Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

ZANE

M om and Violet talk cross-stitch in my living room while Dad and I put away the leftovers and work on tackling the dishes.

“I know they’re hitting it off in there, but Mom still has some reservations,” Dad says quietly.

“Like what?”

The look Dad gives me causes me to wonder if I missed something obvious. “Like how you’re not exactly a poor man.”

“She didn’t even know what I did for a living when we got married and she was pissed when she found out because I lied to her. She’s not after me for my money.” I’ve seen the signs enough to know, and Violet doesn’t give a rat’s ass about what I do or how much money I make.

Dad hums as if he’s not sold yet. “There’s also how she’s a complete stranger.”

“She’s not now, though. I mean, I don’t know everything about her, but I know plenty.” I sigh when his demeanor doesn’t change. “Dad, today is the first time since she was nineteen that she’s spent Thanksgiving with someone. She stays home more than anything else. She has no reason to take advantage of me.”

“It doesn’t sit well that she has no one.”

“Are you fucking kidding me, Dad?” I shake my head, disappointed in my parents. “She’s here to stay as long as she wants. I don’t want to hear another word about Violet. I mean it, Dad.”

“Zane?”

I whirl around to find an unsure Violet at the edge of the room.

“Yeah, babe?”

She seems to relax a little. “I told your mom I’d get her another helpin’ of the pumpkin pie.”

“One second; I’ll make the plate.”

A minute or so later, Violet takes the plate to my mom.

“You didn’t exactly take things well after Deanna. We just don’t want to see you hurt,” Dad says quietly.

“I’m not worried about that; I’m more worried about Violet ending up happy. She deserves that at least.”

Dad gives me a look. He doesn’t even have to say it. What I said concerns him more. Maybe I’m in too deep already, but part of me wants to throw caution to the wind. My gut tells me Violet and I are right where we belong. My parents’ concerns are just that: theirs. I’m not too worried, especially because as the night wears on, Mom seems to become just as smitten with Violet. They even exchange phone numbers, though I’m not sure how I feel about that.

A bit later, I’ve settled into bed and Violet eyes me as she walks over. She crawls into bed, surprising me when she straddles me. I’ve learned what that little sign means. She wants sex. I’m surprised she wants it now with my parents in the house.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” I ask.

Her cheeks flush. “It’s a little embarrassing to say out loud.”

That intrigues me even more. “Tell me, babe,” I demand.

She’s quiet, torturing me with what she could possibly be thanking me for. Her voice is soft as she speaks. “You make me feel…” She pauses as she struggles to find the right word. “Cared for,” she finishes. “I haven’t felt that way in a long time.” The next words are so quiet, if it wasn’t for how quiet my room is, I wouldn’t clearly hear her. “I think I could love you.”

A grin quickly lifts my lips. “Might as well.” Violet laughs, but stops short as I add, “I think I could love you too.”

A flush flames up from her chest to her cheeks. “Would it be weird?” She wiggles her hips and runs her hands over my bare chest.

“I’d have sex with you whenever and wherever you want, Violet.”

She grins, but makes no move to continue. That’s just fine. I can make the move for her. With my hands cupping her neck, I bring her down for a kiss. Violet stirs something in me that I don’t think anyone ever has. There’s this crazy urge to protect her, to take care of her, to love her, and to see to it that she’s happy. I can’t seem to resist her and I don’t think I really want to.

“I don’t tell you enough how proud I am of you, son,” Dad states. The Rebels host a dads’ trip and a moms’ trip every season and right now, it’s Dad’s turn. We just returned to the hotel after an intense game, which ended in a five-zero shutout in favor of the Rebels.

“Thanks, Dad. I’m going to call Violet.”

“You really care for her.”

It’s not a question, yet I nod nonetheless. “I want things to work out between us.”

“I hope they do.” He pats me on the shoulder. “I’m going to call your mom.”

I step out into the hallway for some privacy. Violet answers on the fourth ring.

“Hey,” she answers softly. Something in her tone raises my hackles.

“Hey,” I reply just as softly. “What’s wrong?” I walk down to the end of the hallway where a couple of chairs sit across from an elevator and take a seat.

“I miss you.”

“I miss you too,” I reply easily. A lull takes over. I could easily speak and share more about my trip with my dad, but I don’t in hopes it pushes her to share.

Violet sighs. “Cassie and I met for lunch today. Graham was nasty to me this morning and she’s pushing me to say something to him. I just…don’t want to push him away when he’s already so far away. And I already know you agree with her.”

“I do. I know you want to take care of him, but you shouldn’t have to, especially considering how he treats you. Forcing him to grow up and take care of himself is the best thing you could do for him, Violet.”

She sighs again. “I’m tired, Zane. The powers that be must hate me for this to be my life.”

