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“Vi, be honest with me, have you been sleeping with him?”
I’m not able to mask my face’s reaction quickly enough, and it’s clear from the way my eyes slide to my glass and I chug down more water what the answer is.
“Vi!” Hannah practically shouts. I’m sure her neighbors love us.
“What?” I say, running my tongue across my lips.
“I can’t believe you’re doing this after I warned you about him. He’s… got commitment issues. You’re going to get your heart broken.”
“We’re not in a relationship. We just… slept together because we both wanted it, and why the hell not?” I try to make it seem like a one-time thing, like I’m not falling for him slowly but surely. But it’s hard to keep my voice nonchalant.
Then, a wave of nausea hits again, and I lean forward against the edge of the sink.
“Vi, are you sure you’re okay?” Hannah asks, her voice filled with concern as her attention shifts from my sleeping with Jay to my wellbeing.
I swallow hard, trying to push the nausea down. “I’m fine. Gosh, I’m sorry. If I’m getting the flu, and I’ve brought it over here, don’t hate me.”
“You don’t look fine. Maybe you should sit down for a bit.”
I go back to the sofa and sink into its cushions. The nausea passes, and I shake my head at myself. My body doesn’t know what it’s doing, but I do think I have the flu. Maybe I shouldn’t go into work for the next few days.
“Maybe you should see a doctor and get some antibiotics,” Hannah suggests gently.
I nod slowly, knowing she’s right. “I just don’t want to go today. I want to see if I get a fever tomorrow. If I do, then I’ll get tested for the flu.”
“Or I could just test myself in forty-eight hours,” Hannah remarks dryly, hinting that I’ve probably made her sick.
I close my eyes for a moment, and the world feels so much better, safer under the cover of darkness. After a few minutes, I open my eyes and pick up my paintbrush. It’s time to get back to work.
CHAPTER 33
JAY
I’m in the kitchen, stirring a pot of chili for lunch, when I hear the front door creak open. Violet and her mom are back from their errands. I glance up and smile as Violet steps inside, shaking the rain from her umbrella. She looks over at me, and for a moment, our eyes lock. There’s something different in her gaze, something warmer.
I want to talk to her, but I’ve been working hard to keep things casual in front of her mom. Despite the fact that her mom has figured out I care for her, I’m not sure how I want to proceed.
“Hey. How was your morning?” I ask.
“Not bad. We got everything we needed.” She leaves her umbrella just inside the garage door and carries three heavy-looking bags further into the kitchen. Her mother hobbles over to the couch and sinks into it.
I nod, focusing back on the chili. “Lunch will be ready in about five minutes.”
“Smells great. Thank you, Jay.” Caroline says, smiling at me.
“Anytime,” I reply, stirring the pot one last time before lowering the heat. “How about you, Vi? Everything okay?”
She shrugs, but there’s a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “Yeah, just tired.”
And she does look tired. But I get it. Being a waitress at The Rusty Oak is not an easy job, she’s been on her feet for hours on end each night.
Everyone enjoys my chili for lunch, and I walk back into the kitchen to clean up before I head to the bar for another long night. Violet follows me into the kitchen carrying the dirty bowls.
She starts rinsing them out in the sink while I put the leftover chili into a plastic container and store it in the fridge. When I turn around, I see Violet placing the bowls in the dishwasher.
“You know, this is nice. We’re getting pretty good at this whole domestic thing.”
Violet laughs softly. “Yeah, I guess we are. Who would’ve thought?”
