Chapter 9
Violet
Violet woke to the sound of her alarm going bananas. Groaning, she rolled over. She had been sleeping terribly since Blake came back, not that she had seen him since his party, and that was over a week ago. She felt her cheeks redden just thinking about the embarrassment she had caused herself that night. She scurried out of the party so fast that she forgot to say goodbye to Sophie.
Why couldn’t she just act like a normal person around a crush? Why on earth did she slap and punch him?
She sat up in bed and rolled her eyes at herself. He was the only person on this planet who could arouse such a violent reaction in her. It was like he had a direct line to the button on her temper and liked to push it frequently. She shook her head, she was ridiculous, she had punched Blake Wilson more times than she could even count, never once had she felt terrible about it. So, why now was she feeling guilty?
Because you’re now 30 and still using Violence to hide your feelings!
Deciding it was too early to get into an internal debate, Violet got out of bed and threw on some sweats. It was 5:30 on Monday morning and she was taking her fat ass for a run.
Last night she had been laying on her sofa, on her second pint of Icy Mountain, when she had come to the realization that no amount of ice cream was going solve the mess that was her life. For the last weeks, she had been eating more than a pint a day and her work skirt was getting a little snug. She was going for a run whether she liked it or not. Getting fat wasn’t going to make Blake Wilson like her.
With renewed purpose, she threw on some old sweats, strapped on a pair of old runners, grabbed her keys, and headed out the door.
There was nothing quite like a morning jog.
Okay, let’s face it, a morning walk on the beach.
Twenty minutes into her walk, she began to feel a lot better. Breathing in the cool fresh air was making her feel awake and energized. She totally burned off the stress-eating ice cream binge she had been on for the last week. And for the first time since Blake’s arrival, she was thinking of things other than him. Maybe she would go shopping in Houston on the weekend and buy a new dress for Sophie’s bachelorette party.
The sunrise was putting on a spectacular show. Yellows, pinks, and oranges swirled across the cloudless sky. The bay was calm, without even a ripple, and the gentle lull of the waves lapping the sand made her smile. She was so lucky to live in such a fantastic place. She was so glad she got out of bed early for this. The only thing that was getting to her was her damn panties. Why did she wear this old pair?
Every goddamned time she wore them they rode up, and every time she had to pick out the wedgie, she swore she would throw them out, but somehow they always made it back into her drawer.
Yes, she was that lazy.
Stopping and picking out her wedgie, she felt better.
Now she could totally feel at ease. That is, until something big fell on top of her from behind. Violet let out a yelp as she landed face first in the sand. Luckily, she had enough time to close her mouth! Whatever had knocked her over was big and very solid.
Too big to be a dog. Violet thrashed around as she struggled to move the solid weight which was pushing her into the cold sand. Suddenly, the weight was gone and Violet realised she couldn’t breathe. Her chest was tight, her lungs felt like they were on fire.
Oh god! She was going to die!
Violet felt big warm hands on her shoulder and hip as she was turned over in the sand. She stared up at the yellow and orange sky gasping for air, wondering if this was the end. Her life was now over and she never got to tell Blake she loved him still! “I love… I love Blaaake…” Violet moaned. If she was going to die, she needed the world to know the truth. A familiar set of blue eyes came into her line of vision. This must be the end, she must be hallucinating, because didn’t your life flash before your eyes when you died? Why couldn’t she breathe?
Those familiar sapphire eyes blinked at her as they scanned her face, concern growing in them. Violet let out a strangled moan which sounded foreign to her ears. The sapphire eyes came closer and more of his handsome face filled her field of vision. He was wearing a black hat and had that lopsided smile on his stupid perfect face, with white earphones in his ears, the cord drooping towards her as he leaned over. His cheeks had a tinge of pink to them and his eyebrows drew together as he went from stupidly handsome to seriously concerned.
Violet blinked a couple of times to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. She kept gasping for air and was beginning to panic because breathing wasn’t really working. She closed her eyes, feeling woozy. She needed to remember that crap they did at yoga. What was it? In through the nose, out through the mouth? Or in through the mouth, out through the nose? Shit, she should have paid more attention! “Vi, Violet! Wake up!” The voice was so familiar to her and was yelling at her as something shook her shoulder. Violet opened her eyes again and this time her vision was clouded and she could see black spots everywhere. This was the end!! This was how she was going to die! She felt strong hands on her shoulders sitting her up.
“Just breathe Violence, you’ve had the wind knocked out of you,” came that sexy voice in her ear, sending chills down her spine.
Blake!
He really was here!!
All of a sudden, Violet felt less dazed and her gasping for air must have started to work, because she was feeling a little better. She twisted out of Blake’s grasp as she tried to get to her feet. She managed to get herself vertical, then fell to the side. “Violence, just sit down, you’ve been winded, you need a couple of minutes.” Violet wriggled, trying to free herself from his grip and get up and breathe at the same time.
