Page 22

Soon enough, Violet’s walking out the doors. She’s wearing a cute, fluffy cardigan over a light yellow dress today. Fucking adorable as always.

Her arm is linked with her friend Sarah’s. They’ve really hit it off over the last few months. Granted they did get to know each other because of the shit James did, but it’s nice to see Vi with a friend.

Judging by the excited way they’re talking and the way Vi keeps touching her stomach, I’m guessing Sarah knows about the scan.

Violet spots us and excitedly waves, running up to Max. He immediately opens his arms for her, and she dives into them.

I get out of the car to say hi to Sarah while they have their moment.

“You excited, sweetheart?” Max asks Violet.

“Yes! And a little nervous. I couldn’t concentrate in class. Sarah had to give me her notes. How about you two?”

I open my arms for a hug, and she comes to me, giving me a soft kiss. She smells so good, and I can’t help but press my noseto her hair and breathe more of her in. So sweet and floral with undertones of us.

“We’ve been…managing.”

“Don’t lie, Max, we’ve been shitting our pants all day. We grabbed you some food, by the way. Thought you’d be hungry.”

“I’m starving, but don’t know if I’ll be able to keep it down.”

I kiss her forehead tenderly. She’s been dealing with some morning sickness, not too much thankfully. But still, I hate seeing her in any kind of pain. Max gives her a look like he’s mentally battling the sickness away for her.

“There are extra tomatoes on it,” he adds, and her eyes light up at the mention of one of her cravings. She’s into a weird mix of tomatoes, olives, and peanut butter. Sometimes all at once, which has made me gag watching her dip an olive into the same jar I use to make my sandwiches.

“Slut!” Some guy shouts from across the parking lot, and Violet tenses in my arms.

“Brotherfucker!” Another guy jeers.

“What the fuck?” Max and I both shield Violet with our bodies as we look for who the hell thinks they can say that shit. Some dark-haired jock whose head is too small for his body is laughing with a group of friends who are all looking this way from across the lot.

Who the fuck do they think they are?Max’s eyes lock with mine, and I know he’s thinking the same.

First, Violet got harassed when Max and I weren’t around, and now she still is when we’re here? Some big brothers we are. This shit ends today.

Sensing what I’m about to do, Violet tugs on my t-shirt. “Ignore them. They’re just a bunch of jerks.”

“How long has this been going on?” Max asks, hatred for the guys burning in his voice. He’s already rolled the sleeves of his hoodie up, ready to fight them.

Violet swallows nervously. “Since last year. It’s not all the time, and it doesn’t bother me. So please ignore them like I do.”

Last year…

“Sarah?” Max snaps.

“Yes?” she squeaks back.

“Who are they?”

She looks at Violet, who shakes her head at her friend.

“Sorry, Violet, but they might be able to help. The dark-haired guy is Aaron, and the smaller one is Theodore. They’re the ones who have been saying shit like that to her. The others just laugh along with them. They’re…they’re friends of James.”

“It’s honestly fine. I don’t care what they think,” Violet persists.

My blood is pulsing, my fists ready for a fight. “It’s not about what they think. It’s about them having the fucking nerve to want to hurt you at all.” James is a rapist pig and who’s to say Aaron and Theodore aren’t the same?

Violet’s eyes go red like they always do when she’s about to cry.