Page 63 of Flame After the Fumble

Hartley

Lovesick doesn’t adequately describe the hole punched into my chest the day Liza left Springs U for the summer. Well, she won’t be gone for long. Her plan was to visit her mom for a week, her dad for a week, and spend a week doing the things she loves before coming back to school early for her second term art class. She loved her summer course last year, and said she wanted to do the advanced level credit course this summer. She’s also picking up hours at the diner to keep herself busy until the fall. It’s been two weeks of texting her shamelessly that I miss her every few hours, FaceTime at night, and pushing myself hard in the workout room to numb the noise in my head. She’s due back next week, and I don’t think I can make it any longer without her.

Laying in bed, I’m flipping through Netflix shows to watch before workouts when the door slams closed.

“Hart!” Violet yells. The volume sends a shiver down my spine, causing me to fly off the bed, taking the comforter with me to the living room.

My eyes scan Violet, no sign of scars, blood, or tears. “What’s wrong?!”

“I want to show you an exercise I learned at therapy today.” Her smile is back for the first time in months. She’s the Violet I love again. My hand grips my chest and rubs back and forth to ease the clenching that occurred moments ago.

“Sounds good.”

“Come sit!” she squeals and pushes me on the couch. “It’s a grounding technique that promotes mindfulness.” She lifts both hands and begins tapping each finger to her thumb. She then rubs the finger around her thumb before moving onto the next. “You know how my mind drifts anywhere but where I’m at?” She nods, waiting for me to begin the exercise.

“Yeah. . .”

“Well, it brings you back to the moment by using the sensation of touch. Your mind focuses on the touch of your fingers together and the texture of your skin, placing you firmly in the present.” Her eyes contain a sparkle of hope.

Convincing Vi to start therapy again was no easy feat. It took begging, pleading, and ultimately an intervention from Liza and I to get her to agree to one session. Thank God for that because her and the new therapist were a match made in heaven. She’s makingrealprogress. She even admitted to talking to Ryan again as friends. Everything he did was for his mom’s medical bills. He acted on what he thought was right at the time. Although I hated him for it, taking a step back helped me realize that I may have done the same thing in his position. As much as I hate the idea of Ryan Shane anywhere near Violet after the stunt he pulled, at one time he would have done anything for her. Maybe that will come back. She claims he’s working on himself, too, and he’s happier than he’s ever been. I hope so.

“I’m proud of you, Vi. It’s hard to be brave and admit you need help, but you did it and look at you now.” I ruffle her hair in a way she can’t stand to mess with her.

“Thank you for never giving up on me.” Tears well in her eyes. “Grandpa is beaming down in awe at the man you became.”

Shoot, now I’m getting teary eyed.

“I hope he is.”

“He would love Liza, too.” She laughs cupping her hands around her mouth. “Those two would gang up on you.”

“Maybe he sent her. . .for me.”

Before she can cry anymore, she envelopes me into the tightest hug and squeezes for extra support. “I know he did.”

A loud thumping pounds three times on the door. Violet pushes off my chest with a smirk. She’s up to something. I hope she ordered wings. Stretching as I get off the couch, I open the door expecting our usual food delivery driver, but instead, I’m wrapped up by the blonde bombshell who stole my heart.

“Honey, I’m home!” Her voice rings in my ear as I process who bolts from the door and becomes twisted in my arms.

“Goldie,” I roll off my tongue. “What are you doing here?”

Unwrapping her legs from my waist, she plops in front of me, never unhooking her hands from my neck. She mindlessly fiddles with the ends of my hair. “Surprise! I came back early. Vi knew, but I swore her to secrecy.”

Glancing back at where I left her on the couch, Vi scrunches her legs to her chest and wraps her arm around them. The smug look on her face is all the evidence I need.

“I’m glad you’re back, but are you sure you won’t miss cutting your time short at home?”

She kisses my lips as my hands roam to her curvy hips where they’ve made permanent indents. “Home is where theHartis.” Giggling at her word choice, I press my forehead to hers.

“Say it again.”

Her nose scrunches up and her pouty lips pucker in defiance. “You’re always forcing my feelings out more than once.”

“So.” I bite her neck hard enough to leave a mark. “What.” I polish off her sweet skin with my tongue roaming from her collarbone up to her chin. “I have something for you.” Guiding her in the apartment, Violet gives her a quick hug and retreats into her bedroom.

“A present?” Her eyes gleam with anticipation.

“Close your eyes.” I tip toe into the kitchen and reach to the back of an empty drawer. The little box is the only thing lying inside. I’ve wanted to do this for a while, but also didn’t want to come across as the crazed guy that moves at lightning speed. She rocks nervously back and forth from her heels to her toes. A mischievous grin written across her face. “On the count of three. One, two. . .” Before I make it to three, her crystal eyes flutter open, now framed with thick mascara across her long eyelashes.

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