Had she just yelled that she loved him?? Out loud? Oh my god! Nooooo!!
Violet wriggled around on the sand. She needed to get away from him. “Violet!! Stop thrashing around like a deranged shark! Sit still and concentrate on breathing!” Blake yelled, trying to forcibly hold her down.
She needed to get away from him! Like, now, and what in the hell was he doing knocking her into the sand like a crazy person??? Violet stopped thrashing as the need to breathe became more critical.
She couldn’t breathe!
Strong hands sat her up again and this time they rubbed her back and Blake’s calming voice told her to relax and concentrate on her breathing, she was just winded. Violet tried not to think about the tingling of the skin on her shoulders where he rubbed her. Or about the smell of sweaty man and sea salt that invaded her senses.
Or the fact she was 70 percent sure she just yelled out that she loved him!
After 5 minutes or so of gasping for air so hard she had tears streaming down her face, Violet finally felt a little better and was now breathing normally. She was covered head to toe in sand from all the rolling around.
“Are you okay?” Blake asked, still kneeling behind her and rubbing her back. His hot breath tickled her neck as he spoke. Violet jumped to her feet and pushed away from him. She needed to get away, and fast!
“Vi?” Blake said, looking up at her as he knelt in the sand. He sounded worried.
As worried as Blake Wilson could get!
Violet watched as Blake stood up, brushing off some sand. He was now staring at her like she had grown two heads. Shit! He totally heard what she said!!
“What the hell, Blake! You nearly killed me!” Violet managed to yell on wobbly knees.
“Violence, it was just a little tackle, I didn’t know that you’d get winded. You do know that you professed your love for cake just then, right?” Blake said as his blue eyes danced with mirth.
Violet blinked as she took in what he had said. She instantly felt better that she had said cake, not Blake. She could handle that. Who didn’t love cake? Violet glanced across at Blake, he was laughing at her now. Feeling better on her feet, Violet stood up straight and lunged across the few feet between them, taking a swing and trying to punch him. She was still a little uneasy on her feet and she missed.
There was only so much a girl could take at 6 am!
He ducked and held his hands up in surrender, laughing harder.
“Okay, okay, I give up, it was my fault, I’m sorry, my face is too pretty, so aim higher” he said, and his grin made his dimple pop.
Not the dimple!
Violet lunged towards him again and he tripped and fell backwards on his ass in the sand.
Satisfied with seeing him on his ass in the sand, Violet turned around and started marching in the direction of the parking lot. Ass-hat!!
“Vi, wait up,” Blake called from behind her. She broke into a run. She needed to get away from him, and fast. Yep, she was getting her cardio in today after all.
Did that mean she could have more ice cream?
Violet’s lungs started to burn again, so she stopped running but kept walking as fast as she could across the white sand. She was nearly at the parking lot when Blake caught up to her. She felt him behind her before he grabbed her elbow and spun her around.
Oh god! Blake Wilson was touching her!
Violet wrenched her arms back and crossed them over her chest. It was hard to be angry at someone so damned hot. Her gaze ran down the length of him. He was wearing a black band t-shirt with black basketball shorts, his hat turned backwards, and Violet was now staring at an uninterrupted view of his face.
“Vi, are you okay?” he asked, looking into her eyes with his big sapphire ones. She hated when he looked at her like this, she swore that those eyes saw straight into her soul and could read her every thought!
If only he knew where her thoughts were heading.
And, that was south.
Taking a peek at his crotch, then looking back at his face, Violet watched in horror as Blake smirked.
“Checking out my junk, Vi?” he asked, his left dimple making another appearance.
Violet felt her cheeks redden.
She thought she had been so stealth about it too!
“NO! What the hell is your problem? You just flatten people into the sand for fun at 6 am!” “Well, that was kind of your fault,” he replied with a smirk on his stupid perfect face that made his movies blockbuster hits every goddamned time.
“How was it my fault, Blake? Do you need glasses? Can’t see?”
She watched as Blake rubbed the back of his neck with one of his hands while his eyes bored intently into hers. Her mouth went dry, she broke out in that irrational-ass sweat, and her lady-bits damn near exploded. Ugh, why was he so sexy, and perfect, and dreamy, and amazing, and sexy?
Yes, sexy was needed twice!
“You distracted me when you picked the wedgie out of that hot ass you’re in possession of.” He laughed, a huge grin widening.
Violet widened her eyes and opened her mouth.
Oh no, he did not just call her ass hot, did he?
What was she supposed to say to that? He evidently needed glasses if he thought her ass was hot!
A weird gargling noise came out of Violet as she turned and dashed across the parking lot to her tiny red hatchback and got in. She threw it into reverse and peeled out of the waterfront parking lot as fast as she could go.