Page 82 of Merry Mayhem

---

But that’s exactly what this situation calls for.

This is Violet, not Thea. I should not be kissing anyone but Thea. Ever.

Fuck.

What can I do, though?

This entire town, her entire family, thinks we’re together.Shethinks we’re together, or, I guess, that we should be, and since I haven’t had a chance to talk to her about it, so…

I go with it.

Even as I’m cringing inside.

I do not prolong the kiss, though. It’s five seconds, maybe.

Despite the pressure of her hand on the back of my head, I disengage. “We need to talk about this,” I say quietly.

I’m very aware that Sam and Ashley are standing only a few feet away.

Everyone is. I don’t want to expose this as a lie to anyone without talking to Violet first, but definitely not in front of the ex.

“Sure, I can’t wait,” Violet says, her smile bright.

“Okay, Casanova, we need to go,” Muriel says, tugging on my sleeve.

Thank goodness.

Violet lets me go. I immediately look for Thea, but she’s turned away and is in discussion with Patty, I assume about their strategy for the upcoming race.

I follow Muriel to the starting line, and she sits down in her sparkly pink cart. “You better focus,” she says, giving me a frown.

“What do you mean? I’m focused.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t have time for you to work through a love triangle while I’m trying to win this obstacle course.”

“It’s not a love triangle,” I insist. I look side to side. We cannothave people think that. “It’s not…like that.”

“Now you’re just insulting me,” Muriel says, adjusting her goggles and wiggling on her cushions. “I’ve seen how you look at Thea.”

Dammit.

“How do I look at Thea?”

“Like she’s everything you ever asked Santa for,” Muriel says.

Well…fuck. That’s exactly how she makes me feel.

“You’re smiling like I’m brilliant,” Muriel says.

“You’re…insightful,” I say.

She points a finger at me. “Stoplooking at your girlfriend’s sister like that.”

“It’s not like that,” I say again.

“Then stop kissing your girlfriend,” she says.

I sigh. “I’ve never kissed Violet. Well, before just now. It’s complicated, Muriel.”

---