Page 15

15. Violet :

(Charlie doesn’t share)

I was undecided as to whether this was a good idea or not, but the longer I waited, the longer it would be too late to run away.

Due to my rehearsal schedule, I hadn’t had the opportunity to wait for Charlie after training yet, but as luck would have it, tonight’s was cancelled.

Worst comes to worst I’d blag it, and say I was waiting for Hugo.

I mean, I could be waiting for him. Even though I’ve never waited for my brother a day in my life, but there’s always a first time for everything, right?

It wasn’t that Charlie wouldn’t be happy to see me, or that he didn’t know I’d be waiting. Neither of those – this would be the first time we were around his friends. The two of us, together, with friends including my brother, none of whom knew the fake part of our relationship had been removed.

The second thoughts didn’t have a chance to take hold, or give me the opportunity to make a swift getaway because the doors to the gym opened and out walked my brother. It could have been any number of people, still providing me with enough head start not to get caught, but no.

His head was down, doing his usual texting and walking, and not paying the slightest bit of attention to where he was going. It must be a family trait.

A slow grin spread across his face, one I wish I didn’t know the meaning of, before he slipped his phone into his pocket and jogged down the steps. The grin died, however, the second he lifted his head and spotted me.

‘Violet? What’re you doing? What’s wrong? Is Buddy okay?’

‘Buddy?’ I replied, wondering what our family Labrador had to do with anything. Or why I’d be standing outside his training facility if something had happened to him. No way. I’d be on the first train home. Or I’d steal a car.

‘Why are you here, Violet?’

‘I came to meet Charlie.’

‘Charlie?’ Hugo’s thick brows, the ones he inherited from my dad, the ones I get waxed on the regular, dropped low. ‘Why are you waiting for … oh, is this part of the whole fake dating thing?’

‘Yes, exactly.’

‘Ugh, look, I’m trying to pretend this doesn’t exist, and you doing it in front of me doesn’t help with that.’

I wasn’t exactly sure what the it he was referring to was, especially as all I was doing was standing against the railings. I also wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to ask either. I still couldn’t figure out why my brother cared so much, or if he was more annoyed about me dating Charlie or Charlie dating me, because up to this point in my life my brother had shown exactly zero interest in anyone I dated. Even when I brought Miles Garland home to meet my family, Hugo couldn’t have cared less. But seeing as he was still scowling at the thought of a fake relationship, it was clear we needed to devise a suitable plan to broach telling my brother the truth.

‘Huey, I’m just standing here.’

‘So, nothing’s wrong with Buddy?’

‘No, there’s not. At least, not that I know of,’ I shrugged, which only made his eyes narrow.

‘See, I would know if there was something wrong with him. This is why he loves me more than you.’

‘He does not –’

‘Does too,’ he shot back, and honestly if the loud throat clearing to our left hadn’t interrupted us we’d have continued this all night. It wouldn’t have been the first time either.

The pair of us turned in sync to the interruption, though not before Hugo shot another glare my way. The interruption turned out to be Bitters, and if I could only use one word to describe him it would be trouble. The lopsided smile, the glint in the eye, the insolent way his arms were crossed over his chest. All trouble.

‘Well, well, well. We meet again, fake girlfriend. And how I never realized you are Brooks’ little sister is beyond me. You mustn’t have come to any races, there’s no way I’d forget you.’

I rolled my eyes, letting out a scoff, though not as loud as Hugo’s.

Bitters’ grin spread across his face, making it very clear exactly why my brother had scoffed. It didn’t help when Bitters lifted my hand and kissed it.

I wasn’t sure whose eyes widened more. Mine or Hugo’s. And as much as I didn’t want this guy kissing my hand, it was almost worth it to see the annoyance on my brother’s face. I snatched it back.

‘Knock it off, will you? For fuck’s sake.’ Hugo shoved him in the shoulder.

Bitters’ grin became distinctly more devilish as he turned to me. ‘Did you know your brother’s put a moratorium out on any of us dating you? I mean, for real dating. Not whatever it is you’re helping Charlie with. When’s that over by the way?’

I take it back. It wasn’t devilish, it was thoroughly shit stirring.

‘What?’ This time the annoyance and the glare were all mine, so much so I barely noticed when the heavy arm was draped over my shoulder. ‘Hugo. What is he talking about?’

‘See, Brooks. Don’t think Violet’s too happy about you making decisions for her. Even less than I am at the news I couldn’t ask you on a date.’

I was too busy glaring at Hugo to tell Bitters I had no intention of dating him. ‘Hugo. What is he talking about?’

‘Come on, Violet. What d’you say?’

