Violet's Valentine: A Clean Friends to Lovers Romance (Love in Holiday Junction Book 1)

by Tami Franklin

  He looked stunned, but just for a moment, the expression quickly morphing to resignation. “I know,” he sighed.

  “You do?”

  Liam’s head hung forward. “I've known for a while, but I just hoped—” He leaned back, and ran his fingers through his hair, then let his hands drop into his lap.

  “I'm so sorry,” she said. “I haven't been fair to you. Then or now. I left you—”

  “That doesn't matter,” he said. “I got over it.”

  “But it does,” she said firmly, the tears flowing freely now. “I hurt you and I'm so sorry, Liam.”

  He looked at her for a long moment, then nodded, his own eyes glistening. “I thought I could be the one, you know? I thought, given enough time—” His shoulders slumped and he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees as he met her gaze. “But it's Kade, isn't it? He's the one.”

  Vi opened her mouth to say no, of course not. But then she saw another slideshow . . . all the same pictures, but with Kade, instead of Liam. Kade waiting for her at the end of the aisle. Kade holding her baby. Kade laughing with her while they watched a horrible movie on TV.

  And she couldn't deny it.

  She wanted it all . . . with Kade. She wanted to sit on the porch swing with him. Do goofy dances and sing stupid songs with him. Eat Jell-O tuna pie and hang paper lanterns and prune bushes . . . laugh and cry and live and love . . .

  With Kade.

  And it hit her like a strike of lightning—she was in love.

  With Kade.

  “Oh,” she whispered, fingers pressed to her lips.

  Liam huffed. “You didn't even realize it, did you?”

  She shook her head violently, tears still flowing down her cheeks.

  “For a smart girl, you can be pretty dumb.” The corner of his mouth turned up.

  Vi gave a strangled laugh. “Super dumb.”

  He reached over and took her hands in his. “So now that you know, what are you going to do about it?”

  “I—” What was she going to do? She was in love with Kade—the thought settled along her bones, warming her.

  She was in love with Kade.

  And Kade—

  She inhaled sharply. Kade was in love with her.

  Oh.

  Kade told her he was in love with her, and she'd said nothing. Nothing. She'd let him leave without saying a word and who knew what he was thinking now?

  She jumped to her feet. “I have to go find him,” she said.

  “There you are,” Liam said, releasing her hands. “I was wondering when you'd figure it out.”

  Vi turned and ran away a few steps, then whirled around and returned to Liam. “I'm so sorry.”

  “Stop saying that,” he said, rolling his eyes. “I'm fine. Just go.” He made a shooing motion with his hands.

  Vi hesitated for only a moment before throwing her arms around Liam's neck. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  He embraced her gently. “You're welcome.”

  She pulled away and gave him a soft smile before she turned to head quickly across the dance floor. She spotted her mother and dodged through the dancing couples to get to her.

  “Mom, can you get a ride home? I need to borrow your car.”

  Lou gave her a knowing look and reached under the table for her purse, withdrawing her keys. “Don't speed,” she warned.

  “Wouldn't dream of it,” Vi said, crossing her fingers behind her back. She grabbed the keys and raced toward the parking lot.

  Lou grabbed two glasses of champagne off the table before she made her way to the corner where Liam Durant was sitting, staring aimlessly into space.

  “You look like you could use a drink,” she said, offering him one of the glasses.

  He took it, raising it in a silent salute before taking a long gulp.

  She sat down next to him, watching the dancers for a moment. “That was a good thing you did.”

  He snorted. “Then why do I feel like crap?”

  Lou patted him on the knee. “It'll pass.”

  He made a noncommittal noise, and Lou smiled. “It will. Your time will come, Liam Durant.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  She looked at him, straight in the eye. “Because you're a good man,” she said. “And good men don't end up alone.”

  Lou leaned back a little, crossing her ankles and they sat in silence for a moment.

  “Thanks, Lou,” he murmured.

  “Don't mention it.” She held up her glass and he clinked his against it. Then they relaxed for a while, sipping champagne, and enjoying the music.

