Laid Out

by Sidney Halston

  “Stop fidgeting,” JL admonished. Violet had to hand it to JL—she’d been teased just as much as Violet, but she’d never cowered. She’d stood up straight and done her own thing, not caring what anyone thought. Whereas Violet’s defense mechanism was to shy away, JL’s was to get right in your face. One day her hair was down to her waist, and the next day it was short and spikey. One day it was blond; the next it was purple. But she wore it proudly, and it fit her. “I still can’t believe you dry-humped Cain last week.”

  Violet looked around and slumped down. “Shh! I did not dry hump him. I told you we kissed.”

  “You kissed? It sounded a little more than a kiss.”

  “Doesn’t matter. It was obviously a mistake. A mistake that may have ended our friendship.” She felt her eyes water.

  “Don’t you dare cry,” JL told her. “You already did that. Just ’cause he hasn’t called doesn’t mean you aren’t friends anymore.”

  “I feel so stupid. I put myself out there. He kissed me, probably out of pity and then he pushed me away. He probably thought I wanted a relationship or something.” She blotted her eyes, careful not to smudge her makeup. She had been more turned on than ever before that night, and he was so hot and so available, she had put herself out there. All men wanted sex, right? Apparently not Cain, or at least he hadn’t wanted it with her. She hadn’t meant to scare him off.

  “Oh, honey.” JL hugged her tightly for a brief moment. “Sorry I brought it up. No more crying over that moron, okay?”

  “Yeah. You’re right.” She took a deep breath and stood. “I’m going to get another drink.”

  “Good idea,” JL said, walking with Violet to the bar line. “A drink is just what you need.”

  “Relax, sugar,” Travis said as he slipped his arm through Violet’s, surprising her. She hadn’t seen him approach.

  “Yeah, babe. Relax.” JL, who was walking on her right side, hooked her arm through Violet’s other arm. She was sandwiched between the twins in a protective bubble of confidence.

  Before Violet or JL had a chance to order, Travis asked for three shots of tequila. He held them out to the women. “Okay, ladies. Stop with the long faces. Let’s have some fun.” He tipped his head back and downed the drink. JL and Violet clinked their shot glasses together and drank up.

  Travis stopped a waiter and handed Violet and JL each a flute of champagne. “Champagne and tequila? This isn’t going to end well,” Violet said, laughing for the first time in five days. She turned and scanned the crowd. “So, why do you think people come to these things? Most of them seem to have been in contact for years; it’s not like they really need to be reunited.”

  “To show off. Bunch of bitches,” JL said taking a gulp of the champagne.

  “The real question should be, why did you two come?” asked Travis. “And before you look at me, I came because JL begged me to drive. I was ready to ignore the invitation.”

  “I came because your sister made me,” Violet said. “And your sister came because she wanted to see Andy McGuire.”

  “Shut up. I did not.”

  “Oh, shit! I forgot all about McGuire. You had a huge crush on him,” Travis said.

  “Shut your mouth. Both of you.” JL looked around and blushed, something she never ever did. “I did not even remember he existed.” She swallowed the rest of her champagne and placed the glass roughly on a tray as a waiter walked by, grabbing another flute at the same time. “Yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or you can learn from it.”

  “Wow, sis. That was really profound.”

  “I’m deep like that,” JL said, and winked at them.

  “Wait!” Violet was feeling the effect of the bubbly champagne. “Was that from a movie?”

  “Rafiki from The Lion King,” JL told her with a laugh.

  “That monkey was always very insightful,” Violet said.

  “Well, there’s free drinks and food. So eat and drink up, ladies,” Travis said grabbing some fancy hors d’oeuvres from a passing waiter’s tray.

  Violet shifted uncomfortably. “I shouldn’t have listened to you,” she said to JL. “This dress makes me look like Barney the dinosaur.”

  “It does not. You look very pretty,” Travis said.

  “Sugar, you look beautiful,” JL said. “A violet dress for Violet.”

  “Oh my goodness. Please tell me you didn’t dress me like a freakin’ grape because of my name.”

  JL giggled. “No. I actually hadn’t made the connection until right now. But really, you look great.”

