Page 11 of Peach Blossom Hollow

“Because I should know better!” Violet sniffed. “And when you’re nice after I’ve acted stupidly, it makes me realize how idiotic this whole Dragon Babes thing is. Yet if it doesn’t work, I’ll be cursed forever and stuck in this new version of me, which I’m not crazy about because then I’ll surely be alone forever. And when you’re nice, even though I’m acting like a basket case, it gives me hope that…” She caught her breath, realizing she was veering off the rails in the middle of the hallway.

So much for hopes of friendship.

“It gives you hope that nice guys still exist? And you just have to wait it out until one finds you?”

She looked away.

“Well then, I can see how annoying I’m being right now. Sorry for that.”

She blinked, unsure whether he was about to turn cutting and mean. She felt like she was part vulnerability, where her heart still hadn’t repaired itself from its last break, and part scary warrior, protecting it from further hurt. And she wasn’t certain how much damage someone like Leo could do when she felt like this.

Leo tipped his chin upward as though egging her to fight, as though he wanted to test her mettle. “How about you quit rolling around in the pigpen of your crappy date, dust yourself off and move on?”

She gave a snort at his tough tone and plantedher hands on her hips. “So I’m not allowed to be angry?”

“You can be angry. But quit finding ways to amplify your suffering and roll around in the pain like it’s worth something.”

“Amplify my suffering? Have you never been single and on a horrible blind date?” She glared at him. “You know what? You’re a jerk!”

“Most messengers are.”

She huffed, but was so peeved by his honest delivery that she no longer felt like crying. She should walk away. Never speak to him again.

But somehow his straight-up, awful truths felt like a much-needed reality check. Life was way too short to wallow in something she should be laughing about.

Violet sighed, unsure how to stop taking herself so seriously.

“Coach Louis said this to me once.” Leo placed his palms together and paused for a second. “Mistakes happen. Pain is inevitable—well, my mom said that bit about pain. But Louis said suffering is optional. You tried, Violet. You failed. Now you know that guy isn’t the one, so move on.” He watched her cautiously, as if he didn’t know if he should duck and cover or chalk his words up as a win.

“I know I should.”

His shoulders relaxed and he nodded to a passing official, stepping against the wall to let the man pass. “Good.”

Violet’s indignation flared again. “But he tried to kiss me at the end of the date!”

“Of course he did. You’re cute.”

She felt a jolt of pleased surprise from hiscompliment, but pushed past it. “The date was an obvious disaster, though. I gave absolutely no signs that a kiss was going to happen. Ever.” She studied Leo’s face, waiting for him to explain what her date had been thinking.

He shrugged thoughtfully, as though trying to find a way to encapsulate his gender in a few brief words. “Men reach for opportunities.”

“Ones that aren’t even there?” She felt ready to rip something apart. Something big.

“Men fail up.”

“They what?”

“When men fail…” He selected his words carefully. “Have you ever noticed that they rarely get punished or fired? They’ll receive promotions or new jobs with a fancy title. It’s like everyone’s too embarrassed to do anything about the situation.”

“That’s not true.” She hesitated, considering his claim. “Is it?”

“Well, not on a ranch. You screw up, you’re toast. Sayonara, pal. But in corporate, high-up positions it can be. And so some guys keep reaching and ignore the facts, because it’s not really a true failure. Something comes out of it.”

“This guy’s not corporate.” She sighed, feeling defeated all over again. “But he made a mess of our date and was still there with his hand out for the promotion.”

“Which was…the kiss?”

She nodded, remaining silent for a long moment as she thought it over, her anger fading. “I need to do that more. Reach for it. Fail upward.”

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