  Kade sat on the front porch swing with the guitar across his lap, but he hadn't played a note. No, he was wallowing, as evidenced by the half-empty pizza box, crumpled bag of cheese curls, and carton of melting ice cream sitting on the floor.

  Yes, Kade wallowed like a teenage girl. No, he didn't care.

  He sat in the darkness—he hadn't even bothered to turn on the porch light—and leaned his head back, watching the stars he could see peeking out beyond the edge of the roof. He pushed the swing idly, the chains creaking as it moved. He thought about giving up for the day and going to bed, but every time he closed his eyes, he saw Vi, a vision in pink, practically glittering under the twinkle lights at the Sweetheart Ball, and nerves and regret would rear their ugly heads once again.

  He'd ruined everything. But at the same time, he wasn't sure he could have done anything differently. It was a difficult position to be in, especially considering he had to face her every day.

  For the rest of his life.

  Sure, maybe he was being a little dramatic. Kade knew they would get past this, eventually. People did all the time, right? They'd move on. Maybe even be friends again.

  But he knew it would never be the same. So, in addition to the humiliation of proclaiming his love for someone who didn't love him back, he'd also lost a friend. The thought left him feeling hollow and depressed.

  Hence, the wallowing.

  Kade sighed and took a long swallow of orange soda, the sweetness making him wince. He dropped the empty bottle onto the porch floor, where it rolled off the edge and thumped into the damp grass. He'd get it later. A flash of headlights made him sit up, and he saw Lou's car pull into the driveway next door. It was odd, her leaving the ball so early, and he hoped something wasn't wrong. He was about to get up and walk over to check on her but froze when he saw who got out of the car.

  Vi. And she was looking right at him.

  Kade’s heartbeat quickened, and he thought for a moment about running, just getting up, going inside, and locking the door—pretending he hadn't seen her. But he hesitated a moment too long, and Vi crossed the small strip of lawn separating the two yards, her heels clicking lightly as she walked over his driveway. She came up the walkway, but paused at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at him from the shadows.

  “Hi,” she said.

  Kade swallowed thickly. “Hi.” He couldn't see her eyes in the darkness, only a vague outline of her illuminated by the street light. “How was the ball?”

  She tipped her head. “You left early.”

  He glanced at his watch. “So did you.”

  She seemed to take a deep breath, then climbed the steps. Now that she was closer, he could make out her features a little better, see her faint smile and the way she twisted her fingers together in front of her. Was she nervous?

  Her gaze dipped briefly to the floor around him. “Looks like quite the party.”

  “Yeah, well.” Kade's head spun, and for the life of him, he couldn't think of a witty comeback. “What are you doing here, Vi?”

  She bit her lip. “I needed to talk to you.” She came closer, but didn't sit next to him, just leaned back against the porch rail, facing him. After a moment, she winced and kicked off her shoes, flexing her bare toes against the wood floor. Her toenails were pink.

  “That's better,” she said. “Whoever invented high heels should be drawn and quartered.”

&n
bsp; “Pretty sure he or she is already dead,” Kade pointed out.

  Vi shrugged. “Technicalities.” They smiled at each other and Vi pressed her lips together and looked away.

  “Where's Liam?” Kade asked, and then wished he hadn't. He didn't want to talk about Liam. He wanted Vi to sit on the swing with him . . . to wrap them both in a blanket and forget about everything—and everyone—else.

  “Liam . . .” Vi looked up, blinking rapidly for a moment. “Liam is—” She looked suddenly sad, and Kade set his guitar aside, standing up.

  “Is he okay? Did something happen?”

  “Oh no, he's fine, I—” She covered her face with her hands for a moment, then swept them back over her hair. “I'm not doing this very well.”

