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

him I’m going with the girls.”
    “Now, I should get back to work before I get fired.” He left the kitchen.
    The second he was gone, I took out my cellphone and texted Dahlia.
    Fri night. We’re going out
    Her: Sweet. Where?
    Me: A club
    Her: Awesome. With who?
    Me: Patrick
    Her: CALL ME RIGHT NOW HO!!!
    Laughing, I dialed Dahlia’s number. She answered on the first ring.
    “Okay, tell me everything.”
    I did, as I proceeded to go upstairs to my bedroom so Patrick didn’t hear me talking about him.
    Later that night after I had finished studying for my social studies final, I started to go through my closet looking for the perfect outfit for Friday. I didn’t want to dress too slutty but at the same time I also wanted to show Patrick that I was a sexual human being, and not just his boss’s baby girl. Not that I was already thinking about having sex with him, although I had to admit the thought had crossed my mind a time or two.
    When my cellphone rang I answered it without bothering to see who was calling.
    “Hello?”
    I was expecting Dahlia or Ivy’s voice, but it was a male one that answered back.
    “Hello angel.”
    I paused what I was doing. My heart had picked up a few beats.
    “I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”
    “Why not? What’s the matter?”
    “You broke into my house. You were in my room.” I looked toward the window wondering if he was outside again.
    “I bet you liked it.  Made you wet.”
    “We’re done.”
    “I don't think so, darling. We’re just getting started.”
    “Don't call me again.” I could hear the tremble in my voice but I couldn’t stop it.
    “I can't do that, Violet.  You belong to me now and I’ll never let you go.”
    “Fuck you.”
    He laughed. “No, fuck you, my darling.”
    I hit the end call button and tossed my phone onto my bed. I hugged myself, trying to stop my body from shivering.
    A knock on my door made me jump.
    The door opened and my mom peeked in. “Honey are you all right?
    I nodded.
    “I heard you yelling.”
    “I’m fine.”
    My mom narrowed her eyes at me. “Are you sure?”
    “Is Dad home?”
    “No, he went to Lowe’s for something. Is there something you want to talk about?”
    I thought about telling my mom.  Maybe I would feel better; maybe I wouldn’t be so freaked out.  But then I thought about what I did in the window and my embarrassment of that, and my mom’s disappointment in me, kept me quiet.
    “No, I’m good.”
    My mom reached for me. “I’m here you know.”
    I went into my mom’s arms and let her hug me tight. Everything always felt better after a hug from my mom. I sighed into her and returned the embrace.
    “I'm going out for a hot tub later before I turn in.  Do you want to join me?”
    I pulled away and sat on my bed. “I don’t think so. Thanks anyway.”
    “Okay, hon.” My mom ran a hand over my head, then left.
    Sighing, I lay back on the bed and stared at the roses in the vase on my desk. Some of the blooms were wilting. A couple of leaves had withered and fell off, littering the keyboard of my laptop. It was sort of how I felt right now. Wilted and withered and wrong.
    I didn’t know how to fix it. How to fix me. Not that I was broken, but maybe just a little bit cracked.  I sat up and went to find my bathing suit. Maybe a soak with my mom was the perfect glue. After I changed, I scooped the flowers from the vase. These were going in the garbage.
    I went out the back door to the yard. I walked across the grass to the back gate and the garbage bin. After I tossed the flowers inside, I went to find my mom but when I reached the gazebo, I saw that she wasn’t in the hot tub. The water looked inviting though, so I decided to go in anyway.
    The second I sunk down into the water, I relaxed. The tension of the past few days melted away by the hot bubbling around me. I rested my head against the edge and closed my eyes, letting everything just evaporate.
    A rustling in the bushes nearby