Waking up next to Violet was infinitely better than waking up alone. It felt as if my entire being functioned better in her presence, like my lungs could finally fill completely, like my heart beat in a rhythm that had been missing until now. And for the first time since we’d started sleeping together, I woke up before her.
Normally, Violet was always up before me, as if she had an internal clock that refused to let her linger in bed for too long. You’d think a bartender would sleep late into the day, used to long nights and late mornings, but that wasn’t her. Maybe it had something to do with Rose, or maybe she just didn’t need as much sleep. Either way, waking up before her was new, and I couldn’t help but take the time to savor it.
With a contented smile spreading across my face, I be