Ignoring Bitters again, my eyes narrowed on my brother, though I knew it wouldn’t make the slightest bit of difference, just like I knew he had no intention of answering me. My brother was more stubborn than a mule. Sometimes it was like playing a game of chicken – who’d give in first – especially when he raised my glare with pursed lips and a clenched jaw.

‘Not sure she’s too happy you’re dictating her dating life, mate,’ Bitters added with a deep chuckle.

‘Will you shut up.’ I shrugged his arm off me, just as the doors to the gym opened and out walked a small group of the boys, including the one I’d been waiting for. The only one I wanted to see.

The one whose face was becoming more thunderous the closer he got.

‘What’s going on?’

‘Nothing,’ I snapped, hoping the deep frown and the large step away from my brother and his idiot crewmate would get the message across to them and Charlie, that I was not happy about whatever was happening right now. Not to mention, it was far too cold to be standing outside arguing.

‘Just trying to convince Brooks to let me take Violet on a date once you two are done with your project.’

I’d never been tempted to punch someone in the face before, but Bitters was veering dangerously close to that line. I’d never seen Charlie in a bad mood, there was always a smile nearby. But from the expression he was currently wearing it was clear that if I told him I wanted to punch Bitters, he’d hold him still for me.

‘What?’ Charlie growled, the lines on his forehead deepening.

‘To be clear, I date who I want and my brother has no say in it,’ I snapped, daring Hugo to reply.

‘Great. How about Valentine’s Day then?’ Bitters barked out a loud laugh, enormously pleased with this super fun game he’d just invented, and a couple of guys in the audience we seemed to have acquired chuckled along with him.

On any other day, and if he’d found something else to annoy my brother with, I’d have captained the team. But seeing as I was the subject, and now couldn’t tell who was more annoyed – Charlie or me – I couldn’t shut it down quick enough. I’d barely glanced at Charlie since he’d arrived, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t feel his eyes on me. And it wasn’t in a good way. The way I was getting used to. The way he managed to make me feel like I was the only girl he’d ever seen.

I spun around to Bitters, ‘No!’

He clearly wasn’t the type of guy who liked to take no for an answer, however, because I could see him on the verge of replying when Charlie interrupted.

‘Shut the fuck up, will you? She said no. Stop being a dick.’

Wisely, for a guy who seemed to have limited brain cells, Bitters stayed silent. Though I still wanted to punch that smirk right off his stupid face. No one said anything for a good ten seconds, which thankfully lost the attention of ninety-five per cent of our audience who presumably had left to find warmth. Sensible.

‘Violet, let’s go,’ ordered Charlie, and stormed off so quickly, he was down the path before I even realized.

‘Violet –’

‘We’ll talk about this tomorrow,’ I snarled at Hugo, jogging off to catch up with Charlie, but not before I noticed Oz standing to the side, witness to the entire interaction. Or the way his eyes flicked from a rapidly distant Charlie to mine with a frown that had nervous knots twisting in my belly.

He’d covered a surprising amount of ground by the time the moon reappeared from behind a cloud and I spotted him in the distance, turning down an alleyway. Must be those long legs, good job mine were too.

‘Charlie … Charlie, slow down.’ I jogged a little further, grabbing his arm. ‘Charlie.’

He stopped dead and turned. For a split second the rage shadowing his face had me stepping back, but it vanished just as quickly. When he refocused on me, his expression held confusion. It was almost as though he hadn’t realized I was there.

‘Didn’t you hear me calling?’

He dropped his head with a shake.

‘Are you okay?’

‘Yes, I’m fine …’ he started, then paused. ‘No … yes … no. No, I’m not.’

My fist was still gripping on to his sleeve, and I dropped it as I stepped in. ‘What’s wrong?’

He was about to answer, but the flare of his pupils did all the talking, and for the first time I noticed the green had turned to a dark forest colour. It was three degrees out, and yet the fire burning in his eye licked across every inch of my skin as he stared, long enough for beads of sweat to trickle down my back.

Within the space of a heartbeat he stepped towards me, moving us until my back hit the wall. Warm fingers brushed along the edge of my jaw, right before his lips crashed into mine. Not even the cobbled brick could cool my skin as his tongue plunged into my mouth.

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t do anything except surrender to the way this man was taking full control, staking claim. It was ownership, plain and simple. Even when he softened against me, his tongue roaming against mine, there was still a need and insistence I’d never experienced before. Ever. I’d never experienced a kiss like this, period.

Hot. Needy. Consuming.

I’d been taken hostage by his mouth. My entire body was vibrating on a frequency I didn’t know I had, heavy pulses buzzing over my skin, and by the time he pulled away the only reason I was standing was because of the grip he still had on me.

