by Lindsey Iler
“What are you doing this weekend?” Metal clinks in the background.
“Do you ever stop cooking?” I jog in place, not wanting to let my muscles cool down.
“Do these people ever stop eating? You’re breathing awful heavy,” Rico observes. “Oh shit, man, are you with someone?”
“No, I’m out for a run.” A run that’s supposed to relax and relieve some of my stress. This conversation, not so much.
“You should stop all that physical activity shit. You’ll end up looking like a scrawny little bitch.”
“What do you need, Rico?” I ask. My patience is running low.
“Oh, right. What are you doing this weekend?”
“Nothing. Why? What’s up?” A crisp breeze whips past me, rustling my shirt. I’m not ready for the changing season. I’d much rather be in a bathing suit than a winter jacket.
“Come to town. You won’t believe what Griffin’s dumb ass is doing.” I can practically hear him shaking his head, full of disapproval. “The motherfucker is getting married, and we’re throwing him a bachelor party.”
Sandy and Griffin have been together since freshman year. They’re the kind of couple everyone hates being around. Their love practically sucks the life out of every room. I’m not surprised they’re getting married. After all, he did make a rather public speech quite a few months back saying he had every intention of marrying her when the time is right. I suppose the time is right now.
“I’ll be there, but I’ve got to finish this run,” I explain, holding the phone out in front of me. My finger itching to push end.
“See you Friday, fucker. Bring your dollar bills,” Rico sing-songs before hanging up.
*****
Luckily, the drive from Maryland to Connecticut isn’t difficult or drawn out. Every light in the house illuminates the front lawn.
“Psst, Dan,” a sweet voice calls my name.
I crane my neck, looking the source and finally spy Ben in the backseat of the SUV.
“Hey, buddy, what are you doing out here?” I lean against the car door.
“Mom told me that if I didn’t get my butt out in the car, I’d be scarred for life,” he answers. The innocence in his shrug softens my heart.
“Where you headed?” I look around the yard but don’t see Kennedy anywhere.
“Mom and I are spending the weekend with Aunt Violet.” He smiles, knowing good times are coming.
Kennedy rushes out of the house, bags strung over her arm. I take them from her and set them in the backseat next to Ben.
“Thank you,” she says, giving me a quick hug and checking her watch. “We’ve got to get going if we want to make it in decent time.”
“Drive safe, okay?” I instruct, kissing her on the crown of her head.
“Uncle Dan?” Ben shouts. His bright smile lights up the night. “Is there anything you’d like me to say to Aunt Violet?” Smooth one, little man.
Kennedy is used to Ben’s intuitiveness. He’s too observant for us adults sometimes but is the perfect addition to our crazy, mostly dysfunctional family unit.
“Sure, buddy.” I place a hand on Kennedy’s open window. “You tell Aunt Violet to make sure she feeds you ice cream tomorrow. On me.” He claps when I hand him a fifty-dollar bill. “Make sure you go to Dylan’s. If they don’t take you, I will.” I wink at Kennedy, and she cradles my face in her hand.
“You’re a damn good man,” she whispers, leaning forward to kiss me on the cheek.
“Just not good enough,” I whisper as they drive away.
My acceptance of compliments seems to be overshadowed by self-doubt. It’s as if I know Violet’s opinion or lack thereof doesn’t define me as a man, but still, somehow I can’t seem to believe in myself. In my mind, she’s all that matters.
A shot hits my hand the second I step inside the house. Rico grabs my shoulder and pushes me into the living room. Music bursts through the wicked speakers Graham had installed when he moved in here. Beers in hand, fifteen guys are scattered all over, sprawled across every couch and window seat. If it can be leaned on, someone is there sucking up oxygen. The loud hollers warn me of what the night has in store.
I say hello to mostly familiar faces as I pass through to find Graham in the kitchen.
“What are you doing? Hiding from all the fun?” I say.
“Hey, man, I wasn’t sure if you’d make it or not.” Graham offers his hand.
I jerk him in for a very romantic bro-hug, skimming my hand down his back. He pushes me and laughs.
