Read Online Violet is Blue (Hothouse series) by Tawny Stokes, Vivi Anna - Free Book Online Page A

don’t look like you’re handling it.”
    “I’m good, Mar. I am.”
    “Okay, I’m here. Remember that.” She hugged me close.
    I hugged her back breathing her in. She always carried the smell of mint and jasmine and it always comforted me.  “I will.”
    We parted ways, and I shuffled down the hall to my first class of the day, hoping it went by as quick as possible.
    At eight o’clock I ran down the stairs to the front door before anyone could see me. I’d told my mom I was hanging at Dahlia’s, but I knew she’d question me, if she saw that I was wearing a short skirt, tank, knee high black boots and a lot of makeup.
    I made it to the door and snagged my cropped jean jacket from the coat hanger, but didn’t make it out the door before Mark came around the corner and gawked at me.
    “Where are you going?”
    “To Dahlia’s.”
    He eyed me up and down. “Is she having a party?”
    “No. We’re just going to hang out.”
    “You’re a bit overdressed, or underdressed for that, don’t you think?”
    I was surprised by Mark’s comments. He was usually not one for disciplining me or questioning me.
    My mom came down the hall from the kitchen. “Heading to Dahlia’s?”
    I nodded.
    “You’re going to let her out like that?” Mark asked my mom.
    He must’ve taken her by surprise as well, because she frowned. “What’s wrong with what she’s wearing? She looks cute.”
    He rubbed a hand over his face.  He looked frustrated. Maybe work wasn’t going well.  “I’m sorry.  I’m just feeling a little worn out.”
    “You’ve been working too hard.” My mom put her arm around him.
    “You’re probably right.”
    “Go have fun, honey,” she said and smiled.
    Slipping my jacket on, I opened the door and left before my clothes started an argument between my parents and me.  I really didn’t need that kind of hassle right now. Especially not when I was blatantly lying to them as it was.
    The second I pulled up in front of Dahlia’s house, she came running out. I parked, and got out of the car. She hugged me and I could smell the booze on her breath.
    “You’ve been drinking already?”
    “Yeah girl. I have a flask in my purse, do you want some?” She dug in her purse and pulled out the silver decanter. She unscrewed the cap and tipped it to her lips, then handed it to me.
    I took a sip and nearly choked on the burning liquid searing my throat. “What the hell is it?”
    “Whiskey. Swiped it from the old man.”  She took another sip, then capped it and put it back into her bag.
    Just as she did that, another car pulled up behind mine. It was an old beat up BMW. The door opened and Patrick stepped out.
    I tried not to gape, but the guy looked hella different. He wasn’t wearing his glasses. His hair was a sexy mess of tawny waves. He wore jeans, a t-shirt and a leather jacket over it all.  He looked a lot like the 50 Shades actor, Jamie Dornan. I definitely approved.
    “Jesus,” Dahlia said, while fanning herself.  “He went from Geek hot to Mr. Hottie Pants.”
    I grabbed her arm and pulled her toward his car. “C’mon.”
    “Hey.” He smiled, as he drew the hair from his eyes.
    “Hey,” I said, feeling like a complete doofus.
    “You look great.”
    I blushed a little.  “Thanks.”
    “Don’t I look great too, Pat?” Dahlia struck a pose, that had her butt sticking out and her boobs.  She looked constipated to me.
    “Sure,” he said with a laugh, then he opened the passenger door for me, and the back door for Dahlia.
    Before I got in, I said, “You know we really didn’t have to do all this cloak and dagger stuff. I’m sure Mark would’ve been fine with us going out.”
    “Maybe. I just don’t want to take the chance.”
    “Afraid he’ll fire you?”
    “Yeah, something like that.”
    I got a sense it was more than that, but I didn’t say anything, and just slid into his car. He shut the door and jumped into the driver’s seat.
    When we arrived at the club,