the records. She nodded her head. I basically already knew that Violet had stayed here, so that wasn’t new information. More just a confirmation.
“Kai Lewis,” I said next.
She repeated the process, but this time shook her head. “I really shouldn’t be telling you this,” she said, looking over her shoulder again. “But there isn’t any other name listed on the reservation. Only your sister. I’m so sorry I couldn’t help more.”
Fuck.
I was desperate to learn more, but Sophia seemed anxious for me to leave. “Can you tell me when she was here?” I asked.
“A few months ago,” Sophia answered, avoiding giving me an exact date.
“Thank you,” I told her. I grabbed a pen and a business card off the counter and scrawled my phone number on to the back. “Call me if you find anything else.”
She took the card and nodded her head. A young couple walked in, holding hands and looking completely in love. Sophia turned her attention to them. I took that as my cue to leave and walked out.
I managed to keep my shit together until I got back to my car. Once inside, I let all of my rage come out through my fists. I pounded the steering wheel over and over and heard myself screaming profanities. When the screaming didn’t feel good anymore, I folded my arm over the top of the wheel and laid my head down and cried.
What the hell was Violet doing here? That dirtbag Kai couldn’t afford to do something this nice for my sister. It made sense that the reservation was in her name since she probably paid for it. But why the fuck did she feel the need to go to a hotel more than two hours away?
I felt like I was leaving with more questions than I was answers.
Dear Diary,
He slapped me today. I shouldn’t have showed up at his house. I knew the rules. I knew my role in his life. But still, he slapped me. I never imagined our love would turn to this. I think he hates me. I have to convince him that this could work. I’m better for him.
XOXO,
Violet
Breeze
“You look like shit,” I said the next morning while stirring creamer into a cup of coffee. It was strange how quickly I had gotten used to being in Kai’s space. I helped myself to a coffee mug and some instant coffee this morning after waking up with exhaustion clinging to my bones.
Kai was standing by his bedroom in only a pair of boxers. I tried not to let my eyes linger on the dips and grooves of his hard body. If I were being honest, I was still too embarrassed and shaken up about what had happened last night.
The fight between Chase and Kai had been a long time coming. I knew things would eventually come to a head. They hated one another even when Violet was alive. I just never imagined those sorts of accusations would be thrown around like they were.
Most of my night was spent wondering if what Kai suggested could have been true. No. Certainly not. Chase would never…
“I’ve had worse beatings,” Kai replied while rubbing his stomach. He had a busted lip and a bruised jaw.
“Why did you fight him?” I asked, cutting through the small talk and right to the grit of it all.
“Why did you call me?” Kai countered. I lifted the mug to my lips for a quick sip of caffeinated comfort, but Kai reached out and gently pulled the cup from my grasp, stealing a taste for himself. I watched the slow way his lips touched the rim and his bobbing Adam’s apple.
“Because I needed help,” I explained, though it felt somewhat lame.
“Did you though? You could have left. Celeste doesn’t give two shits about you. Chase doesn’t need a babysitter, Breeze.”
I soured at his comment. “I couldn’t have just left,” I stammered.
“Yeah. You could have. But instead, you called me. A guy you should be staying away from. And things got heated. I saw you there, worried about him, and it all felt too familiar.”
I nodded. That was exactly why I had my panic attack last night. I didn’t understand how Chase could host a party so soon after what had happened. It felt too raw—too fresh still. I hated it.
“I’m sorry I called you,” I whispered.
“I’m not. And I’m not sorry for kicking Chase’s ass. Anyone that lays a hand on a woman deserves to have it handed right back tenfold. And I