  “It's okay, I know I made things awkward between us,” Kade said, moving to stand next to her, his hip against the rail as he studied her profile. “I'm sorry about that, Vi. I don't know what I was thinking—”

  “No, Kade—”

  “I was just freaking out, I mean with you and Liam getting back together—maybe I was feeling a little left out—”

  “Kade—”

  “But I didn't mean it, okay?” He took both of her hands in his, holding them gently. “You're the most important person in my life, Vi. And I love you, I do, but I can get past that, if you let me. I'll be fine.” He shook her hands once to emphasize the word. “I didn't mean it when I said I couldn't be your friend anymore. Of course I want to be your friend, if you'll let me.”

  He looked into her blue eyes, sparkling with unshed tears, and prayed she'd forgive him. Because there was no way he could go on without her in his life. Vi blinked and the tears trickled down her cheeks, and she dipped her head, looking at their joined hands.

  “No,” she whispered, and a heavy feeling settled in Kade's stomach.

  “What?” He tried to release her hands, but she held fast. “No?”

  “No, I can't do that,” she said, then she met his gaze, a hopeful smile on her face. “Because I want more.”

  Kade blinked, unable to process what she was saying for a long moment. His heart began to thump hard within his chest, hope unfurling like the first spring flower. “What?” he whispered.

  “You've been my best friend my whole life,” she said, her smile growing, even through the tears. “You made me laugh. You held me when I cried. You were always there for me—you still are—and I was so stupid and blind I didn't even realize—” She shook her head with a small laugh. “I think about you all the time. When something funny happens at school, it's you I want to share it with. And when the bad things happen—” Her face darkened for a moment, and he knew she was thinking about the baby. “—you're the one who makes it better. And I've been so selfish, and I'm sorry, so sorry for that—”

  “Vi, what are you saying?” He thought he understood, but after all this time, he didn't dare read too much into things. He didn't think he could take it if he was wrong. Still, he couldn't keep down the hope growing in him, a warmth weaving its way through his heart.

  “Oh, I can't believe I'm messing this up so badly,” she moaned, releasing him to cover her face again. Then, she took a deep breath, and lowered her hands, meeting his gaze with an almost stubborn look on her face.

  “I love you,” she said firmly. “And I know I've said it in the past as a friend, but I want to make this perfectly clear. I'm in love with you.” She waved her hands in a broad gesture. “Like a man loves a woman. All the marbles. In like Flynn. For better or for worse.” She blushed. “I mean, not that obviously, because for better or for worse would be down the road, but yeah. Like that, too. Eventually.” She nodded once.

  When he stared at her for a moment, she shifted nervously, her eyes cutting to the side. “And if you could say something, that would be awesome.”

  He stepped toward her, his heart racing, nerves tingling, every inch of his body awake and so, so alive. “I already told you I loved you.”

  Her lips twisted to the side. “So you only have to say it once? Because I have to say, if this relationship is going to work—”

  “Relationship?” He smirked, reaching out to touch her face. “Is that what we have?”

  She rolled her eyes but pressed her cheek into his palm. “You're really going to make me work for this, aren't you?”

  “Maybe.” He pulled her close, his hands on her waist. “So you like me, like me?”

  “I'm not so sure anymore,” she said haughtily, but her lips twitched.

  “If I send you a note, will you check yes or no?”

  “I'll wad it up and throw it right at your head, you obnoxious jerk.” But she wrapped her arms around his neck, so he knew she was kidding.

  Kade laughed, the joy bursting out of him. He leaned in, his lips only separated from hers by a breath. “I love you,” he said softly. “I'll love you forever.”

  He kissed her, then, and his whole body lit up, electricity racing along his nerve endings, his heart pounding so loudly, he wondered if she could hear it. He could feel her, soft and warm, pressed against him, the scent of vanilla and flowers making him dizzy. He shifted, his hands going to her face, tangling in her soft hair as he deepened the kiss. She sighed, and he could feel it in his soul, the echo of it vibrating through him. When he finally pulled back to catch his breath, her eyes were closed, her lips moist and parted, cheeks flushed, and he felt like—he knew he wanted to look at that face forever. On the porch swing, at the dinner table—every night and every morning.

  Finally, her eyes fluttered open, warm and knowing, and she smiled at him with joy and love.