“Quit fighting our love, Graham,” I joke. “Is it because I’m too skinny now?” I fake sadness over his lack of affection.
“How’d you guess?” He rubs his temples and glances at the papers scattered on the island.
“What you looking at?” I ask, grabbing one. My eyes skim briefly over the words, but my mind won’t fully register them. “Is this what I think it is? I’m confused.”
“If you think it’s a marriage license, then yes.” He grins like the cat that caught the canary.
“I may be wrong, but I thought you had to apply a month before your wedding.” Confused, I pace the length of the island. Graham scratches the back of his head. Nice distraction tactic, you idiot. “You’re kidding me, right? Does anyone else know? What about Kennedy’s dream wedding?” I take a deep breath. “What about your mom and her parents?”
“Calm down.” Graham abruptly stands, kicking the stool out of his way. “We thought it would be easier if we were married when we stand in front of a judge to offer our home and hearts to a little boy.” He picks up the papers and stares at them. From the outside, he doesn’t look scared or worried. His sense of relief calms my own nerves. Why are you nervous? It’s not you getting married. “Kennedy doesn’t want to take any chances. We’re still planning a wedding, but it’ll be more like a vow renewal.” Graham’s speech rapidly grows frantic.
Put him out of his misery. He’s going to give himself a heart attack.
“I get it. I mean, I don’t get it,” I pat him on the shoulder, “but I get it.”
“When did we grow up?” He grabs two beers from the fridge and pops the tops.
“Speak for yourself.” I take a long swig from the bottle. “Isn’t it ironic when you’re ready to settle down, and you’re madly in love with someone, but somehow it doesn’t work out. I’m a fucking guy for fuck’s sake, and here I am moping around over a girl. A girl who loves me back, but we aren’t together.” I gently smack my fist on the countertop.
“She’ll come around,” Graham offers, tapping the necks of our bottles together.
Perhaps Graham could let me borrow some of his confidence.
“Are you two ladies done gossiping in here? The party bus has rolled up,” Rico announces, wrapping his arms over both our shoulders. He tugs us close and grins. “Who’s ready to see some girls with low self-esteem and daddy issues?”
*****
The music is as loud as the room is dim. A somewhat beautiful blonde grinds on my lap, but her enthusiasm isn’t matched on my end. Close your eyes. Pretend it’s Violet. I smile while she smashes her tits in my face, but my heart’s still not in it. Neither is anything else. Sometimes a guy just wants to go to strip club and not have giant tits rubbed in his face.
“Cheer up.” Rico smacks my arm and grabs her hips to ensure he doesn’t knock her over. She finishes her little routine and rubs her fingertips down the length of my chest.
“Whoever she is, hope she’s worth it,” she says before sauntering away. Am I that obvious? Fuck!
“You’re bumming out the strippers, and you sure as fuck are bumming out me.” Rico’s eyes never leave the stage. A brunette crawls across the platform and stops in front of him. He tucks a twenty in her string bikini bottom.
“So, do you want to talk about it?” he asks as he sits next to me. His eyes still plastered on the stage.
“Doubt it will do any good.” I tap my beer bottle on the arm of the chair.
“Kennedy called him.” I take a sip, watching the dancers parade around the various platforms. “He stepped outside for a second.”
Rico and I fall silent as the room goes dark. A hard rock song blares through the speakers, accompanied by light and fog to cover the stage. A confident girl with ebony hair struts out wearing platform heels. She takes a few short twirls around the pole and stops, looking out at her captive audience. Strobe lights distort her, creating a euphoric atmosphere.
“Dan,” someone shouts. I search the room and see Graham storming over. Red face. Tense shoulders. Something’s wrong. “We need to get out of here.” He attempts to pull me to my feet, but I push him off.
“Relax, man.” I stand on my own.
“What’s going on?” Rico asks.
“Do you remember that guy Violet used to date, right after you two broke up?” Graham asks.
Kick a man when he’s down, Graham. Real nice.
