Page 40 of Avenged

I’d just finished getting ready to go to the bookstore when the doorbell rang, and the sounds of the video game stopped.

I entered the living room at the same time as Jada did. She was dressed in short shorts and a halter top, skin showing everywhere with her shiny, black hair swinging about her body. Violet loved her to pieces for not abandoning her once she found out who we were, but Jada led life at a much faster pace than my sister had ever gone. She had money and time and parents who were never home. In many ways, she was your classic, spoiled heiress, but in other ways, she was the sweetest person you’d ever meet.

“Let’s go, Baioretto,” Jada said, saying Violet’s name in Japanese like she had for as long as they’d been hanging out.

“Where are we going?” Violet asked.

“To New York for a shopping spree,” Jada said.

Violet glanced my way, but it was so quick I almost missed it. “No shopping for me right now,” she said.

She was as worried about the money as I was. The hospital bill had come in from my ER visit, and I’d made arrangements to make monthly payments, but we’d barely been getting by as it was. Now that we were with Travis and Dawson, we’d both agreed to buy groceries and make meals so we wouldn’t feel like total freeloaders, and that was going to stretch my paycheck that much further.

“My treat! I just need someone to go with me. I have to pick out a dress for this stupid charity auction next month my parents are insisting I go to. I need your help,” Jada said. Then, she caught sight of Dawson on the couch, and her mouth dropped open. “Holy cow, you weren’t kidding.”

Violet turned a shade of red I rarely saw her turn.

Jada waved at Dawson. “Hi, I’m Jada.”

“Dawson. But I have a feeling you already knew that,” he said with a grin. But for the first time since meeting him, I realized he was also uncomfortable. He got up and came toward me, standing in the tiny hallway. “You done in the bathroom? I want to shower before work.”

“Yes. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you needed it,” I told him.

“Don’t be sorry. I would have let you know if I couldn’t wait.” He disappeared down the hall.

“Oh. My. God. He’s like a darker haired Scott Eastwood. He’s gorgeous,” Jada said, turning to Violet with a smile on her face.

“Don’t encourage her,” I said. “How are you?”

“Better now. Wow.” She took a breath and then added on, “You’re going to let Baioretto come with me, right?”

Did I want Violet in New York City with a party girl socialite two years older than her? No. But I didn’t want her here playing video games with Dawson and drooling over him, either. Worse or worser? “Do you want to go?” I asked Violet.

I could tell she was processing the same things I was. Money. Dawson. Our tiny living space. She nodded. “Yes, but…you know.”

“I’m serious, you two. This is my treat. I need company, and you,” she flung an arm over Violet’s shoulders, “need to escape the clutches of the man who won’t be yours. Plus, Jersey needs time with her newlywed hubby.”

“You told her?” I said with exasperation.

“You never said I wasn’t supposed to say anything.” Violet shrugged. “She’s my best friend.”

“It just isn’t something Travis or I would really want to be made public.”

“It’s sort of romantic,” Jada said.

“Romantic? How?” I asked but was already dreading the answer.

“You know, like a white knight kind of thing, sweeping in to rescue you.”

And wasn’t it the truth? But I’d been proving I didn’t need to be rescued for a long time. Ever since the one time I’d called for help had backfired in the most god-awful way. “How long will you be gone?” I asked.

“Just two nights,” Jada said. “We’ll stay at my grandma’s condo.”

At least there wouldn’t be hotel costs to think about. I looked at Violet and said the words that weren’t true but that I needed to say, anyway. “If you want to go, I don’t see why you shouldn’t.”

“Really?” Violet asked, shock evident. More guilt rolled through me. I kept her too close. I kept her sheltered, but I suddenly wasn’t sure if it was really for her benefit or if it had been for mine.

“Just take all your?”

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