The Secrets They Keep

Hello, thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my book. Update days will be Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. 

This is a slow burn romance and expected to a longer book than what I usually write. I hope you enjoy it!

~Jilguera

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Violet always loved Tyra Cook’s songs, but as she scrolled through her newly ex-boyfriend’s Instagram feed, Tyra’s lyrics of heartbreak and betrayal were a balm that helped ease the ache of her own bruised heart. Though Brad had never cheated on her, Violet still felt betrayed. She got the whole long-distance relationships rarely work. She really did, but why end their relationship now, at the start of summer instead of the end?

Stopping at a post about his upcoming trip to France, Violet bit her lip. Maybe that’s why he ended it now instead of in the fall. He was going to spend his summer abroad and wouldn’t have had time to spend with her. Maybe he’d reconsider if she could meet up with him there. Biting her lower lip, she sent Brad a DM. ~Hey, about France, wouldn’t it be cool if we could meet up and hang out just like old times? You know, before you leave for Princeton and all that. ~

Violet barely breathed as she waited for a reply. After what felt like forever, he finally replied. The breath whooshed out of Violet as she read his reply. ~Yeah, that would have been awesome, but you know how the parents are. We got a strict schedule and my dad is anal about sticking to it. Even if you were here, we wouldn’t be able to hang out. Sorry Vi. ~

Violet’s throat closed, and she tossed her phone down on the bed. She leaned back against her headboard and stared out the window. The sun was setting, casting a pink-orange hue over the gated community where her family lived. Part of her wanted to text him back, try to change his mind, but the other part of her asked, ‘What’s the point?’ Maybe him leaving for Princeton in the fall wasn’t the real reason he broke up with her. Maybe there was someone else, or she was too country and small time for the big Princeton boy. Whatever, she thought, picking up her phone again and sent a reply to him. ~Ah, yeah, totally get it. Have a great summer.~ Swallowing down the emotions threatening to make her cry, Violet texted her friend, Liliane. ~What’s up? What are you doing for the summer? ~

~Not much you? This summer is going to be on fire! The gang is going to travel across Europe. No parents and a party every day. You coming? ~

Was everyone going to Europe? ~Oh that’d be awesome! I’d love to. ~ Though, Violet wasn’t sure if her parents would foot the bill for such a trip. Sourly she added ~but don’t know if I can come. ~

~Why? If it’s about the money, you know I got you. Daddy is doubling my allowance this summer since I got into the ivy leagues. ~

~Really? You don’t mind? I won’t want to be a burden.~ Violet texted back, though she really wanted to say yes. A trip on her own. That was just what she needed this summer.

~Girl, don’t be silly. Of course! I got you! I can’t spend my summer without my bestie! ~

Violet grinned and excitedly typed in. ~Totally! I will definitely be there! Can’t wait! ~

Hearing her mother call her name, Violet tucked her phone into her pocket and left her room. Feeling so much better than she had merely a few minutes ago, Violet practically floated down the hallway and down the stairs. Her mother waited for her. Violet looked much like her mother. They both shared chestnut brown hair, but Violet’s was straight while her mother’s hair was wavy, forming large open curls. They also stood about five’ five though her mother was a little closer to five-six. Their eyes while brown were different shades, her mother’s eyes were a russet brown while Violet’s was a lighter honied brown. They also had similar tastes in clothing, but while her mom went more professional business casual, Violet was all about keeping her fashion aesthetic. Viole would admit that sometimes her choices were more about how cute something looked than if it was comfortable.

“Hey honey,” her mom said as Violet reached the last step. “Dinner is ready. Gloria outdid herself tonight. Buffalo chicken bites. The smell alone is amazing!”

“Oh, that sounds amazing,” Violet said and followed her into the dining room. 

The setting sun slashed walls with an orange hue, making them appear peach instead of light yellow. Since it was just them tonight, they were eating in the family dining room instead of the larger one. The oak table was set for the three of them. Her father was already sitting, looking eager. Violet walked over and kissed his cheek. The stubble made her lips itch, though she didn’t mind. If he wasn’t freshly shaved, it meant he was going to be home for a while. Even though he was a high-ranking officer in the military and wasn’t often deployed, he spent a lot of time out of the house or even out of state it seemed.

