page22 (1/2)

Clenching uy in the roo as lare fronored “Excuse ht Again It only makes the two hundredth time”

But I would gladly set it straight another two hundred—or two ive me

By the time I turned back around, Violet had disappeared on ht of her hair as the upstairs bathroom door closed behind her

I glanced around the roo and then followed her

She must have been more upset than I realized, because when I chanced the door handle, it was to find it unlocked I pushed my way inside to her shocked “Excuse you!”

I quickly shut and locked the door then pressed my back to it so she wouldn’t have a way out

When aze locked on her face,for mercy

“Baby, please don’t cry” I crossed to her in three steps and cupped her damp face

“If anyone finds you in here with me, you’re dead” She pulled her head back and put a little distance between us The guest bathroo s her in without even trying

“I don’t care Apparently this is the only way to get you to talk to me” I thrust my hands into my pants pockets as she walked to the sink and turned on the faucet

She grabbed a tissue and dabbed at her wet eyes, s her eyeliner

“Why were you late to the party?” I asked, needing to break the silence but also needing to knohere she’d been all evening Before I’d fucked up, I would have known everything about her day because she would have texted me the entire time Hell, it was Saturday, so she probably would have spent it with me

I’d taken our tiranted, and over the past two months, I’d missed her so da a part of ony

Instead of answeringher makeup

“Vi,” I growled “Where were you?”