Page 84 of Loving Violet
Violet: Hey, Megan came to the coffee shop and insulted me. I'm okay, but that woman is horrible.
Me: I’m so sorry. I really don’t understand what's wrong with her. I've never given her any hope that we will be together.
Me: I will fix it beautiful. See you at lunch.
Puttingmy phone in my pocket, I take a deep breath. Adjusting my bag on my shoulder, I say goodbye to Liza with a quick wave and head to my car. The engine hums to life, and as I drive through Honey Springs, the sun casts a golden glow over the familiar streets.
A few minutes later, I pull into the parking lot of the town hall, the historic brick building standing tall against the clear blue sky. Its arched windows and white columns radiate a sense of permanence and tradition, but today, I’m here to disrupt the status quo.
Lily, the town hall receptionist, greets me with a bright smile as I walk in. Her desk is neatly arranged, a bowl of colorful mints sitting at the edge.
“Hi, Austin. How are you?” she asks, her voice as cheerful as ever.
“Hi, Lily. I’m good. Can you tell me if Megan is in her office?” I ask, keeping my tone even. Megan is the daughter of the mayor and a constant thorn in my side, and she’s about to get a piece of my mind.
“Yes, you can go right in,” Lily replies, her smile faltering just slightly as she senses the seriousness in my tone.
“Thanks, Lily.”
The hallway leading to Megan’s office is quiet except for the echo of my boots on the polished floor. Sunlight filters through the high windows, painting the walls with patches of light and shadow. When I reach her door, I knock firmly.
Inside, Megan is at her desk, filing her nails while a Netflix show plays on her laptop. She doesn’t even try to hide it. Her gaze shifts lazily to me, and a smug smile spreads across her face as she swivels her chair to face me.
“Very busy, I see,” I say, sarcasm dripping from my words.
“Hi, Austin,” she replies, her tone saccharine and fake. “What brings you to my office?” Her eyes gleam with ambition, a calculated sparkle that only irritates me further.
“I’m here because you’ve been messing with my girlfriend,” I say, crossing my arms. “I want to talk to you about your rude comments and the way you act toward Violet.”
“Don’t tell me she ran crying to you. What is she, five?” Megan retorts, leaning back in her chair with a smirk.
“That’s the same question I was going to ask you,” I fire back, leveling her with a glare. “Let me be clear, Megan. I’ll only say this once. Are you listening?”
She straightens slightly, her smirk faltering. “Yes.”
“I don’t want you, and I will never be with you. What happened between us was a long time ago. When we broke up, I was clear that I was never going back to you. So please, do me a favor and stop harassing my girlfriend. Next time, I won’t be nice.”
“But…but, Austin,” she stammers, her voice rising to a whine. “Come on. Why her? Why not me?”
Her petulance is almost laughable, but it’s more embarrassing than anything else. “Did you forget you tried to hook up with my best friend? Or that you cheated on me with half the grade during the one month we dated in high school? That’s why, Megan. It’s crystal clear. So stop. I don’t appreciate you going behind my back and bad-mouthing Violet.”
I nearly say “the woman I love”, but those words are reserved for Violet, and she’ll hear them first. Without waiting for Megan’s response, I turn on my heel and leave her office.
Behind me, the sound of objects being thrown and Megan’s frustrated yelling echoes through the hallway. Passing Lily’s desk, I catch her smothering a laugh.
“That was fun. Thanks for putting her in her place,” she says, giving me an approving nod.
“You’re welcome. Say hi to Paul for me,” I reply, winking. “And sorry if I made your afternoon rough.”
“Eh, it’s all good,” Lily says with a shrug. “It’s worth it to see Megan losing her shit. I’ll just call a cleaning service to deal with the mess after hours.”
“Good luck with that,” I say, chuckling.
As I head out the door, Lily adds, “For what it’s worth, Violet is amazing. You chose well, and so did she.”
Her words linger as I step outside, the sun warm on my face and the scent of freshly cut grass in the air. A weight lifts from my shoulders. Hopefully, Megan will take the message and leave us alone.
I stroll back to my car, taking in the familiar sights of my town—the kids laughing by the fountain, the elderly couple sitting on a bench, and the vibrant flowers lining the sidewalks. This is home.
