Chapter Twelve
Violet
I MANAGE TO avoid seeing anyone for the rest of the week. It’s not uncommon for Aaron to stay at his dad’s house, and I’ve used every excuse possible with Alyssa to not meet her for coffee or dinner.
My body is still a bit stiff, but I’m mostly okay physically at this point. The few bruises on my neck are faded enough that I can cover them with foundation.
Alyssa:
you’re joining me for lunch. No excuses. I will drag you out of your apartment if I have to.
Me:
fine. Dina’s at 11?
Alyssa:
*thumbs-up emoji*
Seeing Alyssa will be good for me. I shower and dress, going with jeans, a T-shirt, and a cozy cardigan on top.
I leave a note for Aaron in case he comes back while I’m gone.
This way, he can’t get mad about not knowing where I am, but I also don’t have to read a response to a text message or dodge his phone call.
Dina’s is one of my and Alyssa’s favorite restaurants in town. They serve Italian dishes with unlimited breadsticks and have an amazing wine selection.
Alyssa texted me as I was pulling into the parking lot to let me know she got us a booth in the back.
When I walk in, she stands to wave, but my focus is on the head of dark hair peeking over the booth. Damon. God damn it, Alyssa.
I walk up to the booth and give my friend a hug. I did miss her. I don’t think we’ve spent this long apart since we were teenagers.
I turn to her brother and give him a little nod. “Damon.”
“Hi, Violet.” He stands and hugs me, and it reminds me of how our relationship was before he left.
What would my life have been like had he stuck around?
I know Alyssa always wanted us to date, but he never seemed interested in me like that.
Although, after the other day when he seemed so eager to fuck me in his haunted house, I’m left wondering if that’s true.
“I didn’t know you were joining us.” I give Alyssa a pointed look.
“That’s because I knew you wouldn’t come if I told you he was here. I just wanted to relive the good old days, when we would all hang out together.” Alyssa gives me her innocent puppy dog eyes, and I feel like a dick.
She hasn’t seen her brother in a long time, either, and of course she wants to spend time with both of us. The three of us were inseparable before he left.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize to my best friend. “It’s just been a rough week.”
She forgives me, and we move on to easy conversation.
Damon tells us about a few of the places he’s traveled with the fair, and Alyssa tells him about what’s happened in our small town since he left, which isn’t a lot.
I tell them about the article I’ve written about the fair that will be printed in the morning—leaving out the details about my “interview” with Damon.
Alyssa doesn’t need to know about that. Damon gives me a knowing smirk as I talk about it, and I pointedly ignore him.
After we’ve eaten our fill of bread and pasta, the server stops by and asks if we want dessert.
A refusal is on the tip of my tongue—the reaction trained into me from Aaron constantly telling me dessert leads to fat girlfriends, and he doesn’t want a fat girlfriend—when Alyssa speaks up.
“I actually have to head out, but you two should get some of those Italian donut things you both love.” She stands and gives me a quick hug. “Love you, Vi. See you soon.” She says goodbye to Damon, too, and then she’s gone, leaving me alone with him.
And the server, who stands there awkwardly, waiting for an answer to their question.
“We’ll take the zeppolis with an extra chocolate dip, please,” Damon orders for us.
He remembered.
Of course, he did. Damon always paid attention to stuff like that. He knew my and Alyssa’s favorite snacks for movie night and our favorite pizza toppings from the few different spots in town.
The waiter leaves, and the question that’s been weighing on me all week erupts from me before I can stop it.
“Why did you leave me?” I clear my throat then correct myself. “I mean, us, town, your sister. Why did you never come back?”
He stares at me for a moment, those dark-blue eyes swimming with emotions—anger, sadness. Regret.
Does he regret leaving?