Page 36 of Crash
Violet smiled, something that was becoming more and more frequent, and I found myself dazed for a moment. Turning, I left her room, went downstairs and let myself out. It wasn’t until I was outside and in my car that I realized I should’ve said something like ‘I had a good time’, but I didn’t say anything.
I just drove away.
**
Days had passed since the night I’d stayed over at Violet’s, and things were a little better. She didn’t shy away as much, and I actually saw her leave the office once in a while.
I’d taken to coming in early because sitting at home didn’t float my boat, and it afforded me peace and quiet to work on the exercises the physiotherapist gave me without eyes watching. I was pretty easy going, but I took pride in my fighting, and being sidelined because of a stupid mistake fuckin’ hurt. Didn’t need an audience for that.
My phone began to ring, muffled inside my gym bag, and I put down the weight I was working with and fished around for it. I saw Dean’s name on the screen, and I pressed my finger on the answer button.
“Hey.”
“Hey, bro. How’s the shoulder?”
Ikindamissed my brother. We’d never spent this much time apart before, and he was my other half.Split in two in the fuckin’ womb.Maybe that’s why we were so different. I got one half of the brain, the logical part, and Dean got the artistic side. It would account for a lot.
“Much the same,” I replied. “How are you goin’?”
“Haven’t you been watching? I’ve been kicking ass.”
“I haven’t got time to sit around and watch your stupid ass on TV,” I said petulantly.
“Oh, that’s right, you’ve got ajob.”
“Fuck off.”
“How’s it going there? Any hot chicks?”
I frowned,glad he couldn’t see me. Hot chicks would be the motherfuckin’ death of me.
“Dude.”
“Shut it, Dean,” I snapped.
“Dude, you need to get laid.”
Little did he know I already had, but unfortunately, it was with the wrongwoman.
“The job’s going fine,” I retorted. “I’m helping train two up and comers and Ash’s gone away and left me in charge.”
“Ash fucking Fuller left you in charge?”
I shook my head. “Why are you so surprised? You know I’m the brains of this outfit.”
“Never thought I’d see the day.”
The sound of the back door slamming drew my attention, and I glanced up, hoping it was Violet coming in early. “How’s Josie?”
There was a pause.
“Dean?”
“She’s cool. You know how she gets. Slave driver to the max.”
I stilled as Violet came into view. She looked pretty today in a black blazer and little skinny jeans, her hair out and wavy, spilling around her shoulders and down her back. Her lips were red with lipstick, and my mind instantly went to the gutter.
“Linc?”
