TRAVIS

“Fuck,” I mumble under my breath again as the tapping of the flashlight on the window rings through the car. I lower it and the cop shines the light right in my face.

“Everything okay in here?”

The car smells like sex and the windows are foggy, not to mention the writing on the back window. I’m fucking fantastic and it’s pretty obvious what we were doing. My dick is still halfway hard and my body is humming from the rush of being with Viola. I smile as the officer shines the light on Viola. I catch a glimpse of her hair that’s a sexy mess. The longer he stares at her, the brighter her cheeks become. She tucks her swollen lips into her mouth, and I hold back a chuckle.

“We were just having a friendly conversation,” I say, trying to pull the attention from her. Luckily, I don’t recognize the officer as one of Drew’s cop friends, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. I’ve met up with him and his buddies at the bar after their shifts several times, not always remembering every face he’s introduced me to. The last thing we need is someone recognizing Viola or me and catching us together while he’s away on vacation.

“On the side of the street? Not a very smart decision, son.”

I nod in return.

“I need your driver's license and proof of insurance.”

I lift my butt out of the seat and reach for my wallet, which is no longer in my back pocket. I look around for it and see it in the backseat along with the condom wrapper.

“My wallet is in the backseat,” I explain. “May I get it?”

The officer nods, his lips turned down in annoyance.

“Interesting message on the back of you car there.” He gives a disapproving look.

I clench my jaw, trying to hold back my reaction and reach behind the passenger seat and grab my wallet. I immediately take out what I need, handing them over to the officer. I glance over at Viola, her breathing still hitched and her eyes wide.

The officer shines his light over my license and reads it over. “I’ll be back in a few moments, Mr. King,” he says before walking back to his car. I glance in the rearview mirror, watching the flashing lights light up the street.

“God,” she says, releasing a deep breath. “Drew cannot find out we were together in your car. That’ll be too suspicious, considering he thinks I’d rather eat rat poison than be alone with you.

“Damn, I knew you hated me, but rat poison? Really?” I arch a brow, trying to lighten the mood.

“Shut up,” she says, rolling her eyes and leaning her head back against the headrest. I don’t want Drew to find out about us this way either, but the more I think about it, the more I wonder what his reaction would be.

Would I be crossing the lines of our friendship? Would he think I’m not good enough for her? Or that I’d just be using her like all the rest?

It’s too early in the game to tell, but for her sake, I don’t want our little secret getting out.

The cop returns and hands me my cards back. “This is your warning, kids. Don’t let me catch you parking on the side of a busy street again, unless it’s an emergency.”

I give him a small smile of understanding and it takes everything I have in me to keep my mouth shut about how needing to fuck Viola in the back of my car was an emergency. A desperate sex emergency, but still.

He jerks his head toward the street. “Now, get out of here before I change my mind.”

I nod my head, roll up the window, and pull onto the street.

She finally relaxes and bursts into a fit laughter. “I don’t think I’ve ever had an adrenaline rush like that in my life.” She’s smiling.

“Get ready for many firsts.”

Viola leans her head back against the headrest as I shift gears and slam on the gas. The engine roars as we enter the highway and I shift once again until we’re cruising. Moments pass and the silence cuts through the moment like a sharp knife.

“What are you thinking about?” I ask. She’s quiet and I feel like she’s building that wall she’s perfected over the years. She turns her head and looks at me. If I could pull this car over on the freeway and fuck her again, I would. She’s addicting.

“What are we doing, Travis?”

I grin. “We’re going back home for round two.”

“The truth, that’s all I want for once. Not a Travis King smart ass answer.” The frustration and confusion is clear in her voice. She tucks her hair behind her ears, just like she did when we were young and would get nervous around me.  There’s no jab at me, no hateful remark, Viola genuinely wants to know what we’re doing, but I don’t have an answer. The sexual tension between us has been evident for years, but now that we’ve finally crossed that line, I don’t think we could ever go back.

I focus on the road ahead of us, thinking how selfish I’ve been. I want her, but I’m worried if this goes any further than what it is right know, that I’ll only end up hurting her. I can’t give her what she wants and especially what she deserves. I won’t allow myself to be the man my father was to my mother. It’s one of my biggest fears and biggest reasons I need to protect her from me.

