“Yeah. I’m not a child. You don’t have to check on me.”
“Trust me, Violet. I know you’re not a fucking child.” His eyes roam up and down me. That heated stare he used to often give me is back.
“Why is it so hot when you curse?” Who am I kidding? Everything he does is hot. His lips twitch, making my insides warm. Gosh, this feels good. It always does when Sebastian is near me. When he flirts and plays with me, I forget about everything else in my life. It’s only him and me. It's one of the only times I feel as if I’m a normal girl without a care in the world.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” His eyes drop to my mouth, making me lick my lips. Damn I want to kiss him again. To give in for a little and forget about today. The hell with it.
“Do you want to order pizza and make out?” I blurt out. He raises his eyebrows but doesn’t respond. “Never mind.” I try to slip past him, but he blocks me.
“You know I do, Violet. You just caught me off guard. Christ, I swear you’re the only person that can.” He’s smiling as he says it.
“Then give me your phone.” I hold my hand out. “I’ll order.” He pulls his phone out, handing it over to me after he unlocks it. “I promise I won't peek into your pictures,” I tease him. “Besides. I don’t see you as a man who sends dick pics.”
“No, but if you want one…” he teases me right back, making me laugh as I pull up the website to order. The phone vibrates in my hand, a text popping up from his mom.
Mom: What about Rose Sinclaire? She’ll be over for Sunday dinner. Dress nice and no masturbation talk.
That’s a lot to take in from one text. I don’t know if I should laugh or cry. “You have a thing for flowers or something?”
“What?” He gives me a confused look.
“Nothing.” I shove the phone into his chest harder than I mean to. “I’m going to take a nap instead.”
“Violet,” He calls after me as I try to make my escape.
Chapter Nine
Sebastian
“It’s not what you think!” I shout as I pound on the door to the pool house, my phone clutched in my hand. The message from Mom is burned into my retinas. No wonder Violet’s pissed. I’d be pissed if I saw something like that on her phone, too.
“What did you do this time, Turner?” Her brother’s voice cuts in.
I turn to face my friend, Miles. We’d become close after I rescued Violet from her stalker. I guess he saw in me someone he could trust with his sister.
“Don’t you know?” The two are twins, and though they don’t play it up like others do, they have a connection.
“Only that she’s mad. I saw you shouting and put two and two together. What can I say? I’m good at math.” He spreads his hands out, and I want to deck him, which is more a function of my frustration than any actual animosity toward Miles. Instead of punching out a friend and my love’s twin, I shove my hand through my hair.
“Got a text from my mom that she’s setting me up with some girl named Rose. Your sister wasn’t happy about that.” I don’t share with Miles that Violet had invited me to eat pizza and make out with her. There are just some things brothers don’t need to know.
“Why’s your mom trying to set you up? That doesn’t sound right.” Miles crosses his arms.
“Because some moms have miserable lives and are trying to get grandkids, thinking that’s going to make them happy.”
My friend takes his anger down a couple notches. “All right. I see you have problems on all fronts.” He taps his forehead and gives me a hats off gesture. “I’ll leave you to your wooing, but just know that your position as best man can be easily replaced. All of you are wearing the same thing, and since my attention will be solely on Eden during the ceremony, who is standing behind me isn’t going to matter much.”
“Thanks for making me feel important.”
“No problem. Be good or I’ll hire someone to take you out.” He walks off, hands in his pockets as if he didn’t commit to murdering me at some point in the future if I don’t make his sister happy. But truthfully, if I’m not making her happy, what’s the point of my existence?
I hop on my bike and speed five miles down to the gas station that has a small grocery store and a café attached. There’s a take and bake pepperoni, pineapple, and extra cheese pizza in a refrigerated case. I grab one of those, some bags of pre-popped popcorn, and a case of beer. With my goods strapped to the back of my bike, I buzz back to the estate.