‘Fuuuck,’ he breathed out, one long word, as his head dropped on my shoulder.

My sentiments exactly.

I waited to see if he had any more to add, while also catching my own breath. He was so quiet, resting his head on my shoulder, he could have fallen asleep. It became clear he wasn’t going to add anything else.

It was only when I shifted my shoulder slightly that he finally lifted his head. The fire no longer burned in his eyes; instead what looked like sadness had replaced it, though for the life of me I couldn’t figure out why. Because all I wanted to do after that kiss was take a cold shower.

Cupping his cheek, I moved his face until he couldn’t look away. It wasn’t quite the grip he had me in, but it was good enough. ‘Charlie, what’s going on?’

A thousand thoughts flickered through my brain as his gaze held mine, and when he eventually spoke his voice had dropped an octave: rumbly, gravelly and doing nothing to help the electricity coursing through me.

‘I didn’t like that.’

‘Like what?’

‘The boys …’ he sighed deeply, ‘my friends. I did not like seeing Bitters with his arm around you. Fuck,’ he added, again, though this time it was less needy and more frustrated. Sharper.

I could feel the frustration radiating from him, though why was harder to figure out.

Bitters and my brother were two idiots that I probably wouldn’t think about again for a very long time. Bitters at least; unfortunately I had to see my brother at family functions and weekends at home, and he really wasn’t too bad most of the time.

But either way, it didn’t seem to warrant the anguish on Charlie’s face, which he seemed to realize I was having a hard time understanding.

‘Bitters with his arm around you … I can feel the jealousy clawing right here,’ he placed my hand on the centre of his chest above the distinct thump of his heart, ‘I’ve just found you. I can’t lose you already.’

‘Why would you lose me?’

He let out another of those deep sighs and as his head dropped back onto my shoulder it all clicked. I was such a dummy, an angry dummy. And I now had a new target for the punch I’d wanted to send Bitters’ way.

I was becoming quite violent, it seemed.

‘Is this about Evie?’

He nodded, though his head was still resting on my shoulder. ‘She’s the only person I’ve ever been in a relationship with, twice technically. Both times she cheated on me, and seeing Bitters all over you …’ His eyes were watery when he eventually lifted his head. ‘I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Violet. I knew Evie fucked me up … I always said, I’d never be in another relationship. Stupid, I know, and it’s the reason why your brother thinks I’m a drama queen, but now I’ve met you …’

I stood there absorbing his words, realizing the magnitude of what he was going through and the profound sadness I felt at the damage Evie had caused. If I could go a little way to fixing it, then it would be totally worth it.

Or it could drastically backfire.

But he’d been honest with me, so I could be a little more honest with him.

‘Do you trust me?’ I asked.

He answered with no hesitation. ‘Yes.’

My hand rested back on his cheek, ‘It’s going to take a lot more than Bitters hitting on me to drag my attention away from you.’

‘Thank you,’ he smiled softly.

‘I’m serious, Charlie. My feelings for you aren’t new.’

‘What do you mean?’

This time it was my turn to look away, but I’d said it now and I couldn’t back out.

‘Violet, what do you mean?’

‘It’s only ever been you.’

‘Been me what?’ he asked, still so confused, and for a genius he really wasn’t that quick. Maybe his genius only spread to things like physics.

‘I’ve had a crush on you since I was fourteen. Since the first time Hugo brought you home during half-term.’

He wasn’t very good at hiding the shock. I don’t think I saw him blink for ten seconds.

I craned up to kiss his cheek. ‘So when I say it’ll take more than Bitters putting his arm around me, and my brother banning anyone from asking me on a date, I mean it.’

‘Violet …’

The way he said my name … reverential, like he was trying it on for size and found it to be the perfect fit. I’d never loved being called Violet more than I did right in this moment.

‘I didn’t know …’

‘I’m a good actress,’ I shrugged.

This time when he kissed me there was a tenderness present. He was slow, taking his time to discover me, his tongue sliding against mine with no urgency. My bones had barely solidified from the previous kiss, but here they were melting all over again.

I wasn’t ready for him to ease away, his mouth leaving mine with a soft pop and a chuckle which had my heart skipping.

‘Christ, Violet. How have I been so thick? Be patient with me, please.’

‘Hey,’ I laughed. ‘Patience is my middle name.’

Dropping his lips, they barely brushed against mine before he let out a groan. Not the good kind.

‘We need to figure out what to do with Brooks.’

‘Tomorrow,’ I replied, bringing his mouth back to mine.

We had more important things to do right now.