When Our Worlds Ignite (An Our Worlds Spin-Off Book 1)

by Lindsey Iler

  *****

  “Can I talk to you for a moment, Violet?” Michelle stops me before I make it up the stairs. I’m ready to lay my head on a pillow and fall asleep until morning.

  Gertrude had my suitcase brought upstairs, where she’d hung up all my clothes, even though I’d reminded her I’d be leaving in the morning. She had insisted. The way my father placed his hand on my forearm leads me to assume this is how she is—persistent and stubborn, which means she keeps him on his toes.

  “Yeah, what’s up?” I answer. She sits on the step below me, and I follow suit.

  “I just wanted to thank you for how gracious you’ve been to me. I would have understood if you’d thrown my kindness back in my face.” She plays with the ends of her well-layered hair, a sign of discomfort, if I’ve ever seen one.

  “If you’d have told me twenty-four hours ago I’d be having dinner with my dad and his girlfriend, I would’ve laughed at you.” I can’t believe I’m about to say this. “Now having met you, I can see my father is happy. Before, I was angry. My parents’ bullshit has been a lot to take in, Michelle, and I was furious at him for abandoning my mother. But it turns out I was wrong all along. They abandoned each other, and it’s taken me up until now to realize sometimes that’s okay.”

  “You’re mature for your age.” Michelle stands, and I follow right behind her. “I care about your dad, which means I care about you. If I don’t see you in the morning before you head out, be safe on your trip and don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it.” She pats my leg. Although she doesn’t have children of her own, I suspect she has the instincts to be a good one.

  When I’m on the top landing, I peer down and call out to her. “Take care of him for me.”

  She tips her chin and smiles before disappearing down the hallway leading to the kitchen.

  The next morning, I wake to my alarm blaring in my ear. Where I should feel tension and stress, I feel relief and peace. Yesterday when I’d pulled up in front of this house, I’d imagined my night going a lot differently. Yelling and fighting never happened. In its place is understanding. Something I never thought I would feel. Something that compels me to reach for my phone.

  “Good morning.” Dan’s voice is groggy, and it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard.

  “So, guess where I’m at?” I buck the covers off and sit up.

  “Cambodia? Italy? Burbank?” He rattles off the most random destinations. I imagine him sitting up in bed, just as I had, wiping the sleep from his eyes, and stretching his neck from side to side.

  “Close.” I giggle. “Atlanta.”

  “With your father? And how may I ask is it going?”

  “Surprisingly, it went well. I’m flying out today.”

  “I know you are.” He sighs. Dan has expressed his dislike of me traveling alone. I keep reminding him I will be safe and on my toes at all times. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes, and no. I’m going to miss you,” I say.

  Since Dan and I’ve started whatever this is, I’ve kept the vulnerability to a minimum. We haven’t labeled our situation. We’ve just been present again in each other’s life. Yes, we’ve admitted we love each other, but neither of us has brought up the dreaded question. What are we?

  “You will?” The insecurity he feels is almost tangible through the phone. “I’m going to miss you too.”

  “I better go.” I groan. For the first time, I’m unsure of my upcoming adventure, and it’s all because of the voice on the other side of the phone. “When I land, I’ll try to call or email or something.”

  “Be safe over there. I’m going to need you to come back in tip-top condition.”

  “Why is that?”

  “For our date, of course.”

  I smile at his answer.

  “Romance and all?”

  “Romance and all.” His groan matches mine from moments before. “All I really want to do is stay on the phone with you.”

  “I won’t be gone long, and just think, when I get back, I’ll feel more like myself than I ever have.”

  “That’s the whole point, right?”

  “I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”

  “Okay.” And he hangs up.

  There is something I’ve weighed back and forth in my mind. Does it hurt Dan that I don’t feel like I know myself? He seems confident in who he thinks I am. So why aren’t I?

  As I pack my outfits for the first leg of my trip, I admire the choices I’ve made and imagine where I’ll be when I wear them. Although everyone is unsure of the journey, a sense of calm has taken over me. I’m ready to embrace the opportunity and grab life as it goes. I want to try new things and taste new foods.

