Page 68 of Against All Odds

She shakes her head and pops part of a brownie in her mouth, making the sexiest moan ever. “I swear, chocolate can solve any problem.”

I clear my throat and try not to picture that sound as something else in her mouth. “If only that was true.” I would use it daily if I believed it could do anything to help the people in my life.

“I mean, I guess it can’t solve them, but it does make it better.” Violet leans her head on the couch cushion. “I ate a lot of chocolate ... like, a lot in the days after Dylan’s affair broke. Ana actually was worried at one point.”

Talking about her ex-to-be husband after fucking her brains out isn’t exactly high on my list of things to do, but I’m not sure where or what this thing is going to be, so I might as well say it now.

“Is there any chance of you going back to him?” I do my best to sound like the answer really doesn’t matter, which it shouldn’t. She’s not mine anymore. She hasn’t been for a long time.

Violet’s eyes lock onto mine, and the steel in her voice is impressive. “Not ever.”

“Because he cheated?”

She shakes her head. “No. Because I don’t want to be with him. Yes, the affair was the catalyst, but there was so much wrong in our marriage that I was just pretending wasn’t there. He’s selfish, beyond measure. He even called to ask me to comeback to LA becausewehave a PR problem. Apparently the stories aren’t painting him in the best light.”

What the fuck? “He asked you to come help?”

“Yup.”

“I’m hoping you said no.”

Violet smiles. “I said unequivocally no.” She takes another bite and then continues: “Then the idiot got engaged. Not sure how that is supposed to help him, but it’s not my issue. Being back there is too much for me. I don’t fit in there. You can’t even begin to imagine the things people say about me. Things that are cruel and horrific.”

“About you?”

What the hell can anyone say bad about her? She’s beautiful, smart, kind, and has a heart of gold.

Her sigh causes my chest to ache. “Anytime they posted a picture of us on the red carpet or at a premiere, the comments on those photos would make me sob for hours. I did my best not to look, I really did, but there were times I couldn’t avoid it. People who don’t know me just ... ripping me apart. When the affair broke, I wouldn’t even open my phone unless it was a text message, but one of my college friends sent me a screenshot, and I literally was sick.”

I lean forward, my hand resting against the side of her neck. “Those people are fucking idiots.”

“Maybe, but the comment was so gross, so unkind. I didn’t deserve him cheating because I’m a fat bitch. I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t do anything to him. No one deserves this kind of humiliation. If he was unhappy, he could’ve just said the word and ended it. I would’ve been sad, sure, but not mortified at the same time.”

“Violet, it’s his embarrassment.”

She snorts. “Apparently it’s mine. I’m the villain in this story. I didn’t satisfy him. I was too controlling. I was too plain. I wastoo ugly. I didn’t give him what he needed, and of course he should’ve gone elsewhere. Do you have your phone?” she asks.

“It’s over there.”

She reaches around me, grabbing it. “Here, open a social media site.”

“I don’t . . .”

“It’s fine. I have chocolate.” Her voice is soft and encouraging.

Still, it feels like a trap. You know, when your mother would tell you to go ahead, do what you wanted, but you knew that if you did what you wanted, you’d be in trouble. Women are always good at those.

I give her a side-eye and decide not to open the phone. “I don’t need to see what they say about you, I know the truth. I’ve also learned that people who don’t have any influence in your life don’t matter. People can say what they want, because at the end of the day, we all just do the best we can. I make mistakes, you make mistakes, but isn’t that the point of life?”

Her gaze softens. “Maybe I don’t need chocolate. I just need to record that and play it back.”

“If you tell anyone I said that, I’ll deny it. I have an image to uphold.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“The evasive bachelor who is sarcastic and nothing bothers him.”

Violet snorts a laugh. “And how is that working for you?”

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