“Y-yeah. For now. I’m only giving him today, Violet. If he doesn’t tell me about Cannon moving in and his past with Dana, that’s it.”
“Just give him a chance, Shaw,” I told her as I rushed downstairs. Dad was lying on the couch in the living room, Oscar spread out on top of him asleep in doggy dreamland. I waved when he lifted his head in question. “Be back soon,” I mouthed as I opened the door that would take me out onto the beach. He nodded, and I practically sprinted toward Shaw’s house.
“I will,” she muttered. “But only this once.”
“He wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.” I tried to reason. “Maybe he thinks he’ll lose you if he tells you.”
“He’s going to lose me if he doesn’t,” she whispered before hanging up.
I clenched my jaw, knowing I had no right to lecture her. I knew she was scared, and I understood why. She’d always thought that my relationship with Luca was indestructible. And when it ended, when she witnessed firsthand just how deep a person could hurt when the love of their life—their fucking soul mate—destroyed them, she’d decided she was never going to allow anyone that kind of power over her.
But she didn’t understand that Jagger wasn’t Luca. He might have been slow in the beginning and made mistakes, but he wasn’t going to make the ones Luca had. Jagger wouldn’t cheat, and he would sell his own soul before he broke her heart. Even through my own misery, I’d been able to see that. And it was because of his love for her that I was still able to believe in love at all.
I let myself into Shaw’s house. “Hey, sweetheart,” Uncle Axton greeted as I rushed through the living room. “Shaw isn’t home.”
“I know,” I muttered and kept going.
“Vi.” I thought I heard him following me, concern thick in his voice, but I didn’t waste time by telling him I was fine. Upstairs, I didn’t bother with knocking, simply opened his door and slammed it shut behind me just as Uncle Ax appeared at the top of the stairs.
With a dark scowl on his face, Cannon turned from his closet where he was pulling clothes off hangers. But when he saw me, he froze. His face turned white, and I watched his throat bob up and down as he struggled to swallow.
“Vi,” he croaked my name.
It was the first time I’d purposely come face-to-face with him since he’d returned home. The first time since that goddamn party that had turned my entire life upside down. I’d avoided Shaw’s house since he’d gotten back. A house I’d once considered a second home had become a place I couldn’t think about stepping foot inside without sweating. The night before, when I’d spotted Cannon entering Jagger’s apartment at the party, I’d gone to the spare room and stayed there until Mia came searching for me to let me know he was gone.
Now, I stood before him, still hating him and, yeah, even a little afraid of him. But I would have faced down the devil himself if it meant protecting my best friend.
Lifting my chin, I glared at him until he lowered his eyes as guilt and shame swam over his face. “Apologize to me,” I commanded, proud that my voice was so strong and steady.
> “I’m sorry,” he said without hesitation. “So damn sorry, Violet. I was drunk and angry, but I never should have hurt you.”
“You ruined my life.” He flinched. “Oh, I know you aren’t responsible for what happened with Luca, but you are the catalyst that started it all. Did you know that I was even thinking about ending my life?”
The way he staggered told me he didn’t know that little nugget of information. “Violet, I…”
“I thought when you were sent away, that military school would help you. That it would make you realize the world doesn’t revolve around you. That people other than you have feelings. But all it gave you was a haircut and a few muscles.”
His jaw clenched, as if he wanted to say something, but he was biting his tongue.
“Yes, Cannon, people other than you matter. Somewhere along the way, I’m not even sure when or where, you stopped caring about anyone else. It became all about you.”
“It’s not like that,” he cut in.
“Yes, it is. And you’re still acting like that spoiled, entitled asshole who was sent away.” I waved a hand at him. “Can you even see what you’ve turned into? You’re becoming a selfish monster.”
“I…” Tears filled his blue eyes, and he looked away, whispering, “Am I?”
“Shaw loves Jagger, and Jagger loves her. And I know, deep down, somewhere in that dark pit that you call a heart, you love them both. Yet your selfishness is ruining what they’ve struggled to build.” I took a step closer to him, still a little afraid, but determined to make him understand. “Don’t do this, Cannon.”
“What am I doing?” he exploded. “I haven’t done shit, Violet. Not yet. But I sure as fuck will.”
“You’re destroying your sister. You’re breaking her heart.”
“She’ll get over it.” His voice was hard, but I saw it. The flicker of remorse. It was weak, but just that small light told me there was still hope for him.
“No,” I told him, putting steel in my voice. “That’s unacceptable.”
“Look, Violet—”