Page 15 of Peach Blossom Hollow

But he had to agree when he stopped to thinkabout it—the way Violet opened up with him was a bit like they’d known each other a lot longer than they had.

“You hear about people just clicking. And we clicked. Like we knew each other from a past life or something.”

“That’s not a thing,” she blurted, her voice filled with skepticism.

“Soul mates?”

She frowned at him as if the idea of their clicking scared her a little.

“What do you believe in, then?”

“Curses.”

“Curses? What kind?”

“I’m joking.”

“So how do you explain our insta-friendship if you don’t believe in the mechanics behind insta-friends?” Leo asked, leaning against the closest wall. The coolness from the cinderblocks seeped through his jacket.

“Did I say we’re friends?” She tossed him a haughty look that made him grin.

“You did, in fact.”

“We have the same personality—quirks? Or whatever. So we connect.”

“Okay, fine. We’re friends who share personality… bits. And we both have experience with crushing on someone from afar.”

“I think that’s actually pretty common.”

“But I’m crushing on Christine Lagrée.”

“She sounds famil—wait. You meantheChristine Lagrée with, like, a million followers? That Christine Lagrée?”

“The donor organizer for the Special Olympics.”

“Oh.”

He gauged Violet’s surprise as recognition dawned across her face. Christine was collected, professional, frequently in the spotlight, had started a few trends on social media, and had even been in a few home-and-lifestyle-makeover reality TV shows. She might not appear at first glance to be Leo’s type, but she was like him in that she knew what she wanted and would take no prisoners in her efforts to get there. She would help him project the right image to gain the life he wanted. She was exactly what he needed.

“I think we’d work well together,” he stated.

“Well, learn from me. Don’t just sit there waiting for her to open her eyes.”

Leo considered the suggestion, having already noted that Christine didn’t seem to consider him much more than a backcountry cowboy. “Okay.”

Violet scratched her nose, eyeing him. “Shouldn’t you be out with the other players, chest bumping and flirting with blondes?”

“Not my thing.”

“So, what have you done to get her to notice you?” she asked.

“Who? Christine?”

She nodded.

“I sent her flowers.”

“What? Why?” Violet looked so shocked he laughed. “Are you stalking her? Does she even know you?”

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