“Hey,” I start softly and gently. “Life may be hard, but you aren’t alone. A heart-to-heart with Graham may be just what you guys need to clear the air and get his head out of his ass.”

“Maybe.” She pauses for a moment and then changes the subject. “How’s the trip with your dad? I saw y’all did great tonight.”

We talk for about an hour before I let her go and return to my room to get a little shuteye myself. Hopefully things between her and Graham improve. It annoys the hell out of me that she has to worry about him when she already has so much on her plate. It makes me wish I didn’t travel so much so I could be with her more.

“Graham, that is enough ! I’m sick and tired of your shit.”

Neither notice me enter the house, but it’s clear the two are at a standoff. Between knowing the tension was growing between the two and hearing yelling, I let myself in.

“You’ve got one month. Get a job and start paying your part, or I swear to god?—”

“You’ll what?” Graham taunts.

“That is my car you drive, my cell phone, and those are my clothes you wear because I buy everything for you. I will take it all back except the clothes on your back and kick you out of here to finally fend for yourself. You will never get your trust if you don’t grow the fuck up !” Violet takes a deep breath. “Graham, I love you, and I don’t mind that you stay here, but you’ve been hateful to me ever since Grandma died and I’m done .

“All I’ve tried to do is pick up the pieces and keep us together and you keep trying to tear me down instead. I do the best I can to provide for you on my income because I don’t want to touch the money that was left for us if I can help it, but I’m tired of spending my hard-earned money on an ungrateful asshole! I have so much fucking shit on my plate, the last thing I need is your bullshit. I don’t understand what I did to you?—”

“You remember them!” Graham explodes.

“What?” Violet asks quietly, rocking back on her heels.

“Mom and Dad. You remember them; I don’t. Not really. Not enough. Not like you do. And then Grandma died.” His voice cracks and if I didn’t feel like I was intruding before, I certainly do now. “She had her stroke while I was on that trip to the beach with my friends and you didn’t call me, Violet! She was in the hospital for two days before she died. You didn’t think it was important for me to say goodbye?” His voice is raw with emotion and it’s clear this is the root of why he’s pissed. “I feel like I’m lost in the middle of the fucking ocean, Vi, and there’s no one around to save me.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I’m so sorry, but you didn’t see her in the hospital like I did, Graham, and you should be thankful. She…I still have nightmares. I didn’t want your last memory of Grandma to be her hooked up like she was. When she would wake up, she was so disoriented and surged upright with a gasp. She looked at me so utterly terrified, reaching out to me like she was begging for help, before collapsing and losing consciousness. I don’t think she ever realized I was there, Graham. I’m sorry you disagree with my choice, but I don’t regret that you didn’t see her like that.

“All we have is each other, Graham. I would like for us to get along instead of tearing at each other’s throats. Can we please do that? Can you please get a job?”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” Graham interrupts with horror as if he actually wants the same bond Violet does.

Violet takes a step backward as if he just slapped her. “What? No . I’m trying to do right by you. You need to work and make your own way. You don’t have to move out unless you want to.”

I clear my throat, feeling like another second can’t go by without them knowing I’m here. They both turn toward me.

“Don’t you know how to fucking knock?” Graham asks, the hatred returning just that easily.

“I did.”

“Shouldn’t you be at home with your wife?”

“I am,” I answer before I can think better of it.

Graham’s eyes widen and he turns back to Violet. “You got married ? When?” I can’t tell if he’s hurt or mad.

“In Vegas,” she admits.

“You went to Vegas to get married?”

Violet shakes her head. “I met him there.” Her reluctance to admit such a thing is clear.

Graham’s eyes widen and then he barks out a laugh. “You go and do something stupid like that and I’m supposed to believe you know what’s best for me? After everything you’ve done?”

“Graham,” she starts, but he turns and disappears down the hall to his room.

“Babe, I’m so sorry,” I say the moment she turns to face me. I just undid what progress she managed to make. Violet walks over and surprises me when she wraps her arms around my waist and buries her face in my chest.

“I’m so happy to see you.”

Well, that’s a relief, especially since I didn’t tell her I was coming. Even if she hadn’t said it, I’d be able to tell. The moment she leaned into me, I could feel the stress leave her body. I’ve never felt so damn honored. Honored I can be that support for Violet.

“Missed you too,” I murmur, kissing the top of her head. “Up for going out?”

“Yes, give me ten minutes.” She lifts onto the tips of her toes to give me a soft kiss. A moment later, she disappears. I eye her knocking and entering Graham’s bedroom. I’m not too sure that’s a good idea, but their spat, and me making it worse, didn’t seem to impact her mood when we were alone.

