Page 33

REED

I didn’t often get nervous. Especially not when meeting people.

But, as I stood on Violet’s front doorstep on Sunday evening, I found my body betraying me.

My stomach churned with anxiety, and my heart was beating loudly enough I feared it might give me away.

This need to make a good first impression was an unfamiliar feeling, and I could already tell I was failing.

“Right on time,” Violet said, giving me a warm smile as she opened the door.

She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a fitted top that showed a flash of her stomach.

Her hair fell in soft waves, vibrant against the light pallor of her skin.

She was beautiful tonight. She was beautiful every time I saw her.

It was difficult to appreciate though when her uncle had appeared in the corridor behind her like a dark and foreboding shadow.

My throat tightened at the sight of Luke’s fierce scowl.

He certainly had the intimidating-parent glare down to a fine art.

If he stalked around town looking at people that way, he easily could have passed for a Darling Devil.

Unfortunately, it was probably my reputation as a Darling Devil that had caused the disapproving look in the first place.

“Un, hello, Mr. Sinclair,” I said, raising a hand to wave over Violet’s shoulder. She was standing right in the doorway, blocking my path, and it didn’t seem like she was going to invite me in. “I’m Reed,” I added. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Violet’s uncle took a few steps closer until he was standing just a few feet behind her. He hadn’t taken his eyes off me, and they scanned me up and down.

“I wish I could say the same about you.”

“Luke!” Violet hissed, glancing over her shoulder at him. “Don’t be so rude. I thought you said you were going trust me.”

“It’s him I don’t trust,” Luke grumbled in reply.

“That’s fair,” I said. “You don’t know me, but I promise to look after Violet this evening and be on my best behavior.”

My words did little to reassure him though. In fact, I think his expression had only grown darker. If that was possible.

“Uh, let’s just go,” Violet said. “Quick.” She was probably concerned if we stayed any longer Luke might go all Rapunzel on her and lock her away in a tower for the rest of her life.

He turned his attention to me one last time as Violet went to leave.

“You hurt so much as a single hair on her head, and I’ll go straight to your hockey coach.

You’ll be lucky if you ever step foot on the ice again. ”

“Yes, sir,” I said, with a firm nod. I had no doubt he’d follow through. It wasn’t something I was worried about though. I had no intention of doing anything to hurt Violet.

Violet shot her uncle one more glare before taking me by the hand and dragging me from the house.

“Sorry about that,” she said once we were in my car.

“No need to be sorry. Although, for a minute there, I thought I was going to have to add to my bad reputation by kidnapping you and smuggling you out of there.”

"I thought that too,” she agreed with a smile. “My uncle can be a bit…”

“Protective?” I guessed.

“I was going to go with crazy.”

“Ah.” I chuckled. “It’s not crazy to look out for someone you love.”

A hint of surprise flickered in her gaze, but it was gone within a moment as she turned to look out the car window.

She seemed fine on the drive home, but as I pulled up to the house, I could tell she was nervous.

Her hands had started fidgeting, and she kept checking her phone like she was hoping it would light up with a message that provided a reason for her to bail.

“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want,” I said as we approached the front door of my house. “I understand if it’s a bit much…”

The worry in Violet’s eyes faded as she looked at me, though I suspected she was just preparing for our performance, and she gave me a warm smile. “Reed Darling, are you nervous about introducing me to your family?"

“No, of course not.”

“Because you don’t have to worry. I’ll be the perfect fake girlfriend. By the end of the night, they’ll all think I’m madly in love with you.”

If only. Was it too much to hope that might actually happen?

“Well, to be honest, I’m more concerned my family will scare you off.”

She shook her head. “I’ve come this far with a Darling Devil. Pretty sure that means I don’t scare easy.”

“Hmm. I guess we’ll see,” I replied. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you…”

I pulled Violet inside the house before she could reconsider.

“Hey, we’re home,” I called out.

Cammie immediately barreled down the stairs. She screeched to a halt in front of Violet and tilted her head like she was inspecting her.

“Uh, hi,” Violet said, clearly a little uncomfortable with my sister’s strange greeting.

“Sorry.” Cammie quickly shook her head. “I was just trying to work out what’s wrong with you.”

“What?” Violet laughed nervously, glancing my way.

