Falling into You (Falling Stars 3)

A music note.

Swore, the violet on my wrist throbbed, desperate for its match.

“Because that would mean completely letting you go.”

She exhaled a shaky breath, and I kissed across the lifebeat that thundered at her wrist and murmured the words like they were proof, “Funny how I never heard another word about it from you after that. Funny how you didn’t push. Funny how you felt the exact same way as me.”

I let the implication hang in the air.

Fact that we belonged.

That it didn’t matter the space I tried to put between us.

Our hearts were still touching from across the miles.

“It was easier just to let you go,” she whispered.

“Let me go? Don’t lie to me, Violet. Your heart wouldn’t be doing this if you had.”

I set my palm flat against her chest. Against the thunder that raged and banged and fought for what was right.

“Taking you to dinner tonight.” I was back to kissing across the tattoo on her wrist. “Want to take you out. You and me,” I rumbled at the tender flesh.

Needed her alone.

She raked out a surprised sound while goosebumps pebbled her skin. Her blood sloshed and her chest heaved. “Are you crazy?”

Obviously.

“Always have been for you.”

“You’re insane.”

“Exactly.”

I edged back, gazing down at my fairy girl. “Things were never quite logical for us, were they?”

They were instant.

Rash and reckless.

Rejection shook her head, those cheeks so pink and her eyes so dark. “I’m not gettin’ back together with you, Richard. I might be a fool, but I’m smarter than that.”

“I never said you were.”

“You’re acting like I am.”

“Just making it clear what I want.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “I agree we need to talk, and we can do that over dinner. But no more kissin’ or touchin’.”

I grinned in victory.

She scowled the cutest scowl I wanted to trace with the tip of my finger. “I mean it, Richard. We are just talkin’.”

I backed toward the steps, never taking my eyes off the girl who tried to keep her cool. To pretend like this wasn’t more than what she’d just agreed to.

“I’ll pick you up at six.”

Air huffed from her nose.

“Don’t text me later giving me some line about you not feeling well.” It was almost a tease.

“Fine,” she shot out.

I turned and ambled down the porch steps, heading for my truck. I opened the door and glanced back at her through the intensity that shivered through the air.

Like I was physically tied to the one thing I’d been missing.

“Oh…and wear one of those sundresses I love so much.”

I sent her a wink and hopped into my truck.

I was fairly sure she stomped her foot.

And I realized I was grinning when I turned around, took the long dirt drive, and pulled out onto the road.

Like the dormant violet inside of me decided it was time to come to life.NineteenVioletWhat had I done? What had I done?

I was barely breathing when I stumbled back into the house. My daddy was there, concern disguised as disappointment etched on his face. Like that man was written on me. His touch leaving the glow of neon imprints all over my skin.

I figured my swollen, reddened lips were proof enough.

What was I doing?

Despair swept through me, and my shoulders sagged as I leaned back against the door the second I closed it. My head banged against the wood.

Several times.

Where the hell was my resolve?

“So?” my father asked from across the room.

“So, we’re going to go to dinner to talk through the past. Figure out how we can get on until the wedding is through. Gonna have to be around him until then. He and I have some things we need to hash out.”

At least that’s what I was telling myself.

He sighed and ran a hand over his face. “I have a bad feeling, Violet.”

“We have unfinished business. We need to finish it. That’s it.”

Sniffling, I rubbed the back of my hand under my chin that felt crusty with the tears that had dripped down my face. I had been tugged through so many emotions out on that porch that I didn’t know what I felt.

Need.

Hurt.

Sorrow.

Fear.

Unrest curled in my belly.

What the hell was he talking about? Protecting us? Not going anywhere?

I wanted to reject it. Chalk it up to another flimsy, lame excuse. But I knew him well enough to know there was something there.

I could feel his agitation.

The burden on his shoulders.

“I…I’m going to go check on Daisy.”

I headed up the stairs, but I had another destination in mind. Needing to go to the one who always understood.

My lifeline.

My buoy.

My advocate.

I climbed to the top of the stairs, slowing when I got to the landing, my steps suddenly dragging with the weight of the reality I wasn’t ready to face. The thought of losing her, too, ripped that hole inside me wider. Demons clawing and grasping and tearing away more of what was most important to me.