filter best friend seems to have one smidgen of kryptonite, and his name is Ethan Morgan.
I don’t know what their deal is. All I know is I’ve never seen Lexie back down or take anyone’s crap unless her big brother’s in the room.
Lexie has to go in to work in a couple hours but promised I could hang out in her bedroom until I’m ready to go home.
I used to have the whole house to myself, but with Ethan now living with Lex, my options are a hell of a lot more limited than they used to be.
But hey, at least it’s something, and it sure as hell is a lot better than the alternative.
I’ll do anything to stay as far away from my dad as possible, thank you very much.
I wonder if either of them received an invitation, too.
My dad or Lexie’s brother. That would definitely put a damper on things, but—
“Hey, you good?” Lexie tosses a piece of popcorn at me, and it lands in my hair.
Turning off my phone, I fling it back at her and pick up my spoon, digging it into the jar of peanut butter, then popping it into my mouth. “Depends.”
“On?”
“On whether or not you have an extra laptop lying around,” I mumble through my mouthful of peanut-y goodness.
Ever since my laptop broke, I’ve been using the library computers, and to say it’s been a bit of an inconvenience would be a massive understatement.
“You know you have the worst luck ever, right?” Lexie returns. She tosses the kernel of popcorn into her mouth. “Which is saying something, considering who you like to hang around.”
I give her a mock glare. “Should I be offended?”
“No, but I should be.” Lexie laughs.
My mouth lifts, but I don’t give into it, well aware it’ll only give the woman a bigger ego, and I’d like to stay on topic. Or maybe I shouldn’t. I don’t know? It’s not too late to sweep my ludicrous idea under the rug, is it?
“You sure you’re good?” she prods.
“Fine. Just…thinking.”
“About?”
I rub my lips together, unsure whether or not this is a good idea.
I’m not honestly considering this, am I?
I stare at the peanut butter jar on the coffee table.
I’m not. I’m not considering it at all. If I was, I’d be crazy.
No, I’d be worse than crazy. I seriously must be unhinged for even thinking about taking Ford up on his offer.
Right? Right. I need to let it go. So, it’s potentially a good chunk of change.
It’s not like I’d actually win. Karma hates me.
Remember? But even as the pathetic truth flashes through me, my fingers itch to flip over my phone and reread the bland message all over again, just in case I missed something. A clue, a hint, a—
“Vi,” Lexie pushes.
I squeeze the second-hand phone against my palm. “What are your thoughts on going to another little Harden…thing?”
Her gaze narrows. “Why do you ask?”
Cringing, I mutter, “I may have received an invitation?”
The popcorn Lexie had halfway to her mouth drops back into the microwave bag. “What kind of invitation?”
“I don’t know? There’s something happening at the carnival tomorrow night.”
Bending forward, she sets the bag of popcorn next to the peanut butter jar and twists on the couch until she’s facing me completely. “Okay?”
“And you know I’m not usually one to bring something like this to the table as an activity, but…”
“Yeah, this definitely sounds like a me idea,” Lexie returns. “But, go on.”
“That’s it. Apparently, there’s something happening at the old carnival grounds tomorrow, and Ford says there’s a way for me to earn back my money.”
Her eyes widen. “Your money, huh?”
“Yup.”
“So it’s not just a party,” she clarifies. “He offered you a way to earn back your money?”
“Yup,” I repeat. “Although, from the sound of things, it looks like anyone with a vagina has the potential to earn some money, so it’s not like I really have an edge or anything.”
“Did he say how?”
I shake my head. “Not really.”
“Because that’s not promising at all.” She scoffs, but I don’t miss her intrigue. “You do know what I do for a living, right? And how I earn my money?”
Lexie’s never slept with anyone for money.
She’s never even danced fully nude at The Body Shop.
Period. Pretty sure she mainly serves drinks and takes her turn on the stage in a bikini at most, but still.