It takes her fifteen, but she walks toward me with a bag in her hand. Every fiber of my being wants to smile, but somehow I withhold it. She’s clearly had a stressful day and I don’t need to flaunt how happy I am she’s planning to spend the night with me or that she listened to what I said about staying with me.

I take the bag from her and lead her outside.

“Everything okay?” I can’t help but ask.

“One step forward and three back, but I’m still somewhat moving forward. I’m sorry you had to see us arguing, but I’ve been thinking about what you said. About what Cassie said. And all I did was ask that he let me know where he was going and if he was coming home so I didn’t have to worry about him anymore and things just exploded. He’s been even nastier since you left, something I didn’t think was possible, and I lost my shit.”

I reach over and take her hand in mine, which causes her to look over at me with an apologetic smile.

“I told him about us and reminded him we have the same goal. He’s all I have left and I don’t want to spend the time we have fighting. I apologized again for not calling him when Grandma got sick. I think…” She pauses as if she doesn’t want to jinx what she’s about to say, but she continues anyway. “I think he’s slowly coming around. He’s pissed about you, though. Where are we going?” she asks, realizing we’re not heading to my house.

“When I asked if you wanted to go out, I didn’t mean to my house.” Her cheeks flame. Damn, she’s fucking cute. “I’m glad you’re staying with me, though,” I add before she can second guess if I wanted her to pack that bag. “I’m taking you to the arena.”

Her brows tug together in confusion. “Where you play?”

“Yeah.” I want to bring Violet even further into my life and I feel like I need her to see it the way I do. To see what I love about my job and the team. “I gotta go see Savannah soon, if you wanna come with.”

“Sure. How long are you home for?”

“A week.”

Something is off about Violet with my answer. Before I can ask, she quietly says, “I love you’re doing something you love, but you’ve got me missing you like crazy when you’re gone and wishing you didn’t have to go.” She peeks over at me. “Why are you grinning, Zane?”

“You really miss me.” Her smile and a roll of her eyes can’t be missed when I glance over at her. I squeeze her hand. “You’ll have me all to yourself in the summer.” Not entirely true, but compared to when the season is in full swing, she will. “How are things with Kayla?”

While I was on my road trip, Violet asked for Sydney’s number, which I gave her. Later, she explained she would take Kayla up on her offer and give her a part-time job helping her with the new product she just launched.

“Good. She’s nice and she helps me like I need her to.”

I park in my normal spot at the arena and Violet meets me around the rear. I take her hand and lead her into the belly of the arena. We walk silently as she takes it all in. It can be interesting to people who have never been to this side of it.

After giving her a tour, we head to the team’s bench. I toe out of my shoes as Violet looks around with wide eyes that get wider as she eventually lands on me again.

“What are you doing?”

“Lacing up. Sit down and take your shoes off.”

“Why?” she asks, though she does what I’ve asked.

I pull out a second pair of skates, hoping the pair I borrowed from the practice facility fit her.

“Zane, this is not a good idea. I don’t know how to skate.”

“But I do,” I remind her. She looks way more nervous than I thought she’d be. “Do you trust me?” Violet nearly knocks me on my ass when she nods. Considering the conversation over, I kneel in front of her and lace her up, surprised at how well I did picking out a pair of rentals to fit her.

She wobbles as she takes my hands and stands. We make it to the ice and Violet clutches to me as if she’ll fall at any moment. I loosen her grip and skate until I’m standing behind her, not once letting go of her.

“I didn’t bring you here to skate exactly. Just let me do the moving and you do the looking,” I say as I slowly push her and skate around the arena. “Imagine every single one of the seats filled. Fans screaming, booing sometimes, but best of all, cheering. Music blasting to celebrate after the horn sounds to confirm a goal.” Feeling as if I make no sense, I sigh. “I just wanted you to glimpse, from my point of view, why I love this place. Even if it was just me with a stick and a puck, I’d still be living the dream. This is…it’s…”

“It’s your happy place,” she supplies.

I press my face into her neck, grinning when she tilts her head to make it easier for me. After giving her neck a kiss, I say, “No, babe. You are my happy place. This is just an opportunity I’m so happy to have, a dream I get to live, but it’s gonna end one day, Violet.” I groan, annoyed the words aren’t coming out the way I want them to. “You showed me your office and I got it. I saw what you saw.”

“I see it too,” she whispers. “Thanks for showing me.”

Thank goodness, she understands. I just want her to see this part of me too. I know Sydney invited her to a game, but I don’t know if she ever plans to come. She only came once so far because Cassie wanted her to.

Violet peppers me about hockey more than she has up to this point in our relationship. I answer all her questions as we skate together around the rink.

“Hungry?” I ask later as I remove her skates for her.

“Starved.”

But when I glance up at her, her gaze is hungry and something tells me it’s not for dinner.