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Charlie knew Elijah had been wanting to hire them as a goodbye to Lewis’s single days. It wasn’t going to be fun telling the guy no.
“Don’t worry,” he said, despite his own worries. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“I mean this whole bachelor party business isn’t my thing anyways. We could always cancel and not have it.”
“Nope, you need a day off,” Liv called from the other room. Charlie dared a glance over at the table and found Violet quietly watching. “You’ve been working overtime to pay for the honeymoon and the decorations. Take some time off.”
Lewis didn’t look happy about it, but he let it go. Charlie tore his eyes from Violet and looked at his friend.
“Let’s play some games for a bit,” Lewis suggested, seeing where Charlie’s eyes had been lingering. “You need a distraction.”
Usually, gaming with Lewis was one of his favorite things to do. But this time, he could feel Violet’s presence in the room like a jasmine and sugar candle left burning for too long.
He couldn’t focus, and Lewis could tell. When Charlie was gaming, he couldn’t even see Violet. What if she hurled a stapler at his head?
She had never made it physical before, but that was before the drink incident at the engagement party.
“I know this is weird," Lewis said after a few minutes of distracted gameplay. His voice was low, as if he didn’t want Violet and Liv to hear them. Charlie glanced at Violet again, and she still seemed focused.
“Yeah, it is," Charlie said, under his breath. “Did you check her for weapons? I’m afraid she’s waiting to throw a knife at me.”
Lewis sighed.
“It was a joke," Charlie said.
“You are so different with her - I don’t get it," Lewis said, shaking his head. “But it doesn’t matter. Listen, Charlie… Liv asked Violet for her wedding gift.”
“And?”
“Liv asked for Violet not to publicly fight with you at the wedding. That’s it. That’s the gift.”
“She only did it as a gift?” Charlie said. How low could Violet be?
“I’m asking the same of you.”
“I mean, of course I’ll do it. I’ll try. But it doesn’t have to be a gift. I’ll just do it.”
“Will you?” Lewis asked. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a gift or not. It’s important to us. We want to have a decent wedding without the public fights. Liv thinks it being outside is enough, but I genuinely want no fights. At all.”
Charlie wished he could say yes. He wished he could promise it. But he didn’t know if it would happen.
“I’ll do it if she does.”
Lewis sighed. “I guess that’s all I can ask.”
Charlie nodded, feeling sick to his stomach. This should be something he could promise. It should be easy, compared to the other things they could ask. So why wasn’t it? What about Violet sent him into spiraling anger every time?
A clearing of a throat interrupted his thoughts. Charlie was surprised to find Violet standing in front of him, looking nervous but also firm.
He couldn’t help but take note of her solar system dress. She looked like Ms. Frizzle but with brown, tamed hair. He wanted to make a comment, but bit down on it - hard.
“Davis,” she said forcefully. She hadn’t used his first name in years. “Can I talk to you?”
“Me?” Charlie asked.
“Yes, you.” She said it like she wanted to say more - as if she had a biting comment behind it.
Lewis glanced between them, worry on his face. But Charlie couldn’t get past what his friend had asked, and how hopeful he had looked while doing so.
