30. Violet
CHAPTER 30
VIOLET
W hen I return home, I glance in the rearview mirror at myself to make sure it’s not obvious what just happened between Jay and me. I feel like I’m glowing, and the last thing I need is for my mom to start making assumptions
My mom must have been waiting for me because I’ve been sitting in the driveway, gathering my courage to go inside, for less than a minute when my mom appears. She’s hobbling forward with a bag on each arm.
I hop out of my car, rush forward, and grab them both. “Mom! You’re not supposed to even be walking on that thing, let alone moving luggage!”
My mom smiles. “You know me. I can’t just wait for you to come do everything for me.”
“You can . You just don’t want to.”
I walk around and open the passenger side door. Once my mom is settled into the car, I nod toward the house. “Give me five minutes to get some things together.” It doesn't take much more than that because I never fully unpacked from moving into my mom’s house.
I stare sadly at the puddle of water that has formed in over a third of my room. The bed and bedding are soaked, and I wonder how much worse they will be before the roof is fixed. All of the furniture in this room might just be ruined.
My dresser is partially soaked, so a few of my things will have to go in the dryer as soon as I get to Jay’s house.
Once I’ve gotten my bag packed, I lock up my mom’s house, trying not to let the sadness hit me too hard. Isn’t it ironic to lock up my mom’s house when there’s a huge hole in the roof big enough for anyone who wants to climb inside?
“You alright, honey?” my mom asks, squeezing my arm as I climb behind the wheel.
“Fine. It’s just hitting me.”
This was my childhood home, and it might never be the same again. I imagine someone coming out to fix the roof, then they decide the bedroom is too ruined by water damage. It would be better to just remove it from the house altogether. I know I’m being dramatic, but this is hitting me hard.
When we reach Jay’s house, he greets us at the door, immediately taking one of my mother’s bags from me. “Come on in. Make yourselves at home.”
We step inside—or rather, my mom hobbles inside and refuses help—and I can immediately feel the warmth of his place compared to the chill left in our damaged home. Jay takes my mom’s things to the primary suite on the main floor. I follow, feeling a little awkward but grateful for his hospitality.
“Isn’t this your room?” I ask, even though Jay and I didn’t even make it as far as the bedroom.
“I think this will be easier for your mom than managing stairs with those crutches,” Jay explains, and something warm settles in my chest as I realize exactly what he’s doing for us. He’s even giving up his room.
My mom plops onto the bed, and I can tell that she’s exhausted. “Do you want me to help you unpack?” I offer, even though all I want to do is collapse on my own bed and go to sleep.
My mother smiles wanly at me. “No, I think I want to rest. Hiding in that hallway for hours was not ideal for my body. I’m not old yet, but I’m starting to feel like it.”
I shut the door behind me as I leave, then look up and find Jay right in front of me. I swallow as I realize that despite what happened less than two hours ago, I want him. Again.
“Um, which room is mine then?” I ask, trying to put a little more space between the two of us.
“I’ll show you,” Jay offers, and I follow him up the stairs. The upstairs isn’t huge. There’s a hallway with a bathroom directly across from the stairs. On either end of the hallway is a bedroom. Jay leads me to the right.
I realize then that we’ll be in close quarters. “You and I are going to be sharing a bathroom?”
“Not at the same time,” Jay replies with a smile that makes his lips quirk up.
I raise an eyebrow at him.
Jay just laughs. “Unless you want to,” he whispers.
I don’t know why I can't control it, but I feel my cheeks flushing at the thought of showering together. My mother would never know if Jay and I stripped down and ran our fingers all over each other as the water pounded into my back.
“Do you need anything?” Jay asks, his voice gentle.
I shake my head. “No, I’m okay. Thank you, Jay. Really.” I force my thoughts away from the co-showering idea. “I’ve got it from here.”
Jay hovers in the doorway. “You and your mom are welcome here for as long as you need.” He smiles at me; a soft, genuine quirk of his lips, and then he retreats downstairs.
