22. Violet
TWENTY-TWO
VIOLET
Violet: When are you heading home?
Olive: Wrapping up what I need to then getting the hell out of here! Hallelujah.
Violet: You’ll miss it.
Olive: Will I?
Violet: Of course. Need I remind you how much you dreamed of attending school there?
“And that is a fucking wrap,” Ev beams, walking into the living room with two wine glasses cinched in her hand. She lifts a bottle of sauvignon blanc above her shoulder and drops onto the couch next to me, the cushions sighing as she comes down on them. I take the glasses long enough for her to pop one of the two hundred dollar bottles of spirits Sylvia told us to go to town on from the kitchen cabinet. She was supposed to celebrate with us as per tradition, but she messaged Everleigh an hour ago explaining she wasn’t going to make it.
I changed out of my stuffy day wear when I walked in through the door an hour ago. Ev was already out of her finely pressed skirt and blouse, and together we decided it was time to celebrate.
“No more finals. We are finished . No studying, no thinking about class for the next few weeks.” She bypasses the appropriate amount of wine and fills our glasses to the tippy top.
“You love your classes.” I push my toes into her leg, teasing her. There have been times she gushes over her creative writing instructors and the assignments they give. “You sure you’re not mad over not having anything to keep you busy?”
She makes a pfft sound that rolls off her tongue. “While you’re right, and I do usually love my classes, I’m ready to say goodbye to this semester. I’m excited about the TA gig I have starting when we come back, but I really need this break, so I’m stuffing it down until we’re back.” Her eyes drop to the drink in her hand, and I can’t help but wonder if Tristan is still on her mind, if their breakup has affected her more than she shows.
I nibble the corner of my mouth, take a sip of my wine, then murmur, “I’ve been so swept up in my own life that I haven’t asked how you’re doing with the Tristan situation. I know you loved him, Ev, but if he can’t see past the glitz and glam…”
She smiles sadly, lifting her glass to clink into mine. “Then he doesn’t deserve me.”
“Exactly.”
“It’s been hard seeing him around, but…I have an entire backlist of an author I’ve been wanting to catch up on. So, there won’t be a minute I won’t have something to distract my mind. Plus, a friend from class gave me a manuscript she’s been working on. I told her I’d look it over and have it back to her by the end of break. It’s the same one you caught me with the night you went to see Colson.”
She’s always had a love for romance books. And honestly, I find it kind of endearing that she lets go of her stresses and winds down with characters who spend more time holding each other at arm’s length until they realize they love each other than choosing to do anything else. “As long as you’re happy.”
“Lord knows that the books I read have way better sex in them. Bet I can learn a thing or two by the time I find interest in men again.”
I cackle. “Everleigh!”
She shrugs. “Can’t blame a girl for having a strong sexual appetite.”
I smirk. “Tristan couldn’t keep up?”
“Oh, he could. He had all those muscles and what not, but it’s more than that for me.” She sips her drink. “I need to have that emotional, mental connection, too. Sometimes it felt like that was lacking with him, especially toward the end. Sometimes it felt forced, like he wasn’t really in the present moment.”
“What a mood killer. I’m sorry.”
She waves my apology off. “It was, but thankfully, it’s not something I have to worry about anymore. I am free at last and plan to be for the foreseeable future. I want someone who wants me. Who uses me as their main distraction. Who would move mountains to get me in their arms, Vi.”
“Ever the romantic,” I crack with a grin. “You’ll find him. There’s a guy out there just like that with your name on him. It just might take weeding through some tall grass to get to him.”
“No kidding.” She gulps down more sauvignon blanc. I do the same. “But let’s not worry about me right now. I bet we can find a movie to watch while we devour this fine bottle of vino .” She says the last word with an Italian accent. I can’t help but smile. It’s the first time I’ve been able to relax in a while.
I plan to use the next few weeks to recharge and prepare for next semester. While also trying to heal from the broken heart that nips my chest every time I so much as breathe.
I have no idea how I’m going to do it. I am inexplicably in love with Colson, and being away from him only makes my heart scream that much louder. The wine helps mute it out, though.
We spend the next forty-five minutes commentating on an old Amanda Bynes movie, She’s the Man, where she dresses up as her brother to prove girls can play soccer, too, but also has the biggest crush on her roommate, who just so happens to be played by Channing Tatum.
Everleigh falls back against the cushions and visibly swoons. The flick is cheesy as hell, but hilarious in its own way. She wants them to get together so badly but secretly loves that Amanda has been covering for her brother this entire time. For a little while, everything else gets pushed to the back of my mind and it’s just me, Everleigh, and Amanda with sideburns.
That is, until we’re interrupted by a knock at the door.
Everleigh is so into the movie that I offer to get up and check it. We don’t normally get many visitors, but I have a steady stream of wine coursing through my veins to care too much about who might be on the other side of it.
I don’t check the peephole. Just twist the knob and pull it open. I lean my shoulder into the door but then nearly choke on my spit.
Olive has one hand on her suitcase, the other clutching her phone, and her lips split into a bright, blinding smile. “You said you weren’t going to stay at Mom and Dad’s for the holiday. Did you really think I was going to let you spend your break alone?”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Does it look like I’m kidding?” She pushes me out of the way and rolls her suitcase inside the apartment. “I thought it’d be good if we had some good ole sister bonding time since we never got it over Thanksgiving break.” The door clicks shut behind us, and she whirls on me. “What do you think?”
“I think I’m shocked as hell that you’re actually on my doorstep.” I have to blink two times to make sure it’s not the wine. “Are classes over for you?”
“Last one was yesterday. I booked it out of there so fast they definitely ate my dust.”
I laugh and finally pull her into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“We’re about to have so much fun.”
I sigh in her hold, realizing how much I needed this—a loving, soul crushing hug. “I’m ready to have all the fun with you,” I murmur, sadness clutching me in response to her presence. I’ve missed her so damn much. She’s exactly who else I need in my corner right now.
“Violet?” Everleigh calls from the living room. “Who is it?”
I pull away from my sister. Olive sing-songs from the entryway, “Only the best sister in the whole wide world!”
And then I’m left following her into the living room, watching as she takes my seat on the couch and comments on how stupid it is of Amanda to dress up like a boy rather than bone the hotness that is Channing Tatum.