Page 30 of Violet

“I’m so sorry,” he says, obvious concern marring his handsome face. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Young people these days,” I mutter. Ten points. “But don’t worry, dear, I’m alright.” Five more.

“Good.” Cash sighs in relief and starts to wrap his arm around my shoulder again.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, trying to sidestep him. Of course, with my walker where it is, I don’t get far. Luckily, Cash seems to realize what I’m doing and pulls his arm back.

“I thought I’d walk you home.” He smiles.

“You don’t need to do that, dear.” Five points. Especially when he’s making my heart race and my chameleon magic flare. “I really should get going. It was nice seeing you, Colin.”

“Call me Cash, please,” he says, moving into step with me as I turn toward home.

“I really don’t need an escort, dear.” Five points. Not that it seems to be working. At all.

“How about company, then?” Cash chuckles, keeping pace with me.

I try to ignore him.

When we get to a crosswalk, Cash takes my elbow, and his touch makes my heart race. I expect him to let go when we get to the other side, but he keeps his hand firmly in place and keeps walking.

“So, what made you become a librarian, little furry?” he asks when we’re almost at my building.

I’d say something about the nickname, but I can barely focus with him walking so close. And what was it he asked? Why did I become a librarian?

It’s not like I can tell him it’s because Violet was a librarian, and that’s the only way she could think for us to support ourselves. She got this gig at Spell Library, taught me everything she knew, and I’ve been working here ever since.

“Violet?” Cash presses.

“I love being around books, and I’ve always loved libraries,” I tell him instead, since both things are true.

Even before Violet and I moved to Silver Springs, I was a huge reader. Gwinnie used to take me to the library when we were kids, and I’d spend a lot of time there after she left. I’d sit on the floor between shelves, my nose buried in a book, and feeling just a little less lonely. And when I went off to college, I found the campus library on my first day and spent more time there than I did in the dorms. It’s part of the reason I ended up on the run in the first place.

“Do you not like your job?” Cash asks, picking up on my sudden change in mood.

“Actually, I really do,” I tell him honestly. “There’s just something so peaceful about working at Spell. And fun. I like helping patrons find books, running Mood Tea and Books, reading storybooks to the little children. I really can’t picture myself anywhere else.”

I realize that I’ve forgotten all about my points system while answering Cash. What I just said was a hundred percent me—the real Violet hidden beneath this mask—and I really don’t know what I’ll do with myself once I leave Silver Springs.

“I wish I had something I was that passionate about.” Cash tightens his grip on my elbow slightly. “I like my job, but I keep jumping from one thing to the next, and it never feels like enough.”

“What do you do for work?” I ask.

Yesterday, I would have guessed he was a children’s entertainer, maybe a teacher or an actor. Today, dressed in the suit, actor’s still a distinct possibility—but so is office worker or businessman. Especially when he probably came to meet me straight after work.

“Wait, you don’t know?” Cash sounds surprised.

“Should I?” I frown. “Does it have anything to do with the skunk mascot?”

“No.” Cash snorts. “I’m a mobile app developer.”

“Oh, okay.” I frown. How would I have known that? And also, would Violet have a clue what a mobile app developer is? Time to earn myself ten points. “So you make those phone doohickeys?”

“Phone doohickeys? I guess you could call it that.” Cash grins. “I developed an app called Screech, it’s... well... I’m not sure how to explain it.”

The most popular Supernatural Social Network ever invented?! The app everyone’s talking about?!

No wonder his name sounded so familiar! Practically everyone’s heard of Cash Howe, brilliant inventor and self-made billionaire. I’m surprised I didn’t realize it sooner.