  “This dress is just not me,” Violet sighed. “You look sexy and beautiful, but you always look that way, and I look…”

  “Like a sexier version of you,” JL said matter-of-factly. “Did you want to come to this thing in scrubs?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Then hush. You’re always dressing for comfort; when you’re not in scrubs, you’re in sweats. Today you dressed up. Enjoy it. It’s you. It’s the new you. The confident new you that wears shit that shows off all those curves.”

  “Except I’m not confident in this dress.”

  “No one knows that but you. I’ll let you in on a secret, babe. Fake it until you make it. If you stand up straight and own it, you’ll eventually own it for real. You’re not confident in your frumpy wear, Vi. You’re hiding. You’re trying to blend in and live life unnoticed. This dress makes noise. It says, ‘Hey, bitches, look at me. I look good and I didn’t have to pay for my tits and ass.’ So stand up straight. Own that purple dress, grape girl!”

  Violet stood up straight and held her head up high. “Like this?”

  “Just like that. They won’t know what hit ’em.”

  “Yoo-hoo! Is that you Travis?” Liza Murphy, the homecoming queen and all-around queen bitch, walked over and did a turn before she stopped. “Isn’t it fabulous?” she said with a southern drawl as she gestured at her own dress.

  “Beautiful as always, Liza.” Travis took her hand and kissed it. “How’ve you been, darlin’?”

  “Oh, you know…” She lazily waved a hand in the air. “Divorced Jason Rattler a few years back. Now I’m chairman of a few charities and such. And you?”

  “You married Rats?” Travis laughed. “How’s that even possible?” Violet remembered Jason. He’d been even lower on the totem pole then JL and Violet; he’d been president of the Chess Club and the Math Club. He was shy and introverted and—

  “Oh, darlin’, his daddy left him all sorts of money. Oil money, mostly.”

  Well, that made sense. Of course a woman like Liza would marry for money.

  “Are you married, sugar? Is this your wife?” The woman pointed at JL and had the audacity to make a face.

  JL rolled her eyes.

  Travis put an arm around JL’s shoulders. “Liza, you remember my sister, Jamie Lynn?”

  Liza squinted as if trying to remember. “Oh my! Yes. Of course. How could I forget? Look, you still have all that colorful hair.”

  “And her best friend, Violet Channing.” Travis added, gently drawing Violet up a little since she was practically hiding behind him.

  “Yes. Of course. How could I forget?” Liza looked Violet up and down, judging. It was obvious that she had no idea who Violet was.

  Violet was about to say something when a familiar man, Richard Frankel, strutted up. “May I have this dance?”

  Travis gently pushed her, and JL answered for her. “She would love to. Wouldn’t you, grape girl?”

  Violet laughed. It was JL’s way of saying, Own it. Be confident. “Uh…yes. Sure.”

  Richard led her to the dance floor with a hand against her lower back. Violet turned her head and looked at Travis and JL with wide eyes. Travis smirked and JL gave her a thumbs-up.

  “I’m Rich Frankel,” he said as he placed his hand on her waist and they began to sway to the soft music.

  “Yeah. I know.”

  He pulled her close. In high scho
ol he’d been a heartthrob, the male version of Liza. Now his hairline was receding a bit and there were lines around his eyes that hadn’t been there ten years ago, but he still looked great.

  “I noticed you the moment you walked in. You’re the sexiest woman here.”

  “Thank you,” Violet replied. “You don’t remember me from high school, do you?” she asked.

  “Does it matter? I won’t forget from now on.” He put his hand on his heart.

  “Do cheesy lines like that still work?” Violet said as they moved to the music.

  “Sometimes.” He smiled. “Is it working on you?”

  Violet snorted. “Not really.”

  “What’s your name, darlin’?”

  “Violet Channing.”

  “Violet?” He seemed to think about it. “I don’t remember any Violet. You sure you went to school with me?”

  “Yep,” she said, slightly annoyed that he couldn’t even remember all the times he and his friends teased her. “How ’bout I remind you?” She probably should’ve held her tongue and just enjoyed the dance, but the drinks and the dress had made her brave. In high school she would’ve done anything to have gotten the opportunity to dance with Richard Frankel. Now…not so much. “You ignored me most of high school, which was better than when you weren’t ignoring me and making fun of me.”

