Bayside escape, p.21
Bayside Escape, page 21
“Oh…” Desiree’s brow furrowed. “I thought you knew them better. But you were sleeping with Justin and you kept him a secret.”
“I only slept with Justin once since moving to the Cape, and I told you about it.”
“He was the one you tried to…” Desiree’s cheeks pinked up. “Eff Andre out of your system with?”
Violet nodded, smiling at her sister’s innocence. “And never again.”
“But Emery said he was long-dong naked man.”
“Yes, she saw him naked, but we didn’t have sex. He’s a good friend, and when I needed someone to hold me, he was there. When I needed a safe place to try to start over, he let me use his studio to sculpt.”
“But that’s another thing I don’t understand. You have a studio here. Why would you hide the fact that you sculpt? How is that any different from pottery or the batik work you do?”
Violet told her about how Andre had taught her to sculpt and how their love of art had sparked what became the deepest connection she’d ever known. She even admitted that she’d only made love to him one night during their three months together.
Desiree’s jaw dropped open. “But you pushed me to have sex with Rick after we’d only just met.”
“Yeah, well, you needed it. And I didn’t push you to have sex. I pushed you to make love, because loving Andre had taught me the difference. You knew the value of sex. It has always been sacred and special to you. But to me it was an outlet and not at all what it should have been. Until I met Andre. And, Des, before we even made love, he made me feel so much, so good, that I lost my edge. Like, totally lost it. I became…you. Soft and girlie. Not that that’s a bad thing. You know I adore you, but it scared the hell out of me. For the first time in my entire life, I realized the difference between being with a guy and being intimately in love with a man. I knew making love with him would wreck me. Which it did. And then the bastard proposed, and you know the rest.” She paused, feeling like a great weight had been lifted from her chest, and said, “But don’t worry. We’ve more than made up for those three months.”
Desiree smiled. “No details, please.”
“I met his parents,” Violet said. “They were kind and funny and accepting. They adore him so much, like Ted adores you. I have never met a couple that has been together that long and still has so much love and respect for each other. I didn’t really think it was possible.”
“But you believe in me and Rick, and Dean and Emery, and—”
“Hey, I never said I wasn’t fucked up.”
“You don’t have to use the f-bomb,” Desiree said.
“I kind of do sometimes,” Violet said with a smile. “But there’s more I need to share with you.”
Desiree closed her eyes and took hold of Violet’s hand between them on the bed. “Okay. I’m ready.”
She told her about the coffeehouse and her friends there. “Like Justin’s studio, it started as an escape, but Andre helped me see what I hadn’t before. I think I created two separate worlds in case I lost one.”
More tears slipped from Desiree’s eyes. “That’s so sad.”
“Yeah, but what’s worse is that I hurt you in the process. It would be easy to blame it on our past, but I take full responsibility. I fucked up, and I can only use Lizza’s taking me away, and Ted’s letting her, for so long.”
Desiree turned onto her side and leaned on her elbow. “What do you mean Ted’s letting her?”
“He let me go, but that’s whatever it is. I don’t want to get lost in the past. I really want to try to move forward.”
Desiree bolted upright. “Is that what Lizza told you? That he just let you go?”
“No.”
“Well, good, because he fought for you. He got lawyers and everything, but Lizza wouldn’t relinquish her parental rights. You were the one they both wanted. He just couldn’t win the legal battle.”
Violet sat up slowly, feeling dizzy. “How do you know that?”
“Because he was a mess after Lizza took you away from us. We both were. How could you think he’d do something like that?” Desiree crossed her arms, glaring at Violet. “Whenever Lizza breezed into town with you, our worlds stopped. He’d stay home from work and buy all sorts of art stuff and toys for you, and then she’d steal you away after a day or two and we’d both be left in tears.”
Tears poured from Violet’s eyes, and she felt herself smiling. “He wanted me?”
“Yes, and I have to admit, when I was little I was kind of mad at you for it.”