I take the exit off the highway and travel down the service road before turning into my neighborhood. I think how to answer, but know that whatever it is won’t be enough for her. “I don’t know.” I swallow, trying to find the right words, but nothing sounds right. “Being with you—”

She waits with bated breath for my next words, but they never come because when I see Jason parked in the driveway, my driveway, leaning against his car with his hands tucked into his pocket, I see red all over again

“Shit,” Viola mutters under her breath. “I forgot we made plans.”

I slow down before pulling into the driveway and parking in my usual spot. I rev the engine, but Jason, being the coward he is, doesn’t look at me.

I leave the car idling as my jaw ticks with rage.

“Are you fucking serious?”

“Travis, I’m—” she begins, but I interrupt, choking out in mock laughter.

“Go on, Viola. Your date is waiting.” I can’t believe she’d do this, but I have no hold on her. She’s not mine, no matter what’s happened between us, but that doesn't make any damn bit of difference to me right now.

“Travis...” she pleads, desperate for me to allow her to explain, but I don’t want to hear any of it.

“Get. Out.” My words are cold and emotionless. I can’t even look her in the eyes.

“Travis, please.”

I lean over her body and grab on to the door latch until it pops open. “Make sure to tell him I got you good and loosened up for him. Fucked you real hard and broke your pussy in.”

She sucks in a breath and narrows her eyes at me. My words are harsh but that’s my intention. I want her to feel the same way I do at this very moment—angry, hurt, and confused. Just the thought of them together sickens me.

“Now.”

She forcefully pushes open the door and before shutting it she leans in. “Fuck you, Travis.”

“No thanks. Been there, done that.”

Viola slams the door with force and walks away, toward Jason and his smug expression. She flashes a fake smile, but I don’t wait around to watch them together. Instead, I reverse the car out of the driveway and peel out as I speed down the street. At the first stop sign, I slam my fist against the steering wheel. I don’t even know how to process all of this. I’m losing myself and I need to get a fucking grip.

This is everything our relationship is founded on. We can’t be in the same space long together without a fight breaking out. One moment we’re fucking perfect, the next we’re at each other’s throats. All that tension bottles up and releases in harsh waves, ready to jump each other’s bones or kill one another.

I end up driving to Good Times and decide I need a drink or two. I’m still in the slacks and dress shirt I wore to work, my hair now a mess, and the anger evident on my face. I need more than a drink at this point. My head is in a haze after all that’s happened today, and I replay every moment as I walk to the empty stool in the middle of the bar.   

“Whatcha having, baby?” The bartender leans against the counter in a low-cut shirt. She’s cute and eyeing me like she’s going to take me home and do naughty things to me.

“Whiskey and coke.”

She pours it tall and winks at me as she hands it over. I offer her a weak smile and she licks her lips. If this were any other time, I’d be laying it on thick, flattering her and commenting about her looks, but right now all I can think about it Viola being with that tool bag, Jason.

I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket, but I ignore it. I need time to think. Or rather, I need to drink and not think at all. A few big gulps and the whiskey and coke is gone. The bartender points at my glass, and I nod for another. As she sets it on the bar, I hear a familiar voice behind me.

“Travis?” I turn around and see it’s Courtney. “What in the hell are you doing here?”

She looks genuinely confused as she sips her martini. The music is loud and she’s yelling to be heard.

“What are you doing here?” I don’t really care to hear her answer. I turn back around to my second whiskey and drink. She takes that as an invitation and sits on the stool next to me.

“You’re supposed to be in your bedroom, showing my best friend a good time.”

I sarcastically laugh. “No. She’s too busy fucking someone else.”

“Jesus Christ,” she mutters. “You’re both so damn stubborn.” I shrug, not disagreeing with her statement, but not agreeing either.

“That’s it.” She grabs her phone from her purse, picks up her martini, and walks off.

“Don’t—” I turn toward her, but she’s already vanished into the hoards of people on the dance floor. Fucking great. I don’t have the strength to chase after her, but she doesn’t seem like the type of girl that listens very well anyway.

“Drowning in your sorrows over here?” The bartender asks with a smile on her face.

“Something like that.” I’m not in the mood to chat.

“She’s one lucky girl.” She pours me a shot of tequila. “This one’s on me. I’m Krystal.” She holds her hand out and reluctantly, I take it.

“Thanks, Krystal. I’m Travis.”

“Travis,” she repeats. “Well, whatever you’re drinking to, feel free to stay as long as you’d like.” She winks before getting called over to the other side of the bar.

