"Don't do shots anymore." Or suck face for that matter.
Her eyes flare with anger. She takes another step backwards. "Go back to your groupie, Ethan. I can get around on my own."
Not like this, she can't. I grab her wrist a little harder than I should. But I'm not letting her leave drunk. "You have two choices. You can stand around with me until you're sober enough I believe you're gonna be okay or you can come with me."
She looks at me like she's looking into my soul. "I don't want to go home."
"Then you can come back to my place. Piper will be jazzed to see you." My little sister adores Violet. I can't remember the last time she went a day without reminding me I made a mistake letting her walk away.
Violet stares at me for a long time. Finally, she nods. "Fine. But I'm not going to make polite conversation."
"How is that different than how things used to be?"
Her lips curl into the world's tiniest smile. It only stays for a moment but it's still the best thing I've felt since that last time I stepped on stage.
Chapter 3
Ethan
Violet walks through the foyer and takes in the living room with familiarity. Besides the matter of me and Mal—my brother is the lead singer in our band—being several million dollars richer and several million times more famous, things are mostly the same.
We still stay at our parents' place when we're in southern California. They still spend most of their time pursuing research in tropical countries. Piper is nineteen now, but I still don't feel right leaving her alone.
After she washes up in the downstairs bathroom, Violet takes a long look at the couch. "I can sleep here."
"No."
"Tell me what to do again and
I'm walking home."
"Take my bed."
She stares back at me.
"I'm gonna insist. You'll save the two of us a lot of arguing if you agree now."
She looks me up and down. It's not an I'm glad we're not together look. It's I want the two of us on that bed, naked.
I lead her to my room anyway.
She closes the door and sits on the bed. Her eyes meet mine. She presses her lips together, taking a deep breath.
I know that look too. I know every expression Violet can make. She's working up her nerve to do something.
She exhales slowly. "Goddammit, Ethan. You know I haven't got any tact." She crosses and uncrosses her legs. Then she's spreading them apart. "You want to help me?"
"Wouldn't put it that way."
"If you really want me to feel better, then fuck me."
What the hell?
I pinch myself to see if I'm dreaming.
I'm not. Violet is in my bed, her legs spread, her lips parting with anticipation.
She's asking me to fuck her.