  He stopped and looked at her. “Making fun? What? Were you fat or something?” He laughed and held her tighter.

  She shook her head and pushed back a little. “No. I wasn’t fat. I was pretty much the same as I am now. Apparently for you, that’s fat. At least back then you considered it fat.”

  “Sweetheart, that was ten years ago. You need to let that shit go. If I was an asshole, I apologize.” He put his hand on his chest again, as if to indicate true sorrow. “I didn’t know shit back then. Trust me, if I’d have known what a real woman was supposed to look like, I’d have asked you out and been all over you and that delicious body. I would’ve rocked your world.”

  Did he just say that to me? Arrogant prick. Violet was now completely annoyed.

  “Hey, I remember that guy.” Richard said as he looked over her shoulder. “He was on the wrestling team in high school. Three years ahead of us, I think. Wonder what he’s doing here. Maybe he came with Liza.” Violet didn’t even bother to look back. She was sure it was just another jock who treated her like she didn’t exist in high school. “Jeremy, I think his name was,” Richard went on.

  Her heart skipped a beat and she whipped her head around.

  Walking into the sea of rhinestone dresses and teased hair, dressed in his army best, his blond hair slicked back and tied at the nape his neck, was Cain.

  Her heart began to beat wildly in her chest and her knees buckled.

  “Cain,” she whispered.

  “Oh, yeah. That’s right. Cain. Jeremy was his friend. I wonder what happened to that guy.” Violet didn’t bother to answer. “You okay, honey?” Richard asked, but her eyes were locked on Cain. What the hell was he doing there? She hadn’t asked him to come with her. Hell, they weren’t even speaking to each other.

  He walked straight to her, the crowd parting as he made his way over. God, the man could command a room. In his army uniform, with his perfect posture and intimidating stature, he looked almost regal.

  When he reached them, he smiled and he held his hand out to her. “Excuse us,” he said to Richard, not looking at him. “She’s mine.”

  Her heart actually stopped.

  She stepped around Richard and took Cain’s hand, her eyes glued to his. He pulled her close. People were looking at her. At him. At them. But she didn’t care. She was in a space where the only two people who existed were her and Cain. She couldn’t hear anything but the deep thrumming coming from her chest, and the only thing she saw and felt was Cain.

  He cupped the side of her neck with his big hands and looked deep into her eyes, his thumbs caressing her jaw. His clear blue eyes made her feel exposed. Raw emotions shone in his eyes, and she felt her heart swell. He bent down and tenderly swiped his mouth over hers. It was brief but…Wow! He pulled her in close to him, his chin on the top of her head and her cheek against his chest.

  The music changed to a slow ballad, and he held her tight as they swayed to the beat. She felt eyes on her. But she felt beautiful. He made her feel beautiful. He gave her confidence.

  “You look so pretty, Vi,” he whispered. “You make me breathless.”

  She looked up and smiled. “What are you doing here?”

  “Was in the neighborhood.”

  She playfully shoved him, but he pulled her back into his arms. “I didn’t want you to face this alone. I know you were dreading it. I haven’t been there for you in a long time, and I promised you that wouldn’t keep happening. So here I am. I’m done being a dick to you. I’m here to be the friend you deserve. I know I’ve apologized before, but I need you to know how sorry I am.”

  “This is an awfully long way to come to apologize.”

  “There’s not many places I wouldn’t go to get to you, sunshine.”

  She stopped dancing. She wanted to kiss him. There was a knot in the pit of her stomach and she was suddenly very aware of him. She looked at him and saw the same intensity in his eyes that she knew was showing in hers. “Because you’re my best friend,” he added, and he looked away, causing the moment to slip by. “You know I’d help you, ’cause we’re friends. Jeremy would expect it.”

  Jeremy.

  It was like a bucket of cold water. Jeremy was gone. A constant reminder of what her life would’ve been.