The dynamic of the room changes as the music slows down. There are countless drunk couples grinding all over each other on the dance floor so I bow my head and take another swig.

As I start on my third drink, I glance in mirror that lines the bar and see Viola walk through the door in the same blue jeans and t-shirt she was wearing earlier. She makes a beeline to Courtney who’s eagerly waiting on the edge of the dance floor with a huge smile on her face. Courtney pulls Viola into a big drunken hug then points to the bar. I don’t know what the hell Courtney told her, but I try to blend in anyway. If I get up now, I might be able to make it to the door without being seen, but I have a tab open and Krystal is busy at the other end of the bar. My body stiffens because I don’t want Viola to notice me, so I focus on my drink. After a few moments, I hear a clearing of a throat behind me, but I ignore it.

“Travis,” Viola says, angry.

I suck in a deep breath and swallow hard before turning around. I see Courtney behind her, pushing her way through the crowd and parting their bodies like the red sea. Her lips are spread in a wide grin and I curse under my breath at the realization that she called Viola here.

“Where’s your date?” I ask in a dissatisfied tone, glancing behind her as if I expect him to be following her inside.

“Just stop it. Okay? Shut the fuck up and listen for once.” Viola places her hands on her hips. The flashing lights from the dance floor streams over her body and even though she’s not dressed up,  she’s the sexiest woman in this entire room. She doesn’t even have to try.

“Oh hey, Travis. I didn’t know you were here. Did you order my drink, Lola?” Courtney gives me a wink then turns to Viola.

“No.” Viola isn’t amused, her lips in a firm line.

Courtney’s been dancing for the better half of the night and smells like gin, perfume, and sweat. I shake my head and a small smirk plays on my lips as Courtney leans over the bar like the typical drunk girl and orders another drink. She pats me on my back before she goes back to the dance floor.

Viola doesn’t even notice. The only person she’s looking at right now is me. And she’s shooting daggers at me.

I lick my lips and as hard as it is, I look her in the eyes. She’s flustered and upset, and I study her face.

“Have you been crying?” I’m genuinely concerned.

“No.”

“Liar.”

She rolls her eyes. “Whatever.”

My mouth slightly falls open to respond, when I realize I’ve done exactly what I never intended to do–hurt Viola. I should’ve let her explain and probably overreacted to the situation, but when it comes to Viola Fisher, I can’t control the impulse to stay guarded around her.

“Forget it. You’re an asshole, Travis. I should’ve figured as much.”

“Okay, I deserve that.” I wave to Krystal to close out my tab. “But in my defense—”

“Your defense?” She raises her brows. “Fuck off.” She spins around and begins walking through the crowd.

Shit.

I don’t wait for my total, instead I just place a couple twenties down and rush after her. “Viola, wait!”

She ignores me and holds her arm up in the air, flipping me the bird with her right hand as she strides toward Courtney, who’s in a large group of girls dancing.

There’s no way I’m going to let her run this time.

––––––––

VIOLA

I can’t stand to look at Travis any longer. My heart is racing as it slowly breaks, and all I want is to find Courtney and get the hell out of here. She’s the only reason I showed up anyway.

As soon as she texted me and asked for a ride home because she’d been drinking, I put on my shoes and drove over. After Travis’ stunt, I sent Jason away and sat alone in bed. I didn’t want to be that stupid girl that cried over a boy, but the way he acted the moment he saw Jason, without even letting me explain, had my emotions overflowing. This back and forth, from good moments to bad moments to hurtful moments, is becoming too much for me. I don’t know how much more I can take.

The plan was simple. Come in, grab Courtney, go back home and bury my face in my book until I pass out. When I walked in, the last person I expected to see sitting at the bar drinking was Travis.

It’s not the time or place to be so confrontational, not while I’m so volatile, so I turn and rush through the crowd as he calls my name. I can’t do this anymore and I have to stop it before I fall too far. Though I’m pissed at him, I’m madder at myself for even letting it to get this point. What the hell was I ever thinking?

Travis continues to call out my name, but I ignore him. Before I reach Courtney, he grabs my arm and pulls me to him. My body presses against his hard chest and I suck in a deep breath before I meet his eyes. Travis searches my face, and for a moment, I can’t find any words. We are lost in a sea of bodies, the only two people on the dance floor not moving to the slow beat of the music. His skin touching mine almost burns and I’ve got to get away from him before I say something I’ll regret later.

“Let go of me,” I say with a voice full of venom.

