Sighing, I answer the phone. “Hey mom.”
“Hey honey!” Her cheerfulness isn’t out of the ordinary, but the banging noises in the background are.
“What’s going on over there?” I sink down onto the bed. “It sounds noisy.”
“We’re working on the bedroom above the garage for when you guys come out here for Thanksgiving.”
“Um, yeah, I’m not sure if we’re going to be able to make it or not. There’s a lot of stuff going on and I got this new job and I’m not sure what the hours are going to be like yet.”
“You got a new job?” She doesn’t sound as thrilled as I had hoped.
“You act like that’s a bad thing?”
“No, it’s not. It’s great. It’s just….” She trails off, but I know she isn’t finished.
I let a slow exhale ease from my lips, preparing myself for whatever she’s about to say. Even after I told my parents about what happened with Caleb, my mom and I still don’t always get along or see eye to eye.
“What about the wedding?” she finally asks. “Have you set a date yet?”
“I already told you we aren’t going to do that until we graduate.” With a quick glance at the time, I put the phone on speaker, set it on the dresser, and then return to the closet to search for an outfit.
“Yeah, but… Do you really think it’s a good idea to wait? I mean, long engagements don’t always work out.”
“If Kayden and I can’t make it through a long engagement, then I guess we weren’t meant to be.”
We are meant to be, though. I’m positive of that. Just like I’m positive we can make it through a long engagement. But my mom’s old fashioned and doesn’t understand that. Doesn’t understand me wanting a career.
“You two are meant to be,” she assures me. “And if you need any help with wedding plans, let me know. I’d love to help.”
I internally sigh. We’ve had this conversation before, many, many times, and it’s pointless to argue with her. “All right, I will.”
We chat for a few more minutes before I tell her I have to go. As I’m hanging up, a message pings through from Seth.
Seth: Have you talked to Violet recently?
Me: She called me earlier to say she had to cancel on our plans today. I was actually about to text you about it. Why? What’s up?
Seth: She called me to ask if she could borrow my car for a little bit this morning, which is weird. And she was acting strange. I think she had been crying.
Worry seeps through me.
Me: I thought she was acting a bit weird too. Did she say why?
Seth: No. But you know how she is. I think we should stop by and check on her.
Me: How about we pick her up for the game?
Seth: Sounds good to me. I’ll text her.
Me: Okay. TTYL. And let me know if you find out what’s going on.
Seth: Will do.
I’m about to put the phone down when another message comes through.
Seth: Wait, hold on. So, we’re really not going costume shopping today then?
Me: Yeah, sorry. Violet said she had to cancel and I’m kind of busy too.
Seth: Well we need to reschedule then and soon. I want to look amazing this year and that can’t happen if I go looking for a costume last minute. And FYI, you guys owe me a coffee for standing me up!
Shaking my head, I set the phone down with an unsettling feeling stirring inside me. Violet’s life hasn’t been easy. She’s been through a lot—more than most people.
“I hope everything’s okay,” I mutter, combing my fingers through my hair.
Then, because I know I have to focus right now, I take a deep breath, set the worry aside, and focus on getting ready for my new job. I’m not going to lie and say I’m not terrified—I am. But I’m also excited for this new adventure in my life. I just hope I can balance it with my job and my personal life. And that I can be here for Kayden. But with Kayden by my side, I feel like can handle just about anything.
I hope…
About the Author
About the Author
Jessica Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
Also by Jessica Sorensen
Other books by Jessica Sorensen:
The Coincidence Diaries:
Surviving Chaos
Embracing the Chaos (Emery and Ryler) (coming soon)
Capturing Magic:
Chasing Magic
Untitled (coming soon)
Tangled Realms:
Forever Violet
Untitled (coming soon)
Curse of the Vampire Queen:
Tempting Raven
Enchanting Raven
Untitled (coming soon)
Unraveling You Series:
Unraveling You
Raveling You
Awakening You
Inspiring You
Fated by Darkness
Untitled (coming soon)
Unexpected Series:
The Unexpected Way of Falling
The Unpredictable Way of Falling
Untitled (coming soon)
Bad Boy Rebels:
Meeting The Bad Boy Rebels
Bad Girl Training
Discovering Alexis: Truth
Untitled (coming soon)
Shadow Cove Series:
What Lies in the Darkness
What Lies in the Dark (coming soon)
Mystic Willow Bay Series:
The Secret Life of a Witch
Broken Magic
Stolen Kisses
One Wild, Crazy, Zombie Night
Magical Whispers & the Undead
Untitled (coming soon)
Cursed Superheroes:
Cursed
Maddening
Undead
Lexi Ashford:
Diary of Lexi Ashford
Diary of Lexi Ashford: The Agreement
Untitled (coming soon)
Standalones:
The Forgotten Girl
Honeyton Series:
The Illusion of Annabella
Untitled (coming soon)
Rebels & Misfits:
Confessions of a Kleptomaniac
Rules of a Rebel and a Shy Girl
Untitled (coming soon)
The Heartbreaker Series:
The Opposite of Ordinary
Broken City Series:
Nameless
Forsaken
Oblivion
Forbidden (coming soon)
Guardian Academy Series:
Entranced
Entangled
Enchanted
Entice (coming soon)
Sunnyvale Series:
The Year I Became Isabella Anders
The Year of Falling in Love
Untitled (coming soon)
The Coincidence Series:
The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden
The Redemption of Callie and Kayden
The Destiny of Violet and Luke
The Probability of Violet and Luke
The Certainty of Violet and Luke
The Resolution of Callie and Kayden
Seth & Greyson
The Secret Series:
The Prelude of Ella and Micha
The Secret of Ella and Micha
The Forever of Ella and Micha
The Ever After of Ella and Micha
Lila and Ethan: Forever and Always
Ella and Micha: Infinitely and Always
The Shattered Promises Series:
Shattered Promises
Fractured Souls
Unbroken
Broken Visions
Scattered Ashes
Breaking Nova Series:
Breaking Nova
Saving Quinton
Delilah: The Making of Red
Nova and Quinton: No Regrets
Tristan: Finding Hope
Wreck Me
Ruin Me
The Fallen Star Series:
The Fallen Star
The Underworld
The Vision
The Promise
The Fallen Souls Series (spin-off from The Fallen Star):
The Lost Soul
The Evanescence
The Darkness Falls Series:
Darkness Falls
Darkness Breaks
Darkness Fades
The Death Collectors Series (NA and YA):
Ember X and Ember
Cinder X and Cinder
Spark X and Spark
Unbeautiful Series:
Unbeautiful
Untamed