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VIOLET

I was shocked I didn’t get fired during my shift at Hug in a Mug on Saturday.

I dropped an empty coffee mug, spilled three drinks, and messed up far too many people’s coffee orders.

My mind was most definitely not on work.

Even Nicole had noticed something was off and asked me if I wanted to talk about it, but I’d just pretended I was tired, not spiraling after my fake bowling date with Reed.

Ever since I’d had dinner with the Darling family, I’d been doing my best to try to avoid Reed and the confusing, swirling emotions that bubbled up inside me whenever he was near.

I was doing such a good job of it too, and then he had to go and ruin all my hard work.

Just one fake bowling date, and the confusion was back; the line between fake and real was blurry as ever.

No matter how hard I tried to hide from it or deny it, I knew I was starting to develop feelings for Reed that I wasn’t supposed to.

I was somewhat glad Mia hadn’t been scheduled to work with us because she wouldn’t have let me suffer in silence so easily.

She’d been all over me on Friday night after I got back from bowling, wanting to hear every last detail about the date.

It was surprising seeing as she’d been so opposed to Reed only a few days ago.

I’d somehow managed to dodge most of her questions about the date. But it didn’t stop me from obsessing over it as I drifted off to sleep last night. And the same thoughts continued to consume my mind today, distracting me as I tried and failed to serve coffee to my unlucky customers.

The only thing confusing me more than my own feelings were Reed’s. He had told me he missed me, and even though he denied it, I kept coming back to the same question: was Reed developing feelings beyond the boundaries of our fake relationship too?

The way he’d held me at the bowling alley and gazed into my eyes had felt so incredibly real. I’d gotten lost in the moment, and I hoped the way I responded to his touch and gazed back at him hadn’t made him think I was breaking the rules. I was afraid to admit that even to myself, let alone Reed.

I was almost hoping the Devils lost their game on Saturday afternoon.

Then the victory party would be canceled, and I could get back to avoiding Reed and hiding from all these questions and feelings I was too scared to face.

Unfortunately, Reed and his team won easily, of course, and I was still grappling with my emotions as I got ready for the party that night.

Mia wandered into my room while I was searching for something to wear.

I’d been standing in front of my closet for ages, unable to make a decision.

The clothing you chose sent a message, and I had no idea what I wanted to communicate to Reed that night.

But Mia shouldered me out of the way when she realized I was struggling.

“You can’t make me wear that,” I said when she held up the shortest dress I owned.

It was a piece my mom had designed and one I’d never worn before.

It was more of a top than a dress, and it was so shimmery it reminded me of a disco ball.

It definitely wasn’t my style, and the only reason it was in Minnesota was because my mom had thrown a pile of her latest pieces in my suitcase before we left.

Seeing it now made me miss her. We’d had a brief chat a couple of days ago, but like always, she’d had to cut our call short.

“But it’s so cute,” Mia said, holding it up to her chest.

“It’s snowing outside.”

“Well, I was going to suggest you wear a jacket and boots with it.”

“Still not happening.”

Mia gave me her best pout. “You told me I could help you get ready.”

“No, I said you could keep me company while I got ready. You were the one who pushed me out of the way and started raiding my closet like a bargain hunter at Black Friday sales.”

“I just want to help.”

“I know, but I’m trying to convince people I’m not a puck bunny, not that I’m their one true queen.”

Mia snorted. “Violet Sinclair, queen of the puck bunnies. It has a nice ring to it.”

“Better than Devil worshipper, I guess.”

“I kind of like that one too,” Mia replied with a laugh. “So, no to the dress?” She lifted it up one more time and wiggled the hanger in the air like that might miraculously make me change my mind.

“Definitely not,” I replied. “And, if you insist on helping, you’re limited to jeans and tops.”

“You’re no fun.” Mia’s shoulders sunk in defeat, and she trudged back to the closet.

“Why are you so interested in how I look tonight, anyway?” I asked as she riffled through my clothes.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You just seem to have changed your tune about Reed and this whole fake relationship thing.”

“You told me I should give him a chance, so I’m doing that.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “It’s just that you’ve been telling me to stay away from him for weeks, and now you’re getting me all dressed up for him.”

