Page 85 of Scotch & Dreams

Violet shook her head.

“Och, Vi, no wonder yer a wreck.”

Violet finished off her wine in her glass and got up to clear their dishes. She couldn't just sit there anymore.

“Ye need to talk to him. Actually talk. Stop having sex every time ye lay eyes on the lad.”

Violet laughed, despite feeling so sad inside. “I think I need to leave,” she said, suddenly turning to Fiona.

“Leave? Where do ye wantae go then?”

“Away from Scotland.” That was as far as her mind had gotten with the idea.

“Och, no. Dinnae say that. Ye need to talk to him. Dinnae be hasty.”

But the moment Violet had said it, she knew sheneededto go. The uncertainty with Lachlan was too much to take.

“If he actually wanted me, don’t you think he would have texted or called by now? This is his pattern. He gets close, and then he ghosts me. I’m not surprised that it is almost nine p.m. and I haven’t heard from him. I knew I wouldn’t. I wanted to hope that I would, but I knew it. I can’t keep doing this. Honestly, Fiona, my time here is done. I’m packing my bags."

Fiona’s phone dinged, interrupting their conversation. Violet took the opportunity to go to the kitchen and bring back the bottle of wine. She sat back down on the couch with a full glass, putting the remainder of the bottle on the coffee table for Fiona.

“It’s Drew. He wants me to come out.” Fiona’s expression was unreadable.

“You should go. Really. I’m not much fun tonight, anyways. Go see your beau. One of us should have a good night.”

“Och, no, not my beau at all." She looked thoughtful, and Violet wondered what was on her mind. "Ye ken we didnae ever end up having sex, right? Although I will confess, he was stellar in one particular department.” She added, nodding to her crotch.

Violet laughed, nearly choking on her wine.

“But when we kissed, it was the oddest thing.” She paused, her brows knit like she was trying to solve a puzzle. “Ye ken when it's like kissing yer brother?”

Violet's brow shot up,."Not exactly."

Fiona scoffed. "I dinnae ken either Vi. Dinnae be weird. I mean, we just dinnae huv that kind of chemistry. We hit it off well enough, but more as friends. Good friends, really. Actually, he helped me in a way."

"How so?" Violet eyed her, curious as to where this was going.

"Um, after he, ye know," she nodded to her crotch again. "We ended up having a surprisingly deep conversation. And—well—I guess he encouraged me to be myself."

"Right, well that's good."

Fiona eyed her. "Yes, it is." She drew in a deep breath. "Vi, I'm gay—I like women." She said it confidently, and Violet almost sighed with relief—not because her hunch had been right, but because she was proud of her friend for embracing her truth.

"Are ye surprised?" Fiona asked.

Violet shook her head. "I kind of had a feeling that might be the case and honestly, I'm so happy for you—it must feel good to be free to be yourself.

"Och, aye, it really is." She grinned, leaning back, and taking a sip of her wine.

"I am surprised, though, that you let him…you know." Now she was the one nodding toward Fiona's crotch.

"Aye, right that. Well, to be totally honest, I closed my eyes and imagined it was someone else entirely—I'm terrible, I ken. I did confess to him after I fluffed his feathers about how talented he is with his mouth, of course."

"Youtoldhim you were imagining someone else?" Violet was floored.

"Aye, and he asked me to describe her in detail." Fiona scoffed. "He's into women almost more than I am!"

Violet laughed at the craziness of it all, grateful for the distraction from her own problems. Her happiness for Fiona lightened her heavy mood. Then Fiona's phone dinged again.

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