Page 81 of Merry Mayhem
I realize I’m not breathing, and I force myself to take a deep inhale of oxygen.
“You look fantastic,” Josh says, his deep voice, low and reassuring.
She does. Violet is beautiful, even only one day post-coma.
She tucks her hair behind her ear. “Thanks.” She’s acting almost shy.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a crowd gathering around us. The entire town. Of course.
Violet has lived here her whole life. Everyone knows her. This entire town has been worried about her, and I’m sure they are thrilled to see her.
The crowd also includes her ex. Sam and Ashley are about ten feet away and can likely hear everything. They can certainly see everything now that Josh and Violet are center stage.
Which is good.
Probably.
This entire thing, with Josh being here for Merry Mayhem in the first place, is because Sam is here with Ashley.
It’s dramatic, and happy, and worthy of a TV Christmas movie.
I nudge Josh with my elbow.
Thankfully, he’s a very smart man, and he instantly understands.
He steps forward with a big grin and enfolds Violet in a hug.
She seems to sag in relief, wrapping her arms around his waist and squeezing tight.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she says to him.
“I’m glad you’re here too,” he tells her.
“Thank you so much for doing Merry Mayhem anyway,” she says.
They’re speaking softly enough now that I am probably the only one who can hear them.
“Of course. I made you a promise,” Josh says.
Violet pulls back and looks up at him with a sweet smile. “I’ve been thinking, my family has told me all about how great you’ve been with everything, and how much they love you, and how fun all of this is. And I think…” She wet her lips, then says in a rush, “We should do this for real.”
I stiffen, my gaze flying to Josh’s face.
He is clearly surprised, but he quickly covers it. “Do what?”
“Date. For real.”
Then my sister lifts up on tiptoe and presses her lips to Josh’s.
CHAPTER 16
JOSH
Well.
Shit.
That is not how a man should react when a beautiful woman is kissing him, of course. Especially when that woman is supposed to be hisgirlfriend.
