Page 15 of Eternal Pieces (The Violet Delights Duet #2)

VIOLET

G raduation is now only a few weeks away.

It’s really snuck up on me. Life has been a hectic blur of studying, tests, and hospital appointments.

Maybe I was a bit hasty wanting to do everything at once.

The sensible thing would have been to wait until I’d finished college before trying for a baby, but nope.

Being the overachiever that I am, I thought it would be easy. How wrong I was.

After a study session with Sarah, we leave the library—the same one where I had my first hands-on encounter with my masked stalker-stepbrothers. It still makes me blush every time I go in there. I can never look at a bookcase the same way again.

I text the guys on my way to Sarah’s car, letting them know she’s taking me home today. I’m sure they already know that anyway, since they track my location all day long, but I like to check in.

“Oh, I forgot I took down the notes for next week’s assignment for you. You missed it when you had to run out to puke.” Sarah rips a page from the jotter in her bag and holds it out to me.

“Another one?” I groan, taking the sheet. I’d just caught up with everything. This last semester has been brutal. I’d be up all night stressing about it all if it weren’t for Max and Maddox wearing me out in bed in the evenings or reading me and the babies to sleep.

I get a text, and assuming it’s from one of my guys, I quickly check it. The smile I was wearing disappears, and I stop in my tracks.

You’re a disgusting desperate slut

Fantastic. Another attempt at making me feel bad about my life choices.

It’s not the first text, and I know it won’t be the last. Whoever’s been sending these is clearly trying to get a rise out of me, but I’m so overloaded with college, wedding prep, and growing three tiny humans that I actually don’t care.

“Something wrong?” Sarah asks, giving me a concerned look.

I show her the text, and she has a more visceral reaction than I did.

“That’s awful! Who would send something like that? Aaron?”

I shrug. “Maybe. Or one of his friends. It’s just a text, and it’s not like he doesn’t say it to my face.” I block the number, like I did all the other ones, and put my phone on silent.

“You don’t seem phased by it.”

“Is it weird to say I’m used to it? I hardly have the sort of relationship most people approve of, and James sent me the same sort of messages last year.”

“Could it be him?”

“If it is, then it’s not like he can do much else.” He’s in an entirely different city and not allowed to leave the house unless it’s for court hearings. If he were found to be texting me, that wouldn’t help his case, so I can’t see it being him. My gut tells me it’s Aaron.

“Shit,” Sarah whispers loudly as we turn the corner to the parking lot. Aaron is leaning against her car.

“Speak of the devil,” I mutter.

“What do you think he wants?”

“Probably to be a douchebag to my face. Come on, I’m not letting him intimidate us.” I link my arm through Sarah’s and steer her toward her car.

Aaron smirks as he watches us approach. “I thought your brothers would be waiting for you. Looks like they couldn’t be bothered with you today,” he jeers. “I don’t blame them. No one wants to be baby-trapped.”

“Aaron, will you just leave her alone?”

Sarah flips her long auburn hair over her shoulders and steps up to him.

He bends down so his nose is almost touching hers.

“You’re not hot shit anymore, Sar. Well, you’re still hot.

You can come hang out at my place as long as you don’t tell anyone.

” He laughs and she shoves him in the chest, but he doesn’t budge.

He’s jacked from years of college football.

Easily triple the size of her. I gently put my hand on her shoulder and move her away from him.

Aaron swings his attention back to me. “You’re invited as well, slut. I don’t have to worry about wrapping it up with you.”

I wrap my arms protectively around my stomach.

“Jeez, I’m not a monster. I ain’t gonna hit a pregnant woman.

Then again, are you pregnant? You’re a big girl and could have gained some extra pounds by consuming something other than dick.

Speaking of…” He grabs his crotch. “You’re a hoe who fucks her brothers, I’ve got a whole locker room full of teammates who’d love to get to know you. ”

I don’t bother correcting him on the brother part. He’s not going to listen to anything I have to say anyway.

“You’re gross, Aaron. No one would ever want to sleep with you,” Sarah snaps.