“Oh shit, Des. I’m sorry. That was selfish of me to say it like that.”
“No, it wasn’t. Lizza was right when she said I was better off with him. She loves me, in her own way.” Desiree flopped onto her back and said, “Rick and I better rethink the whole having a family thing. It’s too complicated.”
Violet lay beside her, still reeling from what Desiree had said about Ted wanting her. “You and Rick are solid. You didn’t inherit any of Lizza’s craziness.”
Desiree took her hand again and said, “Neither did you. We have our own brand of crazy.”
“I really am sorry, Des. I never meant to hurt you, and I know it’ll take time before you trust me again. But I’m in a better place now, and I won’t let you down again.”
“Thank you. I love you, too.” She wiped her eyes and said, “Andre is good for you.”
“You have no idea how good,” Violet said with a smirk.
“Violet! I didn’t mean that.”
“Neither did I, but I love your reaction.” She laughed. “He is good for me. He doesn’t let me hide, and I have no idea why he even gave me the time of day when he came here, but I’m so fucking glad he did. I can’t imagine my life without him in it.”
“Is this when you tell me that you’re going away with him?”
“No. I mean, I want to go with him, but I’d never abandon you like that, especially after all this.”
“So you’re just going to let him leave?” Desiree’s brows knitted. “What is wrong with you?”
“I have roots for the first time, and it feels good. We have friends, the inn. Andre and I will be fine.”
“Oh, really? Like I was fine when Rick went back to DC? Don’t you remember what you said to me? You told me that I could live without you because I’d done it for years, but that I couldn’t live without him. You were right. You’re the reason I chased after him. You promised me that you were my blood and you’d be here for me no matter what.”
“I remember.” Desiree had been a mess without Rick.
“You’re really good at getting everyone else to see what they need to do, and you’re never afraid to tell it like it is. Now it’s your turn, Vi. You love Andre, and by the looks of your sappy ass”—Desiree’s cheeks pinked up with the curse—“you won’t be okay without him.” She scooted closer so they were nose to nose and fished the necklace Violet had given her from around her neck. “This is us. Infinite strength, protection, and unity. The rings move freely but are forever connected. No matter where we are, we’ll always have each other.”
“I know, but I’m not sure I can leave.”
“If you don’t go with him, a huge piece of your heart will be thousands of miles away. Just because you put down roots doesn’t mean it’s where you are meant to stay forever. Sisters and friends move away all the time to start their lives, have families, travel. We’ve found each other, and I will always be here for you,” Desiree assured her. “All of us will. No matter where life takes us, we’ll always have each other.”
“But the inn—”
“I’ll hire someone to help run it, the same way you offered when I went after Rick. I know you’re afraid that if you leave things will never be the same again, but you’re wrong. We’re not little girls anymore being torn apart by our mother. We’re solid. So please get your tattooed, cursing ass out of my room and tell your man you’ll go with him.”
Violet laughed and pushed to her feet, pulling Desiree up with her. “You said ass twice today.”
“See? You need to leave before you have me cursing like a sailor.”
“Thank you for not hating me.” Violet put her arms around Desiree, hugging her.
Desiree held her tighter. “You’re hugging me! Are pigs flying? Have the cows come home?”
“Shut up.” She pulled back and said, “I need your help with something.”
“If you think I’m going to be the one to tell our friends about your secret life, you’re nuts. They’ll give you so much grief.”
“Not that. Spend the day with me?”
“The day? You’ve never asked me to spend an entire day with you before.”
“Put some clothes on before I change my mind.”
“I had a hard night. I have to shower.” Desiree opened a drawer and pulled out a pair of jeans.
Violet grinned and said, “All sexed up despite our fight? Way to go, Rick.”
“No! Geez.” Desiree gathered the rest of her clothes. “What did Andre think of the sex shop? Wait. Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”
“You know what? We never got around to going, but now that you mention it…”
“Oh boy. Should I warn the neighbors? Pass out earplugs?” Desiree headed for the bathroom. “And I’m not getting on your motorcycle.”