“You’re dating my brother. There has to be something wrong with you. I’m Cammie, by the way.” Cammie barely drew in a breath before she turned her attention to Reed. “She’s way too pretty for you, Reed. What did you do, pay her to be your girlfriend?”

Violet let out another uncomfortable laugh. “I could have been paid for all of this?”

Cammie grinned. “Well, there has to be some benefit to dating my brother.”

“Oh, there are some benefits,” Parker said, coming down the stairs. “She’s already gotten to meet me, after all.”

“You’re here!” My mom walked right up to Violet and gathered her in a hug.

I thought Violet might stiffen up but was surprised by how she relaxed into the embrace. I shouldn’t have been all that shocked. My mom did give the best hugs.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Violet,” she said.

“Mom,” I groaned. “You’ve known about her for less than a week.”

“Yes, and you made me wait all that time before introducing us. She was scolding me but barely took her eyes off Violet.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Mrs. Darling.”

“Call me Amy. Please.”

“Amy,” Violet repeated.

“Oh, and look how beautiful you are. Especially when you smile,” Mom continued.

Violet’s cheeks were growing pinker by the second.

We’d barely made it through the front door, but she’d already been subjected to my family’s complete lack of filter.

If I could convince Violet to date me for real after this experience, it would be a miracle.

I should have known this was a bad idea.

“That’s what I said,” Cammie added. “Reed can’t actually be dating her.” If only my sister knew how close to the truth she was.

“Oh, nonsense,” Mom said, coming to my defense. “Any girl would be lucky to date my Reedy. Right, Violet?”

“Uh, right.”

“Now, why don’t you make yourselves comfortable in the living room?” Mom said, leading the way. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

Violet smirked slightly as she glanced my way. “Reedy?”

“My mom is the one and only person allowed to call me that,” I muttered.

“But why? It’s so cute.”

“Funny,” I grumbled. “Maybe we should just go back to your house and hang out with Luke. That might be more enjoyable for me.”

“Don’t be silly,” she said with a smile before she took my hand and nodded in the direction of the living room. “Let’s go, Reedy.”

I laughed and led her into the room, trying my best to steady my racing heart, which had taken off at a gallop the moment she intertwined her fingers with mine.

Mom had disappeared into the kitchen and probably dragged Cammie along with her.

I imagined she was afraid my little sister was going to say something to embarrass Violet.

If anyone in my family was going to scare Violet away, it would be Cammie.

I hadn’t been lying when I told Violet my sister was the scariest Darling of all.

Parker had thrown himself down on an armchair, and Grayson was already on the couch watching TV with Paige. Her legs were curled up in Grayson’s lap, and my brother was sitting so rigidly he couldn’t have looked more awkward if he tried.

Paige jumped up the moment we entered the room. She couldn’t contain her excitement as she dashed over to meet Violet. “Hi, I’m Paige.” She pulled Violet into an even more enthusiastic hug than my mom.

Violet gave her a warm smile once she’d been released from Paige’s grip. “I’m Violet.”

“Oh, I know that. Reed’s told me all about you.”

“Has he now?” Violet tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and her eyes danced with curiosity.

“She practically waterboarded me,” I grumbled.

Paige laughed. “Oh, please. It doesn’t take that much to get you to spill all your deep dark feelings.”

“Deep dark feelings?” Violet lifted an eyebrow at me. I sincerely hoped she wasn’t taking Paige’s chatter seriously. I didn’t want her to know I’d broken the golden rule.

“Well, he might not have dark feelings.” Paige laughed. “But they’re definitely deep.”

I officially wanted to kill Paige. She was clearly trying to remind me about our conversation in class the other day when she’d tried to convince me to open up to Violet about my last relationship. If anything, she was putting me off the idea even more.

Violet seemed to sense we were treading on uncomfortable territory and quickly changed the subject. “So, are you related to Reed too?” she asked.

“No, I’m more of an unofficial Darling who gate-crashes family dinner every week. Grayson’s my bestie, aren’t you, Gray?”

Grayson grunted in response from his spot on the couch, like he took personal offense to the word bestie.

Paige was completely oblivious though. She grabbed Violet by the hand and dragged her toward the couch.

I felt somewhat relieved when the girls sat down and I saw there wasn’t room for me.

While Violet had seemed comfortable so far, I was still scarred by the way she’d frozen up when I’d sat close to her at Nino’s.

I didn’t want the same thing to happen tonight in front of my whole family.