“Finally,” her dad said, smiling when he saw her and her mother. “I was about to start this by myself. Do you realize how hard it was to sit here and wait for you guys with this smell?”

“Oh, we didn’t take that long,” her mother said with a laugh as they took their seats. The food was delicious. Her mother was right, their cook had outdone herself tonight. “So,” her mother said after a few minutes, looking over at Violet. “You seem a bit quieter than usual. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just you know, Brad and all that.”

Her mother reached out and took Violet’s hand in hers. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know how that must suck.”

“Yeah,” Violet replied, glumly. 

“Well, I for one say good riddance,” her dad said with a nod as he ate. “The word entitled was made for people like him.”

Violet’s mother sighed, giving her father a look, then focused back on her. “Have you tried talking to Brad?”

“What’s the point,” Violet said with a sigh, moving the food around her plate. It didn’t taste as good now as it had a second ago.

“The point is you don’t seem happy about the breakup and I will bet you haven’t told Brad you’re not happy about it.”

Violet shrugged, not wanting to admit that her mom was right. She hadn’t told Brad that she didn’t want to break up. 

“Uh-huh,” her mother said with a knowing tone. “Look, Violet, if you really like him then fight for him. You shouldn’t be so passive about things. Life isn’t just going to hand you what you want. You need to go for them.”

“While I disagree about the boy. I do think your mother is right. You need to fight for what you want. Life is too short to be complacent, Sweetheart,” her father said, pointing his fork at her for emphasis before he went right back to eating. 

Again, Violet shrugged. Their advice seemed all good and well, even so, Violet didn’t see the point. However, since they were on the subject. “Yeah? Well, then you should know Liliane invited me to go with her and the squad across Europe this summer.”

“Across Europe,” her dad repeated, pausing in his meal to look over at her.

“By yourselves? No parents?” Mom asked.

A look passed between Violet’s parents. While she didn’t fully understand what it meant, she knew it didn’t bode well for her.

“Vi now is not the best time for a trip like that,” her father said with a furrowed brow.

“Liliane said she can pay my way. Her dad doubled her allowance,” Violet said, and went all-in and gave him a look that told him he should consider at the very least, giving her an allowance too. Although her parents had money, neither would give her an allowance like her friends. Nope, if she wanted money then she had to work for it as they did, according to her parents.  

“It’s not about the money,” her dad said, looking as if the mere suggestion of it had offended him. “It’s about how dangerous it is for girls your age to be traveling. Do you realize how many just like you are taken by human trafficking rings?”

“Then I will stay in a group, never go off by myself or any place overly isolated,” Violet said, remembering all the tips her father had given her before when they traveled abroad. “I remember everything you taught me, Dad. I swear I’ll be safe.”

“Violet, Hunny,” her mom said in that sweet, soft voice that Violet found incredibly patronizing. “You’re only seventeen. That’s far too young to be traveling alone.”

“I wouldn’t be alone, I would be with all my friends.”

Her mother shook her head from side to side. “I’m sorry, but I don’t feel comfortable with you taking such a trip, even with friends. Seventeen is just too young.”

Violet blew out a breath. See, what was the point? Even when she tried to fight for the things she wanted, it always ended up the same. Absolutely pointless.

“Look, I’m going to be on leave for a month. Why don’t we take this trip together? We can go to all the places you want to go,” her dad offered.

Yeah, it wasn’t about wanting to go to some place specific. It was about being on her own, doing what she wanted with her friends, and not having her parents looking over her shoulder the entire time. But they didn’t get that. Nope, not at all. Though, she couldn’t tell them that or refuse to go to Europe with them. Then she would be the one appearing entitled. Forcing a smile she didn’t feel, Violet nodded. “Yeah, Dad, we can do that.”

“Great,” he said, returning her smile. “It’ll be a great time for the family.” 

Her mother smiled back with an ‘mhm’ sound. Violet glanced over to her mom. The smile on her face seemed almost as brittle as Violet’s. Did her mom not want to go either?