sincerity in my words, or maybe it’s that I called her by her given name, something I don’t do all that frequently, I realize. But a torrent of words unleashes from Violet.
In a stumbling, somewhat confusing stream of consciousness rant that lasts all the way through two club remixes, she tells me everything.
Her Papa.
His health.
Her going into a relationship with blinders on because of it.
Her family going just a little insane.
Everything.
“So . . . I know it’s crazy, my wanting to get married just for Papa,” she says finally, tossing back the last of my Rum and Rockstar to wet her throat, “but it wasn’t until Colin was breaking it off that I realized that’s all I was doing. Colin was waiting for this big breakdown and I was just ‘meh’ about it.” She shrugs like getting dumped was no big deal, but I know it had to sting a bit. “I was ‘meh’ about him.” She sounds sincere, not like a woman bereft after a painful loss.
Not that Colin is much of a catch, anyway.
“But it would have meant so much to Papa. And then, when I told Abi, she said that I should have a fake wedding, a fake husband . . . at least until after Papa’s passed away.”
Violet rolls her eyes so hard I’m surprised she doesn’t see her own brain on the top of the roll, and it hits me.
Abi planned this. She didn’t tell Vi anything about my problem, and vice versa.
But Abi’s smart, and she put two and two together.
“She even said I should ask you,” Violet says, laughing lightly. “How insane is that? We’d kill each other. Probably literally.”
I take a deep breath and catch the attention of a passing waitress. “You aren’t going to believe this,” I tell her, leaning back, “but not all that insane at all.”
“What?”
I nod, swallowing. “Order yourself another drink. You just might need it.”
Chapter 6
Ross
I keep my silence until the waitress returns with a mimosa for Violet, who downs half of it in a single gulp. “Whoa,” I counsel her as she immediately orders another. “Slow down. It’s a long night.”
She ticks off on her fingers, emphasizing each point. “My fiancé dumped me, my best friend seems intent on hooking me up with you, of all people, and I’m wearing the most daring dress I own.” Pointing directly at me and daring me to disagree, she finishes with, “I’m gonna drink what I wanna drink.” I’m reminded that despite her soft amber eyes, she’s definitely half Italian.
So, if she wants to toss back mimosas like Powerade . . . she’s gonna toss back mimosas like Powerade. Since I don’t really know how well she handles her alcohol, I can’t criticize her. Besides, they’re mostly juice, right?
“Okay,” I concede. “So . . . you’ve got a problem. And Abi thinks I can help you.”
“Which is insane,” she interrupts.
I tilt my head, trying to figure out the best way to go about this. Violet is fiery and has taken me to my knees more than once. If she does that this time because I go in too hard, it could be to both of our detriment.
“Have you been keeping your eye on the news?” I ask, and Violet shrugs, not questioning the random direction I’m leading us in. “What’s that mean?”
“It means I read the style section to keep up,” Violet admits. “But if you want to ask me who’s in first place in the National League, I couldn’t even tell you the teams.”
“Fair enough,” I reply, silently admitting to myself that I’ve never read the style section of the news. “Let’s just say I’ve had a few scandals. I told Abi that Dad’s throwing his weight around, and it would help me personally and professionally to have a . . . steady plus one.”
“A steady plus one?” Violet asks, not putting one and one together to make two yet. Fuck, how strong are those drinks? She’s usually quick on the uptake.
Finally, her eyes narrow, flicking past me to Abi, who’s spinning herself dizzy at Kaede’s direction.
“Oh, my God! Abi set this up! That bitch. I’m going to kill her.”
I place my hand on her thigh, keeping her in her seat, but I damn near hiss at the heat coming off her skin and wonder if she’s that hot all over. “Wait. You’re right, but think this through. You need a fake husband. I need a fake girlfriend. Maybe we can meet in the middle and somehow make