Violet Participates, PT. 1

2 Months Later...

“So, honey, have any boys caught your eye?”

Violet whipped her head around to make sure dad wasn’t within earshot and spotted that he was still in the backyard, tossing a football with Jesse as they kept an eye on the grill.

“Mom!”

Lynne threw back her head and laughed. “Your father knows you’re going to date someday.”

She cocked her hip. “He literally told me a week ago I can’t date until I’m thirty.”

“He’s kidding.”

“He isn’t,” she said flatly.

Lynne flicked a hand covered in flour. “I’ll take care of that for you.” She bobbed her brows. “So? Is there anyone you want to tell me about?”

“Not really.”

Lynne looked disappointed. “Really? When I was your age, I had a crush on a dozen boys.”

“I…” She made a show of measuring out the ingredients for one of three buttermilk pies they were making. “I’m just focused on school.”

“Huh.”

“What?” she said defensively.

“Not that I want this to happen,” Lynne drawled as she arranged her dough in the dish and began to pinch the edges. “But I was your age once. I keep expecting you and Jesse to rebel at some point, but you two are the most well-adjusted, strait-laced, responsible teenagers I’ve ever met. My friends are convinced we’ve either drugged you two or are hiding some dark secret.” Lynne shrugged. “I tell them we’re just blessed to have such levelheaded kids.”

Violet fixed a smile on her face that she hoped concealed the way her stomach curdled. “We still have time to raise your blood pressure. I still have two more years in high school and Jesse… he might just go nuts in his senior year.”

Lynne glanced into the backyard with a proud smile on her face. “I doubt that.”

Violet turned on the mixer and was grateful that it stopped any further conversation on the topic.

They’d just put their pies in the oven when the guys came in with the meat they cooked on the grill. Violet set the table as dad grabbed Lynne and dipped her dramatically before he gave her a kiss that made Jesse blanch and Violet giggle. Once they were seated, she took Jesse’s hand on her left and Lynne’s on her right. As they bowed their heads to pray, Jesse’s thumb stroked her skin.

“Lord, thank you for everything you’ve given us. Thank you for providing for us and blessing our family. Please protect us as we begin a new week. Give us wisdom and strength to see us through. Amen,” Dad said.

“Amen,” they echoed and dug into the food.

It was a lazy Sunday evening with good food and interesting conversation. They discussed Pastor Sonny’s message at length before they moved onto what was going on in the community and their schedules for the week. Dad and Jesse were too impatient to let the buttermilk pies cool properly. They each dug into their own while she and Lynne were satisfied with a slice. Dad had to turn in since he had to be at work in the wee hours of the morning.

When Lynne yawned, Violet offered to clean up the kitchen. Lynne gave her a grateful smile as she and dad headed down the hall with their arms around each other.

Violet eyed Jesse who was devouring his pie. “You aren’t going to eat it all in one sitting, are you?”

“I could.”

“Don’t,” she warned. “Because mom will come after you with a knife if you devour our pie, too.”

“You wouldn’t tell her it was me, would you?”

“I would,” she said, tipping her nose in the air as she carried dishes to the sink.

“You’re heartless. You know this is my favorite,” he said as he gathered the rest of the plates and piled them in the sink.

“Maybe you should ask for pie instead of a cake for your birthday,” she suggested.

He froze. “Give up German chocolate cake?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “What’s it gonna be?”

“Can’t I have both?”

“Maybe I’ll bake for your birthday instead of buying you stuff you never use.”

“I use what you give me.”

“You used that nice shirt once.”

“Because I outgrew it within six months.”

“And the cologne?”

He shrugged. “I sweat too much. It doesn’t last.”

She took in the sweat stains on his shirt that clung to his athletic physique and wrinkled her nose. “I can finish up here. You should shower.”

He spread his arms wide. “Can I get a hug first?”

She held her hands up as she backed away. “No! Stay back!”

“I just want to thank you for making my favorite pie.”

“You just did,” she said. “There’s no need to touch me.”

He moved swiftly, but so did she. She darted to the living room and faced him from the other side of the couch.

“Jesse.” She tried to sound stern, but a nervous laugh escaped. “Don’t.”

When he darted around the couch, his speed startled her into letting out a panicked yelp. He grabbed her around the waist and tossed her on the couch before he smothered her with his body. She shrieked and tried to lift him without success.

“I’m going to tell dad!” she yelled into his chest.

“Promise me you’ll make me cake and pie for my birthday, and I’ll let you go.”

“No!”

He put more of his weight on her, making her sink into the cushions.

“Fine, I promise!” she croaked.

Instantly, he straightened and grinned down at her. “You’re so easy.”

She glowered at him and made a show of smelling herself, even though his scent wasn’t as repulsive as it should be. “I’m going to get you back for that.”

He climbed off of her, stripped off his shirt, and draped it over his shoulder. “Looking forward to it.”

As he strolled away, she lay there for a second, before she gave herself a shake. She’d seen Jesse shirtless countless times during practice, while camping, exercising, or at the beach. There was no reason for his body to make her feel any type of way.

**This is a raw draft of the prequel for Corrupt Idol. Please do not share or distribute.

Copyright © 2024 Mia Knight. All Rights Reserved.