  A knock on the door brings me out of my daydream.

  “Come in.” I zip up my suitcase and place it on the floor.

  “You all set and ready to go?” My father asks, announcing his entrance to the room. “I took the morning off to drive you to the airport.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.” But I sure do appreciate it.

  “You’re my daughter, right?” He wraps his arm around my shoulder. “I know you’re excited about your trip, but I need you to do something for me.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a MasterCard.

  “I can’t.” I hold up my hands in defiance.

  “You can and you will.” He counters by placing the card in my hand. “Anything you spend, do so on this. Food. Lodging. Clothes.” He peers at me with a raised eyebrow. Dad knows his daughter well. “Let me do this for you. You shouldn’t go broke because you’re too afraid to ask for a little help from your dear old dad.”

  I tuck the credit card in the front pocket of my wallet. “Thank you, Dad.” I stretch for a hug, and he wraps me in his warm arms.

  “I’m going to miss you, baby girl. When you get back, you’d better make it down here to visit,” he says over the top of my head. “Bring that boy of yours.”

  “You always said he was no good?” I laugh.

  “He is no good, but that goes for all boys out there.” He peers down at me. A firm smile set on his lips. “But if I were to choose one, he would be it.”

  “Really? Why?” I smirk at his confession.

  “When a dad has to settle with the reality that his daughter no longer needs him, it’s a hard thing to come to grips with. All we ever hope is for our girls to find someone who will protect you just as we have all along. We need to be sure you’ll feel the love you deserve.” His voice cracks, and it causes a rift in my heartbeat. “Even when you two weren’t together, I saw the way he stood over you, protected you. You may not have seen me, Violet, but I always knew you were safe.”

  Tears fall at the image my father has painted for me. For the longest time, Dan had been an extension of me. Of course, I loved him, but I never truly took the time to see us.

  “You’ll find your way back to him.” He dries the tear escaping down my cheek.

  “God, I hope so.” It sounds like a prayer falling from my lips. Something I’m desperate to have come true.

  *****

  My first day in Paris has been eventful. The hotel I’d originally booked ended up being a train wreck. The tiny room had barely enough space to spin around without hitting the bed, the table, and the bathroom door, all at the same time. No way would I touch the soiled sheets and giant blood or coffee stain in the middle of the carpet.

  Cursing my decision to book a hotel based on price, I’d immediately stormed out, reached in my wallet, and stared at my father’s credit card. For a split second, I’d thought better of it, but then comfort and security won out, and I’d hightailed it to the Four Seasons. The outside of the famous hotel screamed my name. I gladly and quite proudly handed over the borrowed credit card with my name pressed into the front. He must have had it ready in case of emergencies, and this hotel situation was my very first.

  I ordered room service and lounged around in the king size bed. The large windows gave me a great view. Although it isn’t warm
this time of year, there is something magical in the air.

  When I wake up this morning, I feel the need to pamper myself, so I ask the hotel receptionist for a recommendation. The minute I walk into Cinq Mendos, I’m handed a cup of herbal tea, something I’ve never tried before, but oddly enjoy to the very last drop.

  After a morning massage, my muscles are relaxed. As the plush carpet squishes under my feet, I wish Kennedy and Amanda were here with me to enjoy this. They would get a kick out of the mint leaves inside the ice cubes. With an array of treatments from my head to my toes, I prance out of the spa with a new sense of tranquility and center. Not really, but that’s what the brochure in the waiting room said. All I actually feel is a hair-free body and soft skin from the pound of lotion they dribbled on me during the massage. Nonetheless, I’m refreshed, and that’s all I can really ask for at this point.

  By mid-afternoon, I take a seat inside one of the many cafés my father has suggested. The pebble stone road is antiquated and a beautiful sight for those willing to walk through the fall air. Like Dad had said, this place is full of magic.