Once I’ve had a chance to unpack, I head downstairs and find Jay and my mom in the living room with the TV on. Apparently, my mom and Jay have hit it off, and I find myself watching them interact with a mixture of amusement and something else I can’t quite name. It’s clear my mom appreciates Jay’s kindness, and he, in turn, treats her with the utmost respect.
Later that night, after my mom has retired to her temporary bedroom, Jay and I find ourselves alone in the living room. The atmosphere is relaxed, and I don’t want to be the first one to leave the room. Jay sits beside me on the couch, his presence comforting.
“You okay? I know the house is damaged and having to move out can’t be easy.”
I nod. “Yeah, just a lot to process.”
He reaches out and takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m here for you, Violet. Whatever you need.”
His touch sends a jolt of warmth through me, and I look up at him, our eyes meeting. The moment feels intimate, and I wonder if he can read what I’m feeling just by touching my hand. Without thinking, I lean in and kiss him, needing the connection, the reassurance that we are in this together.
Just as our lips meet, I hear a noise from the hallway. My mom’s hobbling footsteps approach, and we quickly pull apart, our faces flushed with embarrassment. She appears in the doorway, her expression unreadable.
“I think your glasses are too high, Jay. I can’t reach them. Could you get a few down from the cabinet so I can get water whenever I need?”
Jay hops to his feet. “Of course. I’ll get those down for you.”
As he heads to the kitchen, my mom turns to me, raising an eyebrow. “I see you two are getting along well.”
I feel my cheeks heat up. “Mom, it’s not like that. Jay’s just being kind, letting us stay here.”
She gives me a knowing smile. “Sure, Violet. Whatever you say.”
Jay returns with the water, after placing a few glasses on the counter, and my mom takes it with a grateful nod. “Thank you, Jay. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” we both echo, watching as she disappears back into the bedroom.
Jay and I exchange a glance. “Well, that was awkward,” he says with a chuckle.
I can’t help but laugh. “Just a bit.”
We end up watching some god-awful early 2000’s comedy movie that comes on TV. It’s lame and cringy, but it has Jay and I sucked in and hate-watching for all we’re worth. Even as emotionally and physically exhausted as I am, I stay up for a couple more hours laughing with Jay.
The next evening, after dinner, my mom excuses herself early. I offer to help her get to her room because I can see her face is pale. I don’t know if she’s in pain or just tired, but she refuses my offer and uses her crutches—which she’s insisted she hasn’t needed for the last few days but I’m glad I brought anyway—to get to her room. That leaves Jay and me alone in the living room once again. We sit on the couch, and I feel the pressure to say something.
It’s easier for me to communicate through touch, so I lean sideways until my head connects with Jay’s shoulder. I snuggle up there.
“Dinner was nice. I think my mom likes talking to you.”
“It was,” he agrees, wrapping an arm around me. “Your mom’s cooking is amazing. I think I might have to hire her as the bar’s chef.”
I laugh. “She’d probably love that. She’s been looking for something to keep her busy.”
We sit in companionable silence for a while, just enjoying each other’s presence. Then, Jay turns to me, his expression serious. “Violet, I’ve been thinking that maybe we should–”
Jay’s thoughts are interrupted by my mom calling to me from the other room. I leap up and run to her bedroom which is just off the living room. “Violet, can you get me the pain medicine? I hate to bother you, but I just laid down. I don’t know if I can get up again.”
I help my mom with what she needs, and it takes me a minute before I’m back in the living room again. Jay stands up and reaches for my hand. He pulls me close and whispers in my ear. “If we want to take advantage of those benefits, we should probably go upstairs where your mother can’t hear us.”
His words send a tingle down my spine, and I stand on my toes so I can put my lips right next to Jay’s ear. “You mean so she can’t hear you screaming my name?”
I bite my lip and look Jay up and down. There’s nothing I want more right now than to take Jay’s clothes off and explore his body. So, I take his hand and lead him upstairs.