“Yes, what about him?” I roll my eyes at the mention of the jackass. Violet had broken up with me, and not two weeks later, she’d ended up with someone else. It didn’t last long, but in my eyes, it lasted too long. When I’d caught wind of her dating this guy, I remember contemplating everything I thought I knew. It destroyed me.
“He’s tormenting her.” He rushes to the exit, and we follow him. What? His words don’t register fully.
“I’ll text Griffin and tell him we had to leave,” Rico explains.
“No, you stay,” I insist, placing my hand on his chest, stopping him from leaving with us.
“If someone’s messing with Violet, then I’m coming with.” He shoves my hand off and gestures to the parking lot. “Let’s go.”
I don’t say it enough, but I’m thankful for Graham and Rico. Hell, even Mark, who seems to be so wrapped up in love with Bea, would drop anything if I called. There is no doubt Violet will always be taken care of and protected in my absence.
The drive is anything but short. Graham rambles on about what the hell is apparently going on at the apartment, but all I hear is another thing Violet has kept from me. Two hours later, Graham pulls in front of their apartment, and the three of us jump from the SUV. Richard greets us and hurriedly opens the door.
“The girls okay?” he shouts as I push the elevator button.
“They will be,” I answer. I’m on the warpath, fully prepared to destroy anyone who brings a smidge of harm to Violet’s life.
When we reach the top floor, we push through to knock on the door. Kennedy swings it open, catapulting herself into Graham’s arms.
“Where is she?” I demand an answer, stepping past them. “Violet.” My head’s filled to the brim with denial. There’s no possible way someone would want to hurt her. No one can be capable of hurting my Violet.
“She’s in with Ben. They’re watching a movie,” Kennedy explains. She places her hand on my arm. The warmth is like a cold bath to my fears. “Let me tell you what happened before you storm in there to save the day.”
“You have five minutes, and then I’m going in.” I crumble to the couch.
Kennedy sits down beside me. She takes a deep breath and looks at all of us, but her stare finally stalls on me.
Tell me. I’m the only one that matters.
“I didn’t know it had been going on. When Ben and I showed up, Richard walked us up to help with my suitcase, and we found Jeremy at the front door. He was pounding, and we had heard Violet screaming for him to leave.” A shiver runs through her body. She’s scared. She isn’t alone. “Richard made sure he left the building, but when we came into the apartment, she was pretty shaken up. Her eyes were bloodshot like she’d been crying. I took Ben into the room and told him to play on the iPad. I didn’t know what else to do.” She looks to Graham for support.
“Will you please hurry up and get to the point?” I cover my eyes with my fingertips and rub the tension behind them.
“Dan, she never told me why they broke up. I asked, and she told me everything was fine, and it just never worked out with them. He never put his hands on her, but he did . . . He threatened her. He called her names and started to harass her when she broke it off. It’s been going on ever since, which explains why she changed her number and deleted her Facebook.”
Keep calm. Freaking out isn’t going to do you any good.
A deep, long breath soothes my anxiety. I brush my sweaty hands on my jeans and stand.
“I need to see her.” The demand sounds more like a plea.
No one in this room could stop me if they tried. Rico tilts his head to Violet’s door, a silent agreement of where I’m truly needed. I can’t fix this without seeing her.
I knock once and then push open the door. Ben skims his finger over the screen, and Violet sits beside him, aimlessly staring through the window.
“Uncle Dan,” Ben screeches. He jumps from the bed and hugs me around my waist. “What are you doing here?”
“Do you think I could have a second to talk to your Aunt?” I smile down at him, not wanting to rile him up. Violet turns at my voice, holding me in her silent stare.
“Yeah, sure. Think Mom will give me ice cream?” He swings his arms as he leaves the room, determination behind his steps.
Violet sits up on the bed, her back against the headboard, and shields herself with an oversized throw pillow.
“I’m sorry, but don’t you have a bachelor party to be at?” She squares her shoulders.
“Some things are more important.” I sit on the edge of the bed. “Why didn’t you tell any of us?” My outside demeanor is calm and collected, while on the inside, I’m ready to freak out.
