Page 90 of Merry Mayhem
“That’s…actually a new development,” I say. That’s not entirely untrue.
“So things changed between you just since I’ve been in the hospital? But you couldn’t do anything about it because you couldn’t talk to me about it, and you’d already promised to do this with me.”
“Pretty much.”
She laughs lightly and shakes her head. “You’re a really good guy, Josh. I don’t know many guys who would do that.”
“Well, I’ve told her the full truth about the agreement between you and me. And that we barely knew each other. That there aren’t any feelings here.”
“I see.” She frowns. “And she’s agreed to keep that to herself?”
“Yeah, for sure. She understood.”
“Wow, she must be great. And totally trust you. And be totally sure of your feelings.”
“Sheisamazing,” I say. “And I hope she’s sure of my feelings. I will say, she’s a little concerned now, though, about how you and I end this without it still looking bad in front of Sam.”
Violet sighs and shrugs. “You and I just say we broke up. I mean, seeing Sam here with Ashley actually makes me realize that we just weren’t meant to be. And I’m glad we didn’t do something stupid like get married just because we’ve been together for a long time. Or just assumed that that was as good as it was ever going to be.”
I study her. That’s actually a great attitude. “You’re not bothered that he’s here at all?”
She laughs. “I wouldn’t say that. And I think it’s weird that he and Ashley are engaged already. But being in a car accidentand a coma for a couple of days has a way of putting things into perspective. There are way more important things in my life than my ex-boyfriend and his new fiancée.”
“I have to say, I’m still really glad that Chad ended up being a jerk and I was able to step in for Merry Mayhem. I’ve had a great time.”
“Everyone says you have fit right in.” She studies me for a moment. “Does this girlfriend know how great you are?”
I cannot tell her that it’s Thea. These two women have a relationship, and it is up to Thea to tell Violet how she feels and what she wants. I have to follow Muriel’s advice here and let Thea take the lead on this.
But I nod. “I actually think she has very strong feelings for me. I just think she’s…scared.”
“Scared of what?”
I’ve thought about this, and I think I know the answer. Because I’ve felt the same way about the people who are important to me.
“She made some mistakes, and the people she loves were there for her and supported her. But she felt she had to make up for that. So, she’s spent a very long time being dependable, predictable, and taking care of others. She’s always the person everyone thinks she is and expects her to be. I think she’s scared of doing something that will surprise them and might disappoint a few people.”
Violet smiles. “Well, I hope she takes that chance.”
“Yeah?” I hope Violet feels that way when she finds out that she’s one of the people Thea doesn’t want to disappoint.
“For sure. I know personally how great it is to mess up and have the people you love be there for you anyway. So I hope she gets to find that out.”
I really like all of Thea’s family, it turns out. “I really hope she takes that chance too,” I say.
“And I can’t imagine how anyone would think being withyouis some kind of mess-up.”
And I really hope that Violet’s memory is, in fact, fully intact so that she remembers saying that when everything comes out.
The tensionbetween Thea and me—and her stubborn determination not to look at or talk to me—is not a problem during the afternoon Merry Mayhan challenge.
The scavenger hunt takes us all around town, but the pairs are, obviously, split up.
Muriel and I come in third after Thea and Patty in first, and Beckett and Sutton in second place.
This leaves us with the issue of living in the same house and just across the hall from one another. The hallway where I stripped her naked and made her come before taking her into her bedroom and fucking her all night long.
Unfortunately, Thea doesn’t want to relive those memories. Apparently, even in her head.
