Page 41 of Wallflower
“Mm?”
I lean in at the same time she does and swallow as her eyes drift shut. Our mouths move closer so slowly, but I don’t want to rush it. Closer… closer still… until her breath caresses my lips, and I let them part, ready to—
“Hello! Where is everyone?”
At the sound of Daisy shouting downstairs, Violet springs back and then spins away. I run a hand through my hair, confused and unbalanced. And unsatisfied.
My heart races, and I clear my throat to get Violet’s attention, but she doesn’t turn to look at me. With a tight, heavy stomach, I realize the moment has passed, and with my sister stomping around the house, there’s no way to save it now.
“I’ll tell Daisy you’re here,” I mutter before leaving the room.
I replay the almost-kiss as I pass my sister on the stairs, who’s lugging up an armful of clothes still attached to hangers, as well as a small suitcase. I scan them, consider carrying them up for her, and then decide not to. This tiny blonde party girl is thereason my mouth isn’t on Violet’s this very minute, so I’m not feeling particularly helpful.
“Violet’s in the last bedroom on the left,” I tell Daisy before slipping past her.
“Thanks, bro.”
I don’t know where I’m headed until I reach the gym, but all I do is step into the room, look around, and walk straight back out again. I head to the living room at the front of the house instead and sit on the sofa, where I have the best view of the front door. I don’t even know why I’m here other than I want to see Violet before she leaves. Get one last fix of her before I’m in this house all alone.
Something is sparking between us. Something alive and exciting and almost innocent. And after all of Violet’s talk about dreams and desires and the price she’d have to pay to chase them, I’m determined to show her that when it comes to me, there’s no cost attached to taking what she wants.
nineteen
Violet
DAY 18 AT SILVER LEAF... ONLY 68 TO GO
Daisy appears at mybedroom door, drops a stack of dresses on the bed with a satisfied grunt, then drags a compact suitcase up onto the mattress next to them. She unzips it and flings the lid open, then considers her delivery with her hands on her hips.
“This is nearly everything I own. There’s got to be something in here that’ll make every man at The Tipple take one look at us then proceed to cry into his beer for the rest of the night.”
I watch her. I hear her. But I don’tseeher. My heart beats too fast to be healthy, and my thoughts are two minutes in the past, frozen at the exact moment Chord was close enough that we breathed the same air. Warm, delicious air from warm, delicious lips that would have brushed mine if… if…
My eyes focus on Daisy, and with her halo of golden waves and impish grin, she’s impossible to hate. Even if she did interrupt the most romantic moment of my life.
Her expression folds into concern as she comes over and clasps my hand. Tight. “Are you okay? Please don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind. I’ve been looking forward to this all week.”
I laugh a little. “No. I haven’t changed my mind. I was just… thinking about other things.”
Her mouth purses to one side as she arches one eyebrow. “Like my brother?”
Warmth tingles across my cheekbones. “Is it that obvious?”
“A little, but it’s not your fault. He came flying down those stairs like I’d caught him doing something he shouldn’t be doing.” Her eyes twinkle as she drops her head to one side. “Something like his assistant?”
I stare at her blankly until her words make sense. “What? No! I mean, we were dancing, and he leaned in a little, and then…”
Daisy drops her chin expectantly. “And then… you kissed him?”
“No.” The blush burns hotter as I admit, “Not yet.”
I’ve grown to know Daisy a little better over the last week. She’s brought Izzy around twice more since that afternoon on the back porch, and Chord’s baby sister is so vibrant and sweet that I could listen to her talk for hours. She’s shown me her tattoos, shared pictures of her hair in a hundred different shades of pink, purple, and blue, and told me about the locations she’s been all over the world.
Daisy is my polar opposite and genuinely scandalized that I have no body art, have never dyed my hair, and have never traveled further than the west coast. And while I haven’t been nearly as forthcoming with her about my own life—compared to Daisy’s adventures, mine is a sad lot ofnot muchandnot quite—Ihavetold her a little about Courtney and the boyfriend I had for five minutes in college. She declared me too good for both of them.
I like her, and I love the way she just assumes I know how to do…this. Talk. Listen. Relax. Enjoy her company. Share my secrets.
Daisy shakes her head and turns to the bed, tossing clothes left and right. “While I’dloveto talk about my brother for hours”—the eye roll she throws my way underscores her sarcasm, just in case I missed it—“there are more important things to worry about right now, like what are we going to wear tonight?” She throws a shimmery silver skirt to one side with a sigh. “I’ve worn everything at least a dozen times, and none of it makes me feel good anymore. I need to go shopping.”