  He had to admit, his knees felt a little weak.

  “Want to sit for a bit?” he asked roughly.

  “Yeah,” she said. “You got any of that pizza left? I'm starving!”

  Kade laughed and they settled on the swing, sharing the last of the cold pizza and orange soda, talking about nothing in particular, and looking up at the stars. It was like so many evenings they'd spent together in the past, with a few more kisses added in for good measure, of course.

  Kade had almost feared that they'd lose this, their easy friendship, along the way. But in that moment, he realized that their love was built on friendship. It was integral, the two interconnected and woven together over the years. And it would only get stronger as they walked this new path together.

  Vi snuggled up to him and he wrapped his arm over her, pulling her close as they rocked in the swing. Kade pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “So what now?” he asked.

  “Oh, Kade, I'm surprised you haven't figured it out already,” she said, looking up at him with a sunny smile. “This is the part where we live happily ever after.”

  He snorted. “You’re so corny.” And she giggled.

  But as he pulled her into another kiss, he began to believe that that's exactly what they would do.

  Epilogue - Three Months Later

  Violet walked into McKenna's Creamery and scanned the room looking for Kade. She didn't see him, so she went up to the counter and ordered their usual from Lena.

  “How's everything going?” Lena asked as she dished up their ice cream.

  “Really great,” Vi replied. “School's going well, and I think the spring musical is going to be excellent.”

  “That's fantastic,” Lena said, sliding a dish across the counter toward her. “How's Kade?”

  “Kade is good,” Vi said, smiling faintly. “He's supposed to meet me here to celebrate something, although he won't say what it is.”

  “Ugh, look at you with your dreamy, heart eyes.” Lena wrinkled her nose. “It’s gross.”

  Vi grabbed a few napkins out of the dispenser. “Hey, you’re one to talk!” she said. “I’ve been seeing some hearts in those eyes lately, too.”

  Lena blushed. “Yeah, but we’re not talking about me right now.”

  Not to be deterred, Vi asked, “What’s it been, about two months? I bet your mom’s ready for a wedding.”

 
; “Ugh, she won’t let up,” Lena confided. “It’s like she thinks I’m an old maid who better lock it up or I’ll be left old and alone with a houseful of cats.” Her gaze flickered behind Vi for a second. “But enough about me. There's your prince charming now.”

  Vi turned and spotted Kade walking into the shop, dark hair glinting in the spring sun coming in through the windows. He lifted a hand in a wave, then pointed to a table near him. She told Lena they’d talk later, carried over the ice cream, and set the bowls on the table, taking a seat next to him.

  He leaned over and kissed her. “Hi.”

  She blushed, still unable to prevent it when he looked at her like that. “Hi.” Vi smiled at him for a moment, lost in his dark eyes, just a little bit.

  “Okay, so what's this surprise you're being so mysterious about,” she said finally, scooping up some ice cream. “I'm dying with curiosity.”

  He folded his hands on the table. “Well, you know that song we recorded?” It was the one he'd been writing that Vi had thought was so sad. Kade finally finished it and roped Vi into singing the demo. He'd told her the reception was positive, so she supposed he was right—they liked the sad ones.

  “Does someone want to buy it?” She held up two fists, ready to cheer if what she guessed was correct.

  “Not exactly,” Kade said slowly. “I heard back from a producer I know, and he says he's definitely interested. In you.”

  He held his hands up in a victory V, a wide smile on his face.

  “Really?” It had been a long shot, they both knew it, but Kade had sent the demo out to a few of his contacts, to see if there was any interest in signing Vi to a record deal. She pressed her fingers to her lips. “He wants to work with me?”

  “Both of us, really,” Kade replied. “He wants to record the single and shop it around a bit. If it does well, they might want a full album.”

  “An album?” Vi couldn't believe it.

  He grabbed her hand. “This could be it, Vi. Your chance to finally be a star.”

  She looked into his eyes, a feeling of peace settling in her heart. “I don't care about that anymore, to be honest” she said. “But if we can do this together, that'd be so much fun!”