First Meet, PT. 6, Jesse POV

“She’s competitive,” Isaac said apologetically as he put an arm around her slumped shoulders. “Since she’s usually going up against grown men, we let her take any advantage she can get. I guess I didn’t realize she wouldn’t change her ways when playing with kids her age.”

“It doesn’t bother me,” Jesse said.

Isaac didn’t smile, but the flash of approval in his eyes made him straighten a little, even though he didn’t know how to feel about him just yet. He didn’t know much about Isaac, but the way he dealt with his daughter was telling. He hadn’t been harsh or embarrassed Violet, as his dad had sometimes done to teach him a lesson. That in itself told him a lot about the man and though they hadn’t even had a conversation, he found himself leaning toward Mom’s opinion of him being a good guy.

“I’m really sorry,” Violet said, breath hitching suspiciously.

He tensed as the tears began to pour down her face. “It’s fine,” he said and took a step toward her, but Mom got there first.

She gathered Violet against her chest as the girl broke down in sobs.

“I wanted everything to be perfect and I…” Violet hiccupped. “I ruined…”

“Shh, honey, you didn’t ruin a thing. Being passionate is a gift, we just need to know how to channel it and accept defeat gracefully.” When Violet’s sobs got louder, Mom rocked her from side to side. “There’s no reason to be upset. You didn’t give Jesse a bloody nose or a black eye, which he’s gotten from playing sports.”

Violet raised her face from his mother’s chest and looked at him with red, puffy eyes. “You’re not mad?”

He shook his head.

Violet looked up at Lynne. “You aren’t going to break up with my dad?”

“Violet!” Isaac said in exasperated tones, but he began to laugh along with his mother who was giggling like a schoolgirl.

“No, I’m not going to break up with your father,” Mom said with a broad smile as she rested her forehead on Violet’s. “In fact, after meeting you, I think I like him even more than I already did.”

 Violet’s eyes widened. Jesse was disconcerted to see that she’d somehow cried the green out of her eyes, and they were now brown again.

“You love him?” Violet asked.

“Violet!” Isaac said sharply and reached for his daughter, but his mother’s words made him freeze in his tracks.

“I do.”

Jesse’s heart slammed against his chest. Mom hadn’t told him she loved him and from the look on Isaac’s face, this was the first time he was hearing it as well. Violet looked like Christmas had come early. All of them were in various states of shock while his mother idly stroked Violet’s hair.

“Love is a strange thing. It creeps up on you when you least expect it,” Mom murmured.

“Are y’all getting married?” Violet demanded.

“Violet.”

Isaac’s voice had lost all power. It was more of a croak.

“I don’t know if your dad’s in the same place as I am,” Lynne said gently before she kissed Violet’s cheek and put her arm around her. “You and I have given these two guys enough shocks. I think it’s time we called it a day.”

As mom led Violet toward the sidewalk, he and Isaac were left staring at one another. They listened to the sound of Lynne and Violet’s voices fade as they strolled toward the parking lot.

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

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