“Not happening.”

I try to pull away from him but his grip only tightens.

“Now,” I hiss, mimicking his tone from before.

But he doesn’t.

He gives me no other choice. I push against his chest, making him stumble back. His grip releases, giving me the chance to walk away and grab Courtney.  

“It’s time to go,” I yell over the music.

I turn and look at Travis, who’s still standing where I left him, not taking a step forward.

“It’s time to go,” I repeat, pulling her through the crowd.

“Not yet,” she slurs. She has had way too much to drink.

“I can’t stay here another minute, Courtney. I’ve got to go.” The air is thick and my heart is ready to pound out of my chest.

“Where’s Travis?” She stumbles and I catch her.

“We’re done. I don’t care where he is.”

She pulls her hand out of mine and stops walking. “I’m catching a ride with Chelsea. She’s right over there.” Courtney points to her friend who waves at me and now I’m even more frustrated than I was before as realization sets in.

“Did you know he was here?” I stop and ask her. Now I feel like it was a giant setup. I should’ve known better, known this was another one of Courtney’s antics.

All she does is giggle, giving herself away. “You’re both your own worst enemy. But I love you, Lola. Not in the girl on girl kind of way though.” She giggles again, alcohol lingering on her breath. “I mean, if you ever wanted—”

“Oh, God,” I interrupt before she can continue her rambling any longer. “You’re ridiculous.” I’m annoyed at her, but she leans in and gives me a hug anyway.

“I’ll see you later, okay? I’ve got a designated driver. I’ll be fine. Make it right.” Courtney wiggles her little butt onto the dance floor and waves bye to me as I walk out the door, seething. All I can do is shake my head. Once the cool breeze hits my face, I finally feel like I can breath again. I walk toward my car, my mind reeling and my body still screaming from being with Travis earlier. God. If only he would’ve listened to me and let me explain myself. This is all a giant fucking mess.

“Viola,” Travis yells across the parking lot.

“Do you ever go away?” I sigh as I unlock my car, but he catches up to me before I can open the door. I can smell the whiskey on his breath as he comes closer.

“Nope.”

“You’re not driving like this, Travis. Regardless of how mad I am at you right now.”

“Mad at me? For what exactly, princess? If I remember correctly, you were the one going on a date. Not me.”

“For fuck’s sake, Travis. This is just like the Anthony thing all over again.”

“Andrew,” he corrects me again.

I sigh. “Gah, whatever. The point is that you can do whatever you want, but the moment I go out with someone you act like this. Make up your mind. You don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to have me either? That’s bullshit. I’m tired of your double standards. My heart isn’t disposable. It’s not the first time your words have hurt me like that and now I’m making sure it’s the last.”

He looks at me, his expression blank. I take the opportunity to slip inside the car. I roll down the window and watch as he stands there with his hands in his pockets.

“Get in. I’m taking you home.” I snort to myself. “Funny I’m saying that considering it’s the exact opposite of what you told me earlier.”

Travis leans down, crossing his arms against my window frame, his face uncomfortably close, to mine. “I need my car for work in the morning. Unless you plan to be my personal chauffeur?” The corner of his lips turn up in amusement.

“Fine. Give me your keys then.” I hold my hand out in front of him. “You can’t drive like this.”

He chuckles and dangles the keys in my face. “I don’t think you can handle it.”

I groan. “You’re such a child.”

“That’s not what you were saying earlier.”

“If I can handle you, I can handle your precious car,” I say, forcefully snatching the keys out of his hand. I roll up the window and slam my car door shut before locking it. I don’t wait for him before I head toward his car. I unlock the Challenger and climb inside the driver’s seat as he slips into the passenger seat.

“Buckle your seatbelt. I won’t be held responsible if the Travis King gets a boo-boo.” I shake my head and push down the clutch before I snap it into first. It’s a smooth take off and before I know it I’m going over sixty. The engine screams for me to push it to its limits, but I don’t. I look in the rearview mirror and see the backseat and exhale deeply.

“Viola, I’m sorry. I should’ve never treated you like that. I’m a fucking asshole. And when you say I don’t want you . . .”

I pull into the driveway and shut off the engine. I hand him his keys and get out of the car. As much as I want to hear what he has to say, I know it’s better to leave it where it is. I walk into the house and kick my shoes off by the door. Travis walks in and takes off his suit jacket and throws it over the back of the couch.

I should just let it go for now, walk away, and take the high road.