“My day, my rules.”
Desire smiled and said, “There’s the stubborn sister I know and love.”
Chapter Eighteen
ANDRE SAT AT a table in the back of Common Grounds at exactly seven o’clock that evening, wringing his hands and trying not to think the worst. He was thrilled that Violet had decided to spend the day with Desiree, but other than a text asking him to meet her at the coffeehouse at seven, he hadn’t heard from her all day.
“What can I get you to drink, big guy?” Gabe handed him a menu, then tried to tame a few wild red tendrils that had escaped the elastic she’d secured them with at the base of her neck.
“I’ll have a ginger chai, thanks.”
“One Violet Special coming up.” She winked and headed for the bar area.
There was a commotion at the door, and he looked over, hoping it was Violet, but it was Steph, Dwayne, and Cory, giving Elliot high fives as they came in. Elliott pointed to Andre. Andre waved, though he’d have liked at least a few minutes alone with Violet before being inundated with friends. Steph strode toward him, looking worried, twisting the ends of her hair, which was now streaked with bright blue. Cory followed her with an easy smile, and Dwayne hung back, talking to Elliott, then jogged to catch up.
“Hey, dude.” Cory flicked his chin, and his bangs swung away from his eyes, then fell right back over them. “These seats taken? Vi texted and asked us to meet her here.”
She did? “Uh, no. Have a seat.”
“She said she needed us tonight,” Steph explained. “I thought maybe you were leaving town early and she was bummed, but she said you’re not leaving until next weekend.”
“Engagement announcement?” Dwayne asked, taking the seat beside Cory. “Because if it is, I want to know what drugs you gave that woman to get her to agree.”
Everyone except Andre laughed.
“No, definitely not that type of announcement. I have no idea why she asked you to come. She and her sister had a rough time yesterday, but I thought they made up today. They spent the day together. Maybe something went sour and she needs your support.” If that were true, it would sting like hell. Wasn’t supporting her his job?
Gabe brought his drink, and as she took orders from the others Andre watched the entrance, wishing Violet would show up. The sculpture she’d made sat on a table by the front door. Had she told Desiree about that particular part of her life, too?
Man, he hoped things hadn’t gone bad between them.
He and Violet would be fine in a long-distance relationship, even if every day apart seemed like a year. But not being with Violet while she worked through a hard time with Desiree? Knowing she might be heartbroken or scared? That would be torture.
The front door opened and he watched hopefully, but Justin walked in. Elliott pointed him in Andre’s direction. Rowan and Joni came in behind him. Fuck. Something was definitely wrong.
“What’s up, dude?” Justin set a hand on Andre’s shoulder and nodded to the others.
“Did Vi text you?” Dwayne asked.
“Yeah. Why? Did she text y’all, too?”
There was a collective “Yeah” from the group as Joni ran over with a beaming smile and said, “Hi, jelly beans!”
Everyone greeted her with silly comments as Rowan scooped her up and sat down with her on his lap.
Justin pulled out a chair beside Dwayne and said, “So, what’s going on? Vi just said she needed me and to find Andre when I got here.”
Andre splayed his hands. “I have no idea. She texted me and said to meet her here at seven. I didn’t know she’d asked you guys to meet her, too.”
There was more commotion by the front door and they all looked over. Desiree and Rick walked in, followed by Drake, Serena, Dean, and Emery. Rick spoke to Elliott, who called Rod over and pointed to Andre and the others. As Rod headed for them, Mira walked in, cradling baby Holly, followed by Matt, holding Hagen’s hand. They all looked across the room toward Andre, who was completely baffled.
“Hey, can I get some help with this?” Rod said as he pushed another table toward theirs. “El said Vi wants you all together. Looks like we need to add a few more tables.”
The guys helped him push several tables together, and he heard Justin say, “Gavin, Chloe, and Daphne just got here. And, dude, Daphne has a baby.”
