Page 13 of A Violet Obsession

“Finn, please. She’s my best friend.”

“How can she be your best friend if you essentially just met a few months ago?”

She growls. “I know you probably have a stupid computer where your heart should be, and you don’t have the first concept of how to have a human connection with someone, but Lily is my best friend. You know that. You know her. You were practically her big brother, too.” Her voice wobbles. “Please, Finn.”

I don’t answer right away.

Computer where your heart should be.

She doesn’t mean it. I know that. Emma throws words like glitter, oblivious to where they stick.

Correcting her would mean explaining that I do feel things. That I feel them constantly, and with an intensity that would probably alarm her. I just never learned how to make those feelings look the way other people expect feelings to look.

Particularly my family, whose only way of emoting is loudly.

I heave out a sigh as the locks beep, and I slide into my truck. “Fine. Set it up and let me know when.”

“Yay!” she squeals, so loud I have to pull the phone away from my ear. “I’ll send you the pin.”

Wait. What?

“Emma—”

“I’m supposed to meet her in, like, ten minutes. But Alan said the casting director from that audition last week wants to talk to me again, and I have to go. If this goes well and he likes me… I heard he’s been picked to direct a bunch of those Christmas romance movies this year. Can you imagine if he liked me and⁠—”

“You want me to meet her now?” I interrupt her mid-flow. “I have⁠—”

“Don’t pretend like you have plans. It’s just sad.”

“I do, actually,” I say through gritted teeth, not mentioning my plans are grocery shopping.

“That’s so mean. She’s having a bad time, and you’re going to stand her up.”

I rub a hand across my temple. “I’m not the one standing her up. You are.”

“Pfft. Tomato, tomahto.”

“Why can’t you just call her and say you can’t make it… Emma?”

My phone pings. I pull it away and see she’s already ended the call and sent me a pin to a cafe a few miles away.

I mutter a curse as another notification sounds.

Emma: I owe you so huge! Be nice to her. She says she’s okay, but I can tell she’s not.

My jaw locks. The irritation grinding through my chest is disproportionate to the situation, and I know it. I have an overwhelming desire to call my sister back and explain that when someone resurfaces in your life, after years of silence, and is almost immediately caught up in something violent and criminal, it's a major red flag. I don’t though, because it would be pointless. I remember how tight the two of them were growing up, and Emma’s loyalty is absolute.

It’s one of the things I love most about her. Also, one of the things that terrifies me for her.

I pull into the parking lot of the pinned location and scan the area out of habit. Nothing appears out of place. The café is crowded on this dismal winter afternoon; the windows are slightly fogged, making it impossible to see clearly inside. I pull the door open, step in, and do a slow sweep of the occupants.

There’s only one redhead in the building.

Lily sits at a small table against the back wall, her forehead buried in her palm. Thick hair tumbles forward, hiding most of her face. As I move closer, I catch her side of a phone conversation.

“Why did you call him, Emma? I’m fine. Go to your meeting. We’ll catch up later. Really, you don’t need to worry.”

A heavy breath ruffles her hair. Then she tips her head back and rakes her fingers through it, but her eyes are scrunched shut, giving me a moment to really look at her.