  —

  “I’m going to grab a drink. Want anything?” he said when the music ended. He had added that Jeremy bullshit because…Fuck, it was still the reason. He couldn’t let her think it was more than friendship. He’d come to Texas to be her friend, and he was going to stick to that plan no matter how hard it would be.

  Even though his sweet doe-eyed Violet was looking at him like she wanted to eat him up.

  “Champagne, please.” She finally spoke.

  He nodded and left for the bar. She was still staring at him when JL leaned in behind her and said, “If I were the swooning type, I’d swoon. Total Officer and a Gentleman moment.”

  She turned to her best friend. “It was, wasn’t it?”

  “Hell, yeah. All these jealous bitches almost died.”

  “I almost died,” Violet admitted as her cheeks reddened.

  JL chuckled. “It was pretty awesome. He looks hot. What’s he doing here?”

  “He said he knew this was hard for me, and came to support me.”

  “And make every woman in this room green with envy.”

  “It’s a nice perk of having him as a friend, isn’t it? I don’t even care if they get the wrong impression.”

  “Wrong impression?”

  “Yeah, they probably think we’re together, but who cares, right? He’s pretty great when he isn’t being ornery, don’t you think?”

  “I don’t think he’s that great, actually. He’s a total asshole to you and doesn’t say a word to anyone else. But he’s smokin’ hot.”

  “He’s quiet. That doesn’t mean he’s an asshole.”

  “So what now? What’s the plan?”

  “No idea. I wasn’t expecting him to be here. I think we have something…chemistry.”

  “Well, a blind man can see that. And what do you want from him, exactly? Friends-with-benefits situation? Because, girlfriend, I don’t think you’re made for that kind of thing.”

  “I know that. But I want him and I think he wants me. Before today I was absolutely positive all I wanted was sex, but with him showing up here…I’m all confused.”

  “So tell him that.”

  “No way. I’ve already put myself out there—it’s his turn to make a move. I’ve looked like an idiot enough times, thank you very much.”

  “He’s holding back for whatever reason. Don’t let him.”

  “Becau
se he thinks I’m naive and innocent and I’ll get hurt if we have sex.” Violet took a deep breath. “I don’t want to ruin our friendship. Maybe I should just let it go,” she confessed.

  “Fuck that. He’s not such a great friend. Actually, he sucks ass as a friend. Get your man, Violet. Don’t be dumb.”

  “Ugh. Maybe you’re right.”

  “Of course I’m right, dummy,” JL said. She peered over Violet’s shoulder. “Your friend,” she said carefully, “is walking back. Seduce him, sister.”

  Violet looked over her shoulder and saw Cain approaching them, with Travis chatting away next to him. Cain handed Violet the flute of champagne, then tipped his chin to JL.

  “Oh, hello, Cain. Nice to see you. Was that thing you just did with your chin your formal hello?”

  Cain chuckled. “Yo, J.”

  “Wow, couldn’t even be bothered to say the L.”

  “You look nice, JL,” Cain added, and kissed her cheek, which seemed to fluster JL for a brief moment.

  “You always go all military to formal events?”

  Cain looked down at his clothes. “I left Tarpon Springs in a rush. There weren’t any suits at my parents’ house, but there was this. I was in a hurry.”

  “I think you look nice,” Violet said.

  “Because you love men in uniform,” JL added.

  “Well, yeah. Who doesn’t?” Violet said.

  —

  Cain hadn’t been back to his parents’ house in almost three years. He hadn’t even bothered cleaning it out after they passed away. For all intents and purposes it might as well have been abandoned, except for the small fortune he spent to have someone keep it up.

  A small hand on his shoulder brought him back to reality. “You okay?” Violet asked, concern etched on her face.

  He nodded, and she gave him a small smile that quickly made things so much better. Unable to resist, he slid his thumb across her lips, wishing he could bottle that smile.

  Her head tilted and her eyebrows furrowed in wonder. “You sure you’re okay?” she asked again.

  He bobbed his head and grabbed his drink, trying to shake off the trance she’d put him in.

  Just then an older man whom Cain remembered fondly from high school walked closer looking at him. “Cain? Cain Sorenson?”