But I can’t.

“You know, Travis, that’s an apology I’ve been waiting on for years.” I walk to the kitchen and grab a bottle of water from the fridge. He stands in the doorway with his shirt completely unbuttoned. I force myself to look away from his abs and how his pants sit haphazardly on his hips.

“For years?” He crosses his arms and studies me. “For what?” He looks genuinely confused, but that doesn’t surprise me.

I roll my eyes at him and take a sip of water. I don’t even know if it’s worth mentioning anymore. As I try walking past him, he blocks me and am forced to look at him.

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, Viola.”

His features are hard and he’s not letting me pass by him.

“Don’t act stupid,” I state harshly. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. I was your pity friend, and I won’t allow myself to be that girl again...” His face tightens and he clenches his jaw. The man is a human wall, blocking me from running away.

“I don’t.”

“Whatever.” I don’t have the strength for this argument right now. “Please let me by,” I bite out. I need to leave before the tears come. I don’t know how much longer I can hold them in.

“Just wait a goddamn minute,” he demands.  “When have I ever said I was your friend out of pity?” He’s dangerously close. I inhale his cologne, stirring up all my emotions.

“My thirteenth birthday. You made it the worst one I’ve ever had. Thanks, asshole.”

The emotions start to surface, so I try to walk past him again before he can respond, but he makes it impossible. “I never said—”

I cut him off before he has a chance to deny it. “You were talking to Drew. You said I’d never be anything more than your best friend’s annoying little sister. I was a loner with no friends. That I only had my books and stupid characters, along with a lot of other shitty things. You took pity on me and only befriended me because you felt sorry for me.”

“Viola...”

“You broke my heart, Travis. I was only a kid, but I trusted you. I held out hope every single day that I’d get to see you, even if just in passing. You didn’t make me feel like a burden to have around. You made me feel special.” I close my eyes, holding the tears back.

Realization sets in, his body tensing. “You were never a burden, Viola.” I hear the sincerity of his words, but I shake my head. I don’t want to hear it.

“It’s one thing to hear those things from your big brother, but hearing them come out of your mouth; I was destroyed.”

“You have to know, I didn’t mean what I said, Viola. I would never think those things.”

“You know, it’s funny, because even while I was listening, I kept holding out hope that maybe just maybe you were pulling some stupid birthday prank on me.”

His shoulders relax as he lowers and shakes his head in disbelief. “That’s why you cut me out of your life? You overheard Drew and me.”

“What was I supposed to do? I was practically in love with you and you’d just confessed your true feelings for me. I felt like an idiot.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Say anything?” I repeat. “I was humiliated! Here I was coming to find you so I could thank you for the gift when I hear you say it was all out of pity. After that it was as if you purposely flaunted every girl you were with, just to prove your point and dig the knife deeper.” My heart pumps louder in my chest, adrenaline rushing through my veins, as I relive the memories. “Everything I thought I’d felt between us was shattered. I was devastated.”

He rubs his fingers over the stubble that runs the length of his jaw. His lips are in a firm line, and as much as I’m trying to read him, nothing prepares me for what he says next.

“You were devastated?” His deep tone takes me off guard, his eyes narrowing in on me. “I was fucking wrecked, Viola. You ruined me.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I never pitied you, Viola. Ever. You’re the main reason I was over all the damn time. How didn’t you see that?”

“Well, the flock of girls around you didn’t really give me that impression.”

“You should’ve known me better than that to know I’d never mean those words. Drew and a few other guys kept cracking jokes about you and were giving me shit for hanging out with you all the time and I just wanted to shut them up. Drew teased you behind your back every chance he could and so I said the only thing I could think of to shut him up.”

“They sounded real to me,” I say, not quite sure how I feel about his confession.

“So after everything we’d been through, it was just that easy to drop me?” he asks, hurt evident in his tone. “Was that it?”

“Are you kidding right now? I cried myself to sleep for months! I missed you so goddamn much, all while hating your guts. My emotions were all over the place, and then when I started high school, you were all my friends talked about. It was torture.”

“I tried to get your attention, Viola,” he growls, his lips dangerously close. “You ignored me anytime I tried to talk to you. You walked away as if I’d meant nothing to you at all. You looked at me as if I was the most disgusting person in the world. That destroyed me.”

His words hit me like a brick, and I can’t breathe. “I didn’t want to hear your excuses after that.”