  The young waiters and waitresses bounce from table to table, taking orders and clearing empty plates. I sip a milky latte, holding the warm mug in my hand. When the waiter, Lucas, offers me a sandwich, I accept. He’s young and fresh faced with a contagious smile. That alone may explain why the place is bustling with patrons.

  Since the young couple across from me is wrapped up in a private conversation, I open my laptop and connect to WI-FI. I send my dad an email, thanking him and letting him know I’m safe and sound.

  Since Jacqueline’s requested a daily update, she gets one, too. Jacqueline Mumford is the founder of one of the largest fashion marketing consultant firms in New York City. While I’m here, I’m overseeing a few international projects she has. She’s given me the daunting task of visiting a few of the designers, discussing upcoming campaigns, and hopefully giving them a fresh eye. The opportunity is a dream come true, and all because I’d basically demanded a job by telling her she’d be crazy not to hire me. One thing I’ve learned in the many conversations we’ve had is Jacqueline Mumford appreciates an employee who knows what she wants and goes and gets it.

  If only that transferred over to my personal life.

  I click on Dan’s name to read the email he sent yesterday around midnight, his time.

  Dear Violet, I read out loud before remembering I’m not alone. The rest of the letter, I read to myself.

  I miss you. It’s just that simple. Please know that while you are away, I will continue to miss you. Things in the past have been rocky, and now that we find ourselves on the paths we were meant to be on, we also find ourselves apart from each other. I’m not going to lie. It would be a lot easier to make you fall in love with me again if we were on the same continent, but I’m still going to try. When you get back to the hotel, there’s a package waiting for you in the main lobby. Ask Simone. She’s the one who helped me. Again, be safe, and I’ll talk to you soon. Love, Dan.

  How the hell does he know where I’m staying?

  By the time I arrive at the hotel, it’s almost eight o’clock. I tap the bell on the counter, and a middle-aged woman offers her help.

  “I think you may have a package for me back there,” I ask, eyeing the etched name tag pinned to her pressed dress shirt. Simone.

  “Are you Violet?” she asks. Her accent is thick, but I have no trouble understanding her. I nod in answer. Simone disappears into an office to the right of the main desk. When she returns, a smile spreads across her face. “This is for you.”

  A box wrapped in brown paper slides across the beautiful countertop. I take it, offer Simone a thank you, and ride the elevator to my floor. When safely tucked away in my hotel room, I rip into it. A card sits on top of a plain box, and I flip it open to see Dan’s handwriting. Sloppy, but legible.

  These won’t give you confidence, but a girl like you deserves an awesome pair of red boots. Wear them when you feel the need for some extra strength. After all, Ariel did stand up against her pastor father and shook her ass all over the dance floor in them. Love, Dan.

  I flip the lid of the box and freeze. How did he find these?

  My hands grip the heels and pull them from the box. They’re beautiful, taking my breath away. My eyes burn at Dan’s thoughtfulness. These are the exact elusive damn boots I’ve been searching for.

  I pull them on and fall back to the mattress. My feet dangle and kick.

  My fingers blindly push buttons on my cell phone, pulling it from my face to see how late it will be back in Maryland. The phone rings and rings, and when I hear Dan’s voicemail pick up, I release a loud groan. I need to hear his voice.

  After the beep, I say, “Hey, Dan. I know it’s late, but I was hoping you’d answer anyway. Thank you for my boots. They’re perfect, and I hope you know how much I miss you. Hope to talk to you soon.”

  It’s only the second day of my travels, and it’s already beyond eventful. Changing hotels sent me for a loop, and I can only be thankful for this day ending in some relaxation.

  The boots? Well, they’re an unexpected bonus.

  “Did you ever think you’d fall in love in high school?” Violet asks. The sight of her beautiful red hair spread across my pillow makes my heart thump.

  The question strikes me as strange. A girl like Violet, she’s funny and charismatic. Although she has a serious side, she hides it from most everyone. Her vulnerability is only exposed to those she’s close to, and for the first time, I’m getting a glimpse of her true self through the words coming from her mind and mouth. I mute the television, giving her my undivided attention.

