Love, guilt and forgiveness

RYAN

Girls and shopping—it’s like they’re on a personal mission to see how long they can torture every man within a five-mile radius. If waiting were a sport, I’d be an Olympic gold medalist by now. At some point, I even started wondering if they’d gotten lost in the labyrinth of sales racks or were negotiating trade deals with the store managers.

Just as I was about to storm into the mall and drag Violet out, I saw them. Ashley and Violet appeared at the entrance, arms loaded with so many bags it was a wonder they hadn’t called for a luggage cart. Ashley was grinning triumphantly, while Violet looked a little overwhelmed, like she was trying to calculate how many hours of her life had just disappeared in there.

I sighed in relief, stepping forward to meet them. “Finally. I was about to send out a search party.”

Ashley waved me off “Oh, please. We weren’t even that long!”

I shot Violet a look, and she gave me a sheepish smile. “Sorry,” she murmured.

“Don’t apologize, Violet,” Ashley said, nudging her. “We found the perfect dress. And it was worth every second, wasn’t it?”

“Sure,” Violet said softly.

Ashley handed Violet one of the bags she was carrying. “Well, I guess I’ll let you two go. Call me later, okay?”

“Thanks, Ash,” Violet said, her voice warm. “I will.”

Ashley flashed me a cheeky grin. “Take care of her, Mr. Impatient.”

I rolled my eyes but didn’t reply, instead opening the car door for Violet. “Get in,” I said, gesturing toward the passenger seat.

Once she was settled, I shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side. Sliding into the seat, I turned to glance at her. She looked tired, yes, but there was something else—a faint tension that seemed to cling to her like a second skin.

“Had fun?” I asked, starting the engine.

“Yeah,” she replied, adjusting one of the bags at her feet. “Ashley was a lot of help.”

“Uh-huh,” I muttered, pulling out of the parking lot. “Next time, remind me to bring snacks and a sleeping bag. Girls shopping is practically an endurance event.”

She let out a faint chuckle, but it didn’t reach her eyes. My brows furrowed as I stole another glance at her.

“Is something bothering you?” I asked.

“No,” she said, offering me a small smile that didn’t quite sit right on her face.

She was lying. I didn’t need to be a mind reader to figure that out. I could practically see the unease radiating off her.

“Really?” I said, raising a brow. “Then why are you chewing on your lower lip like it owes you rent?”

Her eyes widened slightly as her teeth immediately released her lip. The move was so automatic, it only confirmed what I already knew.

“Huh?” she said, feigning ignorance.

“You do that when you’re nervous or overthinking something,” I said, keeping my tone steady.“So cut the crap, Violet, and tell me what’s wrong. I’m not letting this slide.”

For a moment, she stayed silent, her gaze fixed on her hands as they fidgeted with the strap of one of the bags. “It’s nothing,” she said again, her voice barely above a whisper.

I sighed, gripping the steering wheel tighter as frustration bubbled beneath the surface. “Violet,” I said, my voice lower now, a thread of concern woven through it. “Whatever it is, you don’t have to deal with it alone. Just tell me.”

She turned to look out the window. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she spoke.

“I saw someone at the mall,” she said quietly.

“Someone?” I prompted, my grip on the wheel loosening slightly. “Who?”

“Emily,” she said, her eyes darting toward me before quickly looking away. “Luke’s sister.”

Her words hit me like a sudden jolt, and I could feel my jaw clench instinctively. Luke. The name alone was enough to send a wave of anger wash through me.

“And?” I asked, managing to keep my voice steady

“She…we talked,” she admitted hesitantly. “About Luke.”

I didn’t say anything, waiting for her to continue.

“She said he’s been…different since everything happened. Regretful. Guilty,” Violet continued. “She said he wishes he could undo it all.”

My brows furrowed as I processed her words, but I stayed silent, letting her get it all out.

“She also—” Violet paused, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag again.“She accidentally let it slip that Luke was the one who sent the anonymous message to you”

My hands stiffened on the steering wheel. My eyes flicked to her for a brief second before returning to the road. The message. Luke told me that day but that didn’t make it okay. It didn’t erase the danger he’d put Violet in.

“I feel so guilty, though. Maybe I’ve been too hard on him. It wasn’t entirely his fault. It was an ultimatum for him—he did it because he had no choice. And I’ve cut him off ever since. I was wrong, really.” She sighed

The guilt in her voice sent a pang of irritation through me, not at her but at him. At Luke. I clenched my jaw, trying to suppress the frustration bubbling up. I let out a slow sigh, gripping the wheel tighter to keep my cool.

“You’re not wrong,” I said, my voice steadier now. “Listen, Violet, it’s not your fault. Whatever happened with Luke was justified. You weren’t being hard on him—you were being fair. He lied to you, betrayed your trust. You trusted him, trusted your friendship, and he destroyed that. That’s on him, not you.”

“But I feel so bad,” she whispered, sniffing as she wiped at her eyes. “I never gave him the chance to explain.”

I ran a hand through my hair, frustration mounting. She was spiraling, and I hated seeing her like this. Hated that Luke still had this hold over her. What I was about to say was something I never thought I’d suggest, not in a million years, but if it meant giving her some kind of peace, I’d swallow my pride.

“Then talk to him,” I said finally, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. “If talking to him will give you the closure you need, then do it.”

Her head whipped toward me, her eyes wide with surprise. “Wait, what?” she asked, blinking rapidly as if she hadn’t heard me right. Then she chuckled softly, her lips curving into a slight smirk. “Is Ryan Jenkins really suggesting I meet up with Luke?”

I groaned, glancing at her sideways. “Trust me, I don’t want you to,” I said flatly. “But if it’ll make you feel better, you should. That said, I’m really, really hoping you say no.”

Violet let out a laugh, the sound lighter now, more genuine. She leaned over suddenly and pressed a quick kiss to my neck, sending a jolt through me.

“Whoa, whoa!” I half-yelled, my grip on the steering wheel tightening as my pulse kicked up a notch. “I’m driving here!”

She sat back with a mischievous smile, clearly amused by my reaction. “Oh, sorry,” she said innocently, her tone anything but apologetic.

Her teasing only heightened when she leaned closer again, her lips brushing my shoulder this time. Then, to my absolute disbelief, she kissed the curve of my shorts where my growing bulge was beginning to press against the fabric

I stiffened, a growl rumbling in my throat. “Violet,” I warned, my voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone.

“What?” she asked sweetly, her lips curving into a devious smile.

I shook my head, a mix of frustration and amusement pulling at me. “What the hell have I done to you?” I muttered.“You used to be so innocent.”

She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Still am”

“Careful how much you tease me further, Mouse,” I said, my voice rough now, the restraint in my tone hanging by a thread. “I won’t mind parking this car right now and giving you another round. And considering how sore you were earlier, I’m pretty sure you’d regret it.”

Her cheeks flushed, the red spreading across her face like wildfire as she quickly leaned back into her seat. “Alright, alright,” she muttered, looking anywhere but at me.

I smirked, satisfied that I’d managed to fluster her for a change. “That’s what I thought,” I said, my tone smug as I kept my focus on the road.

The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken tension, but I could see the corner of her lips twitching, trying to suppress a smile.