Page 79 of Tasting Innocence
DEX
Chapter Thirty-One
Violetand I have spent the last month enjoying the summer together. We see each other nearly every day—the times vary depending on when she has to work. During this time, we’ve gone to plenty of parties and dinners with Renzo and Ronan, with zero issues. He’s already used to us being together, and there’s no weirdness in the situation at all.
I’ve been over to her house and had dinner with her parents, and she’s even joined me and my dad for dinner a couple times. Dad still works quite a bit, but he’s definitely put in some effort in spending more time with me. We’ve had our own time to try to strengthen our relationship, and I can’t complain.
As far as relationships go, I know I have no experience, but I have to say this is probably one of the best ones. We go back years, and while we weren’t as close as me and Zo are, we know a lot about the other person, and our relationship sits atop a sturdy friendship foundation. A lot of my friends have gotten into relationships based on sex alone, and those don’t work out almost ever.
“Hey!” Violet says, sliding into the booth beside me at the pizza parlor. “Sorry I’m late. I had to do inventory at the boutique.”
I smile and give her a kiss. “It’s okay. I haven’t been here too long.”
“I have a surprise for you.”
“Surprise for what? Are we doing a two-month anniversary thing or something?”
She rolls her eyes while she laughs. “No. I just had an idea and wanted to do it.”
“Okay, what’s up?”
“We’re going back to Sleeping Bear!” she squeals with a huge smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “And this time, no parentals.”
“Ooh. Taking it back to where it all started, huh?”
“Something like that. And this time we can let it play out the way it should’ve before.”
“I like that. When do we go?”
“Next week. Then we’ll be back and getting ready for school.”
Renzo and Ronan round the table and get comfortable in the seats across from us. “Did she tell you?” Zo asks.
“What?”
“Oh, bad news. These two are coming, too,” Violet says.
Zo throws a packet of parmesan cheese at her. “Anyway, I’m the one who helped get the reservations. Don’t worry, different cabins. But that place is special to us too,” he says, eye fucking Ronan as he drapes an arm over his shoulder. Ronan grins, a blush painting his cheeks.
“Sounds good to me. At least it’ll be warmer this time. We can go out on the lake and have bonfires at night.”
“And there won’t be any fucking blizzards,” Vi says.
“I didn’t mind it last time,” Zo murmurs, once again gazing at Ronan.
“Ugh. Get a room,” I tease.
“After we eat, we will,” he replies with a grin.
* * *
We endup in neighboring cabins at Sleeping Bear Dunes, which works out perfectly. They’re smaller than the ones Vi’s parents set up for us last time, but we don’t need much room anyway. Besides a living room and kitchen, we have two bedrooms and a bathroom.
Ronan and Zo head into theirs to drop their shit off while me and Vi do the same.
I hurl myself onto the bed, giving it a little bounce while I look at the window behind the headboard. “The window faces your brother’s cabin. You’re gonna have to keep your cries of pleasure down.”
Violet smiles, strutting toward me. “You know it’s hard for me to keep quiet.” She crawls onto the bed, inching her way closer to me.