  “Did I ever think I’d fall in love in high school?” I repeat her question, not to stall, but because I’m not sure she’s ready to hear my answer.

  She sits up, and the wrinkles on the pillowcase make me smile like an idiot. When I lay down tonight, the scent of her shampoo will lull me to sleep.

  “It’s a weird question, isn’t it?” She blushes from the sacrifice she’s made by asking. “I don’t know what I was thinking.” Her hands cover her face, and I pull them away, not wanting her to feel the need to hide.

  “Do you want to know the truth, babe?” I pull her back down to the mattress. She snuggles in the crook of my arm, her hair spread around us.

  “That depends. Is it going to fuck with my head?” She laughs when I poke her in the ribs. “Well, will it?”

  “Probably, but Vi, if you’re going to learn anything from me, please learn this. All the good things in the world will fuck with your head. It will make you twist and turn and contemplate whether or not you are entirely insane. I fuck with your head just like you fuck with mine.” I kiss the crown of her head. “The thing is . . .” I pause, “I don’t mind as long as it’s you.” Her fingertip skims along my chest. “And to answer your question, no, I didn’t think I’d ever fall in love in high school. I also didn’t think I’d ever find you.”

  Violet springs up and looks down at me. One hand rests beside my head and the other gently on my chest. Her stare glazes over, and slowly, she leans down. Her lips cover mine. When we break from the hold the kiss keeps us under, she rests her head on my chest, stretching out beside me.

  “I didn’t think I’d ever find you either,” she whispers into my t-shirt. “But damn, I’m glad I did.”

  I smile the rest of the drive into Connecticut. The trip is becoming second nature to me. With Violet gone, I’ve taken Graham and Kennedy up on their strange offer to visit more often. Before, baseball and school have taken up a majority of my time. With one of those out of the way, I’ve had more opportunity to fill my days with things I’ve neglected like family and friends. The exception is Violet. We’ve managed to get in small bursts of connection since she’s been gone.

  This is Violet’s second week of travel. Throughout, I’ve received emails and a few random voicemails, but it hasn’t felt like nearly enough. The first voicemail set m
y heart at ease. She’d gotten my gift and apparently couldn’t wait to thank me. I didn’t see the missed call and voicemail until the next morning.

  “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” Kennedy shouts as she races down the driveway when I pull in.

  A tap on the brakes keeps me from running over her toes. Her hands grab the door handle, jerking and prodding to get me out.

  “Calm down. I didn’t forget.” I insist, drawing the balloons from the interior. “Glad you caught me before I left.”

  “You even found Batman ones?” Her smile is wide as she takes in the huge bundle. When she allows her eyes to drift to me, tears are forming in the corner of her eyes. She shakes them away and averts her eyes. “I’m sorry. I just want today to be perfect for him.”

  “Don’t be. You’re overwhelmed.” I wrap my arms around her and usher her inside.

  “Uncle Dan,” Ben screeches the second I walk in the front door.

  The room is packed full of decorations. Streamers hang over every viable surface, and presents are stacked all around. The loud voices traveling from the kitchen let me know the crowd is already gathering.

  “Sounds like a lot of people here to celebrate your birth.” I ruffle his hair. “Don’t get stage fright. They expect big smiles and even larger thanks.”

  “Don’t put that kind of pressure on him.” Kennedy smacks my shoulder, and I fake hurt, laughing off her assault for what it is. “Talk to Violet lately?” She arranges a pile of assorted decorations on the table beside me.

  “Here and there,” I answer vaguely.

  “Saw those wicked red boots. Nice touch.” Her eyebrows arch. “Have you had a chance to really talk to her?”

  “About what?”

  Kennedy is digging for information. Information I have, but it’s more fun to keep it away from her.

  “Don’t play those games with me. You guys were off, and then on, and then off again, and then on again.” Kennedy groans. “Don’t you think it’s time to put an enormous, adorably-in-love label on the charade you two are playing?”