Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 61531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 308(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
I kiss him goodbye, telling him I’m going to go find an officer and give them the evidence in hopes they can use it. I’m glad our lunatic professor is dead and can no longer hurt anyone else. I walk out of the room, but not before seeing my dad whisper sweet words to Violet and kiss the inside of her wrist. A ping of jealousy forms in my chest at what they have. They are over the biggest hurdle. I wish beyond anything Gabriel and I make it to that.
Hazel
Two weeks later…
Life works in mysterious ways. Forgiveness has more significant power over regret. Violet is going to be okay. Not without a lot of therapy and healing, but she will pull through. When I finally got to be alone with her, so many tears were shed, I might be cried out for eternity.
I felt like she was taking the words right out of my mouth when she explained how she and my dad came to be. I thought about telling her why I understood and fully accepted them, but I wasn’t ready to confess my own sins. I gave her my blessing even though I know it’s going to be super weird. He’s my dad, and she’s my roommate. But how much more awkward can it be when I attempt to explain that my dad’s best friend is my person?
Dad stepped up and took control of all of Violet’s medical care and finances. Her mother is a massive cunt and refused to help her, which caused my dad’s ruthless side to come out. He threatened if she ever came near Violet again, he’d slap a restraining order on her. It was actually kind of cute to see him so wrapped up in something other than work or myself. It’s been a long time since my dad has shown this kind of affection, and I admire that. As strange as it was at first, the weirdness faded just as quickly when I saw them together and really understood how much they genuinely love each other.
I can’t deny there is still some lingering jealousy. They can finally be open with their relationship, which makes me want to come clean so I don’t have to hide behind my own lies. After how I acted with my dad, a part of me feels like I’m betraying him with this secret. That the longer I wait, the worse it will be. Some days I wish I could rewind time and go back to the hospital and fess up.
I just want what they have: an open, free relationship. Not that it’s all bells and whistles. A taboo relationship has its downfalls. It doesn’t sit well with some people, one being Violet’s mother. That bitch dared to try to throw herself at my dad and take him away from Violet. I laugh every time she tells me the story, but deep inside, envy burns at the thought of anybody trying to take Gabriel from me.
Speaking of Gabriel, it was easy to sneak away and spend nights with him since my dad was preoccupied with all things Violet. But that quickly came to an end, and unlike Violet, who got leeway with her instructors, if I had any chance of keeping up my grades, I had to go back to school.
Since then, we’ve stuck to his rules. Twice a week, he takes my body to a whole new level of pleasure, and on the weekends, I drown in his gentle affection. The days I’m not with him suck—especially when Violet was still at home with Dad, and I was back at school alone.
I am starting to run out of excuses about why I disappear for periods of time. Why I’m never around when dad calls. The small pit I had in my stomach has grown into a boulder. Heavy guilt resonates deep inside my chest. One of these days, we’ll make a mistake, and we won’t be a secret anymore.
And I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.
Part of me thinks there’s a light at the other end of the tunnel. The other part feels that it’s just the hazard lights blaring because it would be the end of us. Gabriel doesn’t seem fazed. His solution to just follow his rules, and we will be okay, is wearing on me.
The bigger problem is that Violet is starting to get curious, and my dad is beginning to question me. I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to lie without getting caught.
Hazel
One week later…
“I can’t believe this semester is almost over.” Violet hobbles out of our psychology class, her boot becoming a big pain in the ass. We have a new instructor who’s older than dirt and slower than molasses when he talks, but he’s not a psycho trying to kidnap my bestie, so he’ll do.