“There’s nothing to tell.” She’s lying. I can tell by the way she thumbs the zipper on the pillow. Anything to avoid eye contact.
“It’s me, Vi.” I grimace at her lack of trust. All I can do is sit here as she drowns in her silent grief.
“We only dated for a little while. At first, I turned him down, but he was persistent. He charmed me, and I got sucked into this twisted vortex. When I wanted out, it was hard to escape him. It started out slow, and then it picked up. After a while, he disappeared, but he’d always come back. It’s been almost a month since I last heard from him, but he showed up at the door tonight. Thankfully, Richard walked Kennedy up, or else, I don’t know what would have happened. I don’t know what he wants from me.” Violet takes a deep breath. Her shoulders go slack like the weight she’s been bearing is lifted off her.
“You better get out here,” Rico shouts.
Violet and I hurtle from the mattress when we hear a loud set of pounds.
“Buddy, go back in the room,” Graham instructs Ben.
I tussle his hair as Ben passes to calm the nerves written all over his face.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
“Open the fucking door, Violet,” someone shouts through the steel door. “Come on, baby. Let’s talk through this. We can work through all your bullshit.”
This must be Jeremy. He either has a death wish or he’s just utterly stupid for showing up here again.
“Well, I’m not just going to stand here.” I send out the threat, knowing no one will stop me.
Violet’s hand lands on my elbow. Her touch is gentle.
“Don’t,” she pleads. Her eyes water, and for a split second, I reconsider opening the door.
“Are you scared? Are you afraid of what he’s capable of?” My fingers brush her chin.
Her eyes water. Kennedy comes to her side and pulls her back, offering a supportive nod.
Rico steps up beside me, and when Graham follows, Rico places his hand on his chest.
“You have a family to worry about. Stay in here,” Rico explains.
Leave it to Rico to be the voice of reason. We have no idea what we’re walking out to. For all we know, Jeremy could be more insane than what we think.
Graham’s eyes flood with relief as he leads Kennedy and Violet
to the sofa.
I open the door, and the two of us step out.
“Who the fuck are you?” Jeremy asks, trying to look past us into the apartment. Rico steps in his line of vision, blocking him from Violet before slamming the door.
“I suggest you leave.” I step to him. He staggers.
“Back off, man.” He pushes against my chest.
Does he think I’m just gonna stand here and take this shit?
The guy’s demeanor gives me enough reason to knock him out. I reel back to swing and connect with his cheek. My hand throbs, but the pain doesn’t stop me from hitting him again. I lunge forward, taking him out at the knees. We tumble to the floor. Somehow he catches me off guard, and his fist pummels my ribs. Rico drags me away after a few deserved punches land across his face.
“You’ll regret that.” Jeremy stands, sneering at me. Blood drips down his face. He spits off to the side, leaving a trail of red saliva on the floor. The same crimson covers my hand.
“If you ever step foot in this building or come anywhere near Violet, I promise you, I will rip your meaningless heart out,” I shout, heaving him toward the elevator.
Rico pushes the button, and when the door opens, he tosses Jeremy into the car. His hand balls in a tight fist and cracks Jeremy square in the nose before he steps back into the hallway. Jeremy falls over and lays on the floor as the doors shut.
“Why’d you do that?” I grin at him. Like I said, I know Violet will always be taken care of.
“You may be in love with her, but that girl is like my sister. Like I’d let some fucker harass her without me getting a single punch in,” Rico explains. “Need me to kiss your boo-boo?” He flicks the open wound on my knuckle, making me wince.
Violet collapses in my arms as we step into the apartment. Her cries break my heart as I rub up and down her back.
“Shh, you’re okay.” I hold her at arm’s length. “He won’t be coming back around. I promise.”
Violet looks to Graham, then to Rico, before meeting my eyes. She dips her head, trying to hide her pink cheeks.
“Shit, you guys had to leave Griffin’s party. I’m so sorry.” She wraps her hair in her hand, acting as if she’ll put it up, but then drops it back down.