I know what she’s saying. It’s the same thing I told her when she first applied at the renowned strip club.
It’s a slippery slope, and if you aren’t oh so aware of every minute move, you’ll spiral down, losing more than you ever thought you could gain by sacrificing your integrity or your body or…
whatever it is the devil has decided to barter with you.
“Technically,” I say, “I asked if they expected me to sleep with anyone, and they said no, so I think I’m safe on that one.”
“Yeah, because that makes it so much better.” She laughs again.
“Okay, so you clearly need a Mama Bear right now, and even though I don’t usually take on that role, I’m going to pull up my furry britches and take one for the team until I turn back into best friend mode again.
Are you ready?” She sits up a little straighter and gives me a stern look.
Following her lead, I do the same, squaring my shoulders and tucking my feet under my butt until my sole focus is on my best friend. “Hit me with it.”
“My darling Violet.” She grabs my hands and places them on my folded knee. “There’s a saying that’s been passed down for generations and generations. Would you like to know what it is?”
“Yes, oh wise Mama Bear,” I coo. “Please tell me.”
She clears her throat. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
I wiggle out of her grasp and mimic my head exploding. “Boom.”
“My thoughts exactly,” she returns. “Now, do you need to sign in blood or anything or is this kind of a, come as you please, leave if you want, type of deal?”
“I would assume?” My face scrunches. “Honestly, I don’t even know. I doubt it’ll even work, and I’ll probably walk away with nothing, but…at least this is an opportunity to try.”
Her head bobs in the tiniest of nods as she tucks her long, dark hair behind her ear. “Do you trust him?”
“Ford? Not really,” I repeat dryly. “But considering my broken laptop and my lack of options, I figure we can at least feel it out, right?”
“Oh.” She relaxes instantly and tosses another piece of popcorn into her mouth. “Then perfect. I’m all for a fun night out, and if we rake in a bunch of cash in the process, so be it.”
“Yeah?”
“Mm-hmm.” She hesitates, and I swear I can see the wheels turning in her pretty little head. “There’s probably going to be some kind of buy-in, though. That’s how it is for my brother anyway. Hmm.” She taps her manicured finger against her chin. “Do you still have the three hundred?”
“From Jagger?”
“Unless someone else has given you three hundred dollars in the last few weeks?” she challenges.
I roll my eyes. “Smartass. And yes. I still have it.”
“Perfect. Then I say we split it fifty-fifty and up our odds of winning whatever they have in store.”
My lips part as I process her words. “Y-you want to participate, too?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Weren’t you the one giving me a lecture less than two minutes ago about signing up for something blindly?”
“No, that was Mama Bear Lexie.” She waves me off like I’m a crazy person. “Best Friend Lexie is much more spontaneous and hates thinking things through.”
“Of course, she does.” I laugh. “Does this also mean we’re going to leave the whole costume planning side of things to an hour before the event?”
“Yup.” She reaches for the bag of popcorn then settles back into the couch. “Besides, I’m pretty sure I have some animal ears or devil headbands around here somewhere. It’ll be fine.”
“Fine, huh?” I quip.
“Yup. Totally fine.”
“I guess it means we’re doing this.” I take a deep breath. “Why does it kind of freak me out?”
“Because you have no idea what you’re signing up for,” Lexie returns. “But that’s a good thing. It means you haven’t let your guard down all because of a pretty face.”
“What pretty face?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Pick one,” she tosses back at me. “Ford, Roman, Jagger, the quiet one who likes to undress people with his eyes.”
My jaw drops, and I shove her shoulder. “Lexie!”
“What? Am I wrong?”
“Kind of,” I laugh. “Hawke’s never been anything but a complete gentleman during our limited interactions. The question is, why isn’t it the case for you?”
“And that sounds like a Hawke question, not a Lexie question. Now, if you’ll excuse me, we have a show to watch.” Turning toward the beat-up television in her family room, she waves me off and reaches for the remote.
Well, I guess that’s that.