“Was our friendship not strong enough for you to even consider giving me the opportunity to make things right again?” His jaw ticks, and I can see the vein in his throat bulging.

“I already felt like a pathetic loser. I wasn’t about to confront you about what I overheard. I didn’t want to be anyone’s pity friend.”

He shakes his head, pinching the back of his neck. “How didn’t you see, Viola? How didn’t you see how special you were to me?” He shifts his body, fidgeting as he continues, “You were the only person who ever understood me.” He inhales a deep breath. “I never even told Drew about my father. You were the only one I ever told.”

My mouth falls open at his honesty, and I’m lost in his words. My head is spinning and my heart is betraying me.

“I-I never knew that. I always assumed Drew knew.”

He shakes his head, looking defeated.

“Viola, I swear on my life that I never meant a word of what I said to Drew that day. I was a dumb kid, embarrassed for having a crush on his best friend’s sister, but I was never embarrassed by you. I was crazy about you.”

My breath hitches as our eyes lock.

“I’m still fucking crazy about you.” He takes a step closer toward me, trapping me in between his hard chest and the wall, and wraps his hand around my neck, pulling my lips to his.

His kiss is desperate and telling; heated and passionate, deep and soft.

It’s everything.

His other hand cups my face, and I completely lose myself in him, giving into every breathless motion. All the pain and emotion are packed in this one kiss. It’s unlike any other kiss we’ve shared, and I can tell he notices, too.

He leans his forehead against mine, pulling back just enough to catch his breath. “All those years of one-night stands and random hook-ups never meant anything. They were to numb the pain I’d felt from losing you.”

I swallow, unable to fully absorb his words. I keep my eyes closed, afraid if I open them, tears will come falling down. His confession takes me completely off guard, and I want to melt into his arms right here.

“Why didn’t you fight for me then? If you’re being honest about the way you felt, why didn’t you push me harder to ask me what was wrong? It was as if you’d just given up.”

He sucks in a deep breath, shaking his head against mine. “I was scared.”

“About what?”

He takes a small step back, keeping his palm on my cheek and looking into my eyes. “I’d seen the way my father treated my mother for years. I was certain I’d be built the same way and if we’d become closer, I’d eventually turn out like him. I started to convince myself that perhaps you hating me was for the best so I’d never be able to hurt you. I didn’t know how to emotionally handle the way you just discarded our friendship, so anytime you shot daggers at me, I shot them right back to get some kind of reaction out of you, even if it was a negative one.”

Tears well in my eyes. The thought of it hurts my heart. “You’re not your father,” I whisper. “You’ll never be your father, Travis.”

He shrugs, not convinced. “I never wanted to get close enough to anyone to find out.” His words start clicking in my head, making sense of every little thing we fought about. He’s constantly on defense mode. He studies my expression and he begins rubbing the pad of his thumb along my jawline. “I’m sorry I reacted the way I did tonight. It was uncalled for and completely out of line. I have no excuse.”

I’ve never seen Travis like this in my entire life. He looks so vulnerable and desperate for my forgiveness.

His hands run through my hair and instinctively, I fall into his touch again.

“I’m sorry, Viola. I’m so fucking sorry I said those words, that I hurt you, that I didn’t fight for our friendship. I was a coward, and filled with teenage hormones I didn’t know how to control, and I took it out on you every chance I had.” He looks at me with so much sincerity, I can’t take my eyes off him. “I fucked up.”

I’m in shock at how honest and sincere he’s being. I’ve imagined this scenario a hundred times in my head, never really believing it’d happen.

“I think we both did,” I tell him honestly. “Hating you was the only way I could deal. It hurt too much.”

“Plus, you’re too damn pretty to be so fucking mad all the time.” His lips curl up into a grin. The way he’s looking at me right now, saying all the words I’ve waited desperately to hear for years, is all so overwhelming.

“Years of practice,” I quip, shrugging.

He looks down at me, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me into his chest. His other hand reaches up and cradles my neck, pressing his lips gently against mine. “Viola,” he whispers and slightly pulls away so he can look into my eyes. His fingers slide down the side of my arm and small bumps form on my skin. With his other hand, he traces my bottom lip that’s still swollen from being with him earlier. “You said I didn’t want you.” Before he speaks again, he pulls my bottom lip between his teeth and tugs. I gasp and he lets go. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard you say. ” His lips press against mine and a small moan escapes from my mouth, begging him to never let me go again.