Page 57 of Loving Violet
Me: Hi! How are you?
Immediately, he is typing a reply.
Austin: Hi, beautiful. I’m much better now that I have heard from you.
Me: Do you have any plans for today?
Austin: I was planning on visiting my parents. Why?
Me: Because Adrian’s dad came and picked him up. He’s staying with him until Monday. I was wondering if you would like to come and have dinner with me?
Austin: What time do you want me to arrive?
Me: Whenever you want. I’ll be here alone all day.
Austin: Then, I will head your way in a few. I can see my parents later.
Austin: I want to see you
Me: Ok
I smile at his quick response and feel butterflies in my stomach. I start thinking about what to make for dinner, wanting to impress him. After a quick check of my pantry for some fresh ingredients, I start cooking. Deciding on a simple meal, I make grilled salmon with a lemon-butter sauce, roasted vegetables, and a fresh garden salad. For dessert, I grab a bottle of wine from my fridge and lay out a platter of some fresh strawberries.
When the food is ready and the wine is coming to room temperature, I go to my room and take the fastest shower in the history of showers. I also shave everything! Drying off quickly, I get dressed in a simple sundress. I apply a little bit of blush and lipgloss. Looking at myself in the mirror, I notice how happy I look. I feel like a new person. I don’t even recognize myself. I look…happy.
Chapter 21
Violet
As I’m settingthe table, I hear a knock on the door. My heart races a little as I walk over to open it. Austin stands there, looking as handsome as ever, with a bouquet of assorted flowers in his hand. He’s wearing fitted black jeans, highlighting his muscular legs, and a blue shirt that perfectly complements his eyes. The shirt is rolled up at the sleeves, revealing his strong forearms, and the top few buttons are undone, giving him a relaxed, yet incredibly attractive, look.
“For you,” he says with a warm smile, handing me the flowers.
“Thank you,” I say, taking the flowers and stepping aside to let him in. “You didn’t have to bring anything.”
“I wanted to,” he replies, leaning in to give me a quick kiss on the cheek. “It smells amazing in here.”
“I hope you’re hungry,” I say, leading him to the dining room.
“I’m starving,” he says with heat in his voice as he looks around my home. “Your place is beautiful, Violet.”
“Thanks,” I say, blushing a little. “It’s still a work in progress. I’m very fortunate Josy has this place and is letting me stay.”
We sit down to dinner, and the conversation flows as naturally as the wine in our glasses. We talk about everything—our childhoods, our dreams, our favorite books and movies. I learn that Austin loves classic literature, and has a soft spot for old black-and-white films, especially comedies.
“You don’t strike me as the type,” I tease, smiling over the rim of my glass.
“Hey, don’t judge a book by its cover,” he replies with a mock-serious expression. “Charlie Chaplin and It Happened One Night are timeless. Pure genius.”
“If you say so,” I say, laughing.
The conversation shifts as he tells me more about his time in the Army. There’s a slight change in his demeanor—almost a mix of pride and vulnerability as he speaks.
“It was hard being so far away from my family,” he begins, his fork idly pushing a piece of roasted broccoli across his plate. “But I wanted to explore the world and get a degree without racking up debt. That’s really what made me join the Army. Don’t get me wrong, though—I ended up loving a lot about it. The discipline, the workouts, the sweat, the sense of purpose…but most of all, the camaraderie. There’s nothing like it. You eat together, fight together, laugh together, it’s a bond like no other.”
“Did you get stationed anywhere dangerous?” I ask, genuinely curious.
He nods slowly, taking a sip of water before continuing.
