Chapter One Violet Two Years Later #2
The amount of prep I’ve seen him put into hockey is honestly impressive. He practices every day, keeps up with his social media status, and is really close with the team’s captain.
I turn down my road, taking in the scenery of my neighbor’s houses.
Not quite cookie-cutter, but each one built with intent.
Houses that scream we live in our homes, but that doesn’t mean we trash them.
Not a strict HOA, but a neighborhood with lax guidelines to keep the plots nice.
Gray, blue, and pale green exteriors, mostly center-hall colonials.
Some with pools and some without, but of course those of us without one always befriend those who have them.
Then we don’t have to spend the money or take the time to maintain one. Win-win.
One family here even has a full team of professionals that trim their bushes into the shapes of animals. Over the top? Sure is. Do I secretly drive by every time I know they’re having it re-shaped? You’re damn right.
My neighbors are all so sweet in their own way. They’re the kind that will question a person knocking on your door if they’ve never seen them in the neighborhood before. They’ve even been known to shovel our driveway in the winter if Theo doesn’t get to it in enough time.
I’m serious when I say this neighborhood is heaven.
“I’m just glad you’re okay.” My mom’s voice rings through my car speakers as I pull up to the sidewalk in front of my house. A pang of guilt hits me. She wouldn’t feel bad if I could just stop lying to her.
“I got out of the fire safely,” I tell her, referring to the fire that happened at the local hospital where she thinks I work.
I go to park in the garage, but there’s a car in my driveway, a small silver compact car that I recognize. I park behind it.
“I didn’t know Leah was coming over,” I say, a bit confused by the unexpected company of my cousin. I haven’t spoken to her since Christmas. Not that anything bad happened. We’ve just never been close.
“What, Honey?” My mom’s muffled voice tells me she’s using her shoulder to press the phone to her ear.
I smile, my heart warming with the thought of her. There’s just something about Linda Lockwood that has always brought instant comfort.
Too bad it’s not enough for me to tell her the truth about my job, that I’m not a surgeon who works long days and can’t always come to the phone when she calls.
I’d love to tell her, “Mom, someone tried to kill me today, but only because I’m a famous pop singer.
" I would love to receive consolation from the one person everyone calls when something is wrong.
“I want my mommy” isn’t a popular phrase for no reason.
I send a text to Cassie, my best friend, to make sure she’s all right since she actually works at the hospital that had the fire. She lets me know everyone made it out and there wasn’t much damage, with the exception of the new couch they bought for the attending’s lounge.
Tragic. It was such a neat shade of blue.
I tell my mom I have to go, and grab my bag from the back seat. It’s the bag Michel always tucks away when he gets me to my car. Currently packed with my disguise. I already swapped it for sweats that fit perfectly over my bodysuit. Comfy and practical.
The bag also contains the heavy-duty makeup wipes I use while Michel guards my changing room door after shows.
“You’re going to need to remove all that makeup before you leave the building. Imagine forgetting to take it off and driving ten miles over the speed limit. The headache it would cause Ollie to have to get the legal team involved, so the officer doesn’t tell everyone he just gave Solace a ticket.”
Michel and his words of wisdom.
My gaze drifts to my rearview mirror as Violet’s blue eyes stare back at me. No mask, no colored contacts, no wig, no makeup. Just me.
I exhale before looking at my beautiful center-hall colonial with the maroon shutters. It’s basically my dream home, but with way more space than necessary. I’m only in my mid-twenties, and I don’t have a herd of tiny humans to fill the empty rooms. Not sure I’d want that many kids, anyway.
As I unbuckle my seat belt, I find myself staring at the grass that Theo was supposed to mow while I was gone today.
Maybe he fell asleep.
My eyes dart to my side of the driveway. Normally, I would pull into the garage and walk into my house like any normal person would do, but my cousin’s car is taking up most of the driveway.
She never did know how to park properly.
My phone pings with a text to let me know they have arrested both men involved in the threat at Madison Square Garden, but that doesn’t help fizzle out the slew of emotions I feel deep in my gut.
Someone is out for blood.
I get out of my car and carry my things up to the front door. Locked.
“Weird,” I whisper to myself. “He never locks the door.”
I punch in the code and walk inside, but the smell of my hazelnut wax warmers isn’t the only thing welcoming me home. It’s also the panicked faces of Leah and Theo jumping up from the couch.
Butt. Ass. Naked.
I drop my bag on the floor and fold my arms over my chest as I take in the scene.
“Well, Leah,” I begin, tilting my head to examine my favorite Little Mermaid pillow now coated in things I don’t even want to think about. “I’m guessing you’re not here for a family reunion.”