“I want to hear what the slut has to say. Sarah and your brothers can’t be here all the time to speak for you.”

“What is your problem with me? I’ve never even spoken to you before now.”

“What the fuck do you think?” he hisses, getting up in my face. “My friend is being called a rapist because of you two. He could go to fucking prison.”

A dark smile tugs the corner of my mouth up, and I step toward Aaron, making him stumble back. “Oh, I get it now,” I say. “You’re scared.”

He narrows his eyes and wets his lips. Is he seriously nervous?

“My brothers can easily find out everything about you, and their father will bring you down just like James. Or they could deal with it themselves. You know what happens to people who think they can hurt me. I’m sure you still want to be able to toss a ball once college is over or have kids if you can find some poor woman to put up with you. ”

By the look on Aaron’s face, he’s heard rumors of what happened to his friend. Or maybe he heard firsthand. I’m not sure how open a guy would be about recounting how he was tied naked to a flagpole and had a rope tied around his junk.

“Got anything else to say to me?” I ask smugly.

“No,” he sneers and stalks away.

“Wow. I didn’t expect him to actually cave.” Sarah laughs. “I guess all men are frail when their manhood is on the line.”

I laugh along with her as we get into her car. Her pop playlist starts when she turns the keys, and the mood is immediately lightened.

“You sure you don’t mind dropping me home?” I ask as she pulls out onto the main road.

“Violet. You are five months pregnant. I am not going to leave you hanging around for one of the guys to finish work. Anyway, it means we get to talk wedding plans.” Her eyes sparkle with excitement.

“Since I’m your maid of honor, I’ve booked a few things for you—wait, I am your maid of honor, right?

You’ve not officially asked me, but I sorta assumed… ”

“Yes, of course you are.”

I’m not having bridesmaids, and I didn’t think about asking. I’ve been struggling to keep up with everything with my baby brain.

When I was younger, I always imagined a grand affair for my wedding day, a real-life princess fairytale ending.

But now all I want is a little ceremony with the few people I’m close to there.

No random family members I’ve never met before, or friends from high school who were never really my friends. Just me and the people I love.

“Good. Then you can’t say no to these plans!” Sarah beams, buzzing with excitement. I think she might be more excited for my big day than I am.

Sarah was always someone I never thought I’d get along with, but now we’re best friends.

After everything came to light with James, her friends dropped her.

Our schedules were similar enough that we were always at the same place at the same time.

We’d spot each other eating or studying alone, and sort of naturally started hanging out together.

“Since graduation is so close, I’ve booked everything for after that.

Including a few bakeries for cake tasting and a bridal store, but I remember you said you want to check dresses out online, so we can do that first. I have a list of florists and event organizers so you can find someone to pretty up wherever you choose for the big day.

Don’t worry, it sounds like a lot, but I’ll email it all over. ”

I’m speechless. My jaw hangs open, and I suddenly feel like crying. Stupid hormones.

“I overstepped, didn’t I?” Sarah grimaces, taking her eyes off the road to see my shocked face.

“No! I’m—I’ve just never had a friend go out of their way for me like that before.” I’ve never really had a friend, to be honest, but I don’t mention that part.

“Oh, good.” She sighs. “Are you still set on having it before the babies come?”

“One hundred percent. There is no way I’m going to want to get all dressed up in white when I have three screaming bundles of poop and sick to look after.”

“Fair point,” she chuckles. “I can’t wait to squish their cheeks. Remember, I’m always available for babysitter duty if you ever need a break.”

“I’d hug you so hard right now, but you’re driving and I can barely move as it is anyway.”

“You can owe me that hug.”

She gets it as soon as she drops me off at home.

“Thank you so much,” I tell her as I squeeze her tight.

“You’re so welcome. I’ll email everything over as soon as I get home, and we can arrange a girls’ day to go through it all together, if you like?”

“Sounds perfect.”

I wave her off from the porch, only turning to unlock the door when her car is out of sight.

I’m on cloud nine as I search for my keys, but when I go to use them, I find the door already unlocked. My happy bubble bursts.