“Well, you’re only pretending to date the guy, so I’ve got nothing to worry about… right?” She glanced over her shoulder as she waited for my response. It felt like she was digging for information and wanted me to disagree.

“Right.”

She rolled her eyes before focusing on the closet again. “Oh, I know!” She reached out and grabbed my hand before she dragged me into the corridor.

"What are we doing?”

“I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner.” She only let go of me once we were in her room. “Okay, I have an outfit that fits your overly strict restrictions. But, before I show it to you, you have to promise me you’ll wear it.”

“Why would I do that?” I laughed. “It only makes me more concerned about what you have in mind.”

“I promise you won’t feel uncomfortable wearing it.”

“Mia…”

“Just tell me you’ll wear it. It’s too perfect for you, and you know I’m not going to back down.” From the way she was looking at me, I had a feeling she might just try to wrestle me to the ground and force me into the clothes if I refused. So, I reluctantly gave in.

“Okay, fine. But if it’s another short dress...”

“It’s not,” she quickly replied.

I was relieved when Mia pulled out a pair of denim jeans and a maroon long-sleeved top. It looked innocent enough, but from the glint in Mia’s eyes, I still felt like I should be worried.

“Why am I suspicious right now?” I asked as I took the clothes from her to try on.

“Don’t be! I would never make you wear something that wouldn’t look great on you.”

“No,” I agreed. “But you would make me wear something that flashes my ass.”

She rolled her eyes. “That was one dress.”

“Yeah. The last one.”

“Just put the clothes on, Vi.”

“Okay. Okay.”

I shimmied my way into the jeans before pulling the top on over my head.

When I looked in the mirror, I was pleasantly surprised.

The jeans fit perfectly and hugged my curves in all the right places.

While the top was soft and luxurious against my skin, and the color complimented my complexion perfectly.

With the way it enhanced my features, it was almost as if the outfit was made for me.

“This is my never-fail first-base outfit,” Mia said, grinning proudly from beside me.

“What?” I gasped.

“I never fail to reach first base with a guy when I wear this top,” she explained. “It’s got a proven track record.”

“Gross, Mia. You can’t make me wear your make-out top.”

“Uh, I can, and I will. You look great.”

“This isn’t even a real date. And I’m not trying to get to any bases with Reed.”

That didn’t mean I hadn’t been thinking about it though.

Especially after last night when my skin had come alive at the feel of his hand on my waist and my lips had itched to reach up to his.

I’d been imagining what it would be like to kiss him again ever since and recalling our kiss at the bonfire a whole lot more than I should, too.

Had it really been as spine-tingling as I remembered?

I tried to convince myself it wasn’t, because I knew I shouldn’t be thinking about Reed that way, but it was too hard. The kiss really was that good.

“Oh my god, you’re thinking about it now, aren’t you?” Mia smirked.

“No, of course not.” I quickly busied myself rummaging through the jewelry collection on Mia’s dresser.

“Well, maybe you should be,” she suggested and passed me a necklace. It was perfect for the outfit and, knowing her, probably a key part of the superstition that went along with the top and jeans. “I bet he’s an incredible kisser…”

I ignored the necklace in her outstretched hands. “Okay, now I’m certain you’ve changed your tune about Reed. What happened to him being a big scary Darling Devil that I should avoid at all costs?”

“Well, you keep telling me he’s not like the rumors say,” Mia said. “And if he’s half as great as you seem to think, maybe you should give him a chance.”

“I’ve never said he’s great ,” I muttered.

“Except you kind of have.” She gave me a knowing smile. “The way you’ve been acting says even more than your words could. You like him, don’t you?”

I hesitated. It wasn’t as simple as that.

After everything I’d been through with Jeremy, I’d be an idiot to fall for another hockey player, to even consider another relationship with one.

But each time I saw Reed, my feelings seemed to grow and intensify.

I’d been trying so hard to ignore them or pretend they weren’t there, but I was beginning to realize that might be impossible.

Mia was the one person I could talk to about this, and while I wasn’t sure if I was ready to vocalize how I felt, I didn’t think I could keep my internal struggle to myself either.

Reed and I only had one week left together.

If I didn’t face my feelings now, he might be gone from my life before I got a chance to explore them.

“Okay.” I sighed. “I might like him…”

“I knew it.” Mia practically touched the ceiling as she jumped in celebration.