“Yeah, a little girl. Hadley.” Andre looked up as Violet’s other friends approached.
Desiree was smiling, but she was also nervously biting her lower lip, while tucked safely beneath Rick’s arm.
“Daddy! Who are all these people?” Joni asked loudly. Rowan whispered something to her and Joni said, “She has lots of friends!”
Andre stood to greet Desiree and said, “I thought you were with Vi?”
“We went our separate ways hours ago. She said she had stuff to do.” Desiree leaned closer and said, “This is the place she told me about? Are those her other friends? Are they nice?”
Andre nodded. “They’re great. But how are you and Vi? Are you okay? Do you know why she asked everyone to come?”
“We’re more than okay, and I have no idea,” Desiree said. “She texted us all separately.”
“Dude, move over,” Dwayne said to Justin. Then he waved to the open chairs between them and said, “Single women over here.”
“That’s us, Daph!” Chloe snagged the chair beside Justin.
Gavin pulled out a chair between Daphne and Steph and said, “How about single dudes? Does this work?”
“Hell yes.” Steph grabbed his shirt and tugged him down beside her. She leaned closer and said, “I’m Steph, and you smell amazing.”
Everyone began claiming seats and introducing themselves at once. Rod headed up to the stage and played his guitar. As the others settled in, Hagen entertained them with stories of his first few weeks of school. Gabe brought a high chair for Hadley, and then took everyone’s orders.
“So you don’t know why we’re here either?” Desiree asked, looking around the café. “This looks like someplace Violet would enjoy. She told me about it, and her friends here. I can’t believe she’s had this whole other life for so long. She took me to meet some of the kids she works with at the hospital, and to see Justin’s studio. I saw the beautiful sculpture you guys made for Erin’s parents.”
“I’m glad,” Andre said. “I’m sorry it was so hard for both of you at first. Violet loves you. She loves all of you very much.”
Desiree put her hand on his arm and said, “You don’t have to explain. She told me everything. I’m glad she had this place, and I’m glad she has you.”
“What else did you two do today?” And why haven’t I heard from her?
Desiree’s cheeks pinked up. She turned her back to the others at the table and pulled the neckline of her sweater to the side, exposing a heart tattoo that was half orange and half purple. “Violet has one over her heart, too. Orange is my favorite color, and well, the purple is for Vi, of course. I had the idea to get sister tattoos, but Violet suggested we get a tattoo that matched the one Lizza has.”
That surprised Andre, but then again, he hadn’t expected Violet to show Desiree the studio or take her to meet the children she worked with. As he looked around the table, he wondered what else she had up her sleeve.
Rick leaned back with pride in his eyes and said, “My wife’s a badass.”
“If you think about it,” Desiree said, “it makes sense that we should honor Lizza, too. She might have made our lives harder, but how can we really know what they would have been like if she hadn’t taken Vi away? Besides, Lizza is the reason we reconnected, and she brought Rick and me together. She closed the distance between you and Violet, too. She’ll always be our mother, and despite her crazy antics, we love her. We just don’t want to become her.”
Gabe brought everyone’s drinks and took their dinner orders. Andre wanted to ask Desiree if Violet had mentioned going away with him, but he had a feeling she would have already said something if she had.
After ordering, he asked Gabe if she’d heard from Violet. “I’m beginning to get a little worried that something might have happened to her.”
Gabe smiled and said, “This is Violet, remember? Nobody’s dumb enough to mess with her. She’ll show up when she’s good and ready.”
As she said the words, Rod stopped strumming his guitar, and Andre glanced up just in time to see Violet strutting down the hall from the kitchen wearing a bright red leather miniskirt with a zipper running down the center of it from the waist to the hem. A low-cut black shirt hung off one of her shoulders and had the words daughter, sister, friend, lover listed in white down the front, with a bright red slash through each one, and below them, written in red, was BADASS BITCH. Her leather biker boots announced each step with a thud, and her sexy green eyes were locked on Andre as she strode up to the mic.
