Between Love and Hate

That Dress

*Kane's POV*

After that stupid tour, I head to my room, or rather, the room they call mine and take out my laptop. I have an hour and it should only take me about 5 minutes to change.

When I can no longer justify procrastinating any longer, I pull on black jeans and a white v-neck with a leather jacket. I don’t do dress pants and button up shirts. I push the sleeves up on my jacket to show more of my tattoos, knowing they piss my dad off.

I walk out of my room and find Violet closing the door to hers. I can’t stop myself from raking my eyes up and down her body. It would be so easy to push her back against that wall, and f**k her in that dress. I want to put my mouth all over the exposed skin on her shoulders and neck.

My eyes find their way back to her blue ones which are regarding me intently. I can’t decipher the emotion behind them. Her eyelashes flutter a little, and I snap out of my trance. We are in my father’s house. This cannot be happening. God why did you have to wear that? I catch her flinch when I let my anger infiltrate my gaze, turning it into a glare. Good. She should feel the same way I feel. I turn away and stalk downstairs.

I don’t bother checking if she’s following me. When I reach the bottom of the stairs my dad and Heather are walking towards the entrance.

“Where’s Violet?” Heather asks me. I nod towards the staircase and see that she’s just starting to come down. She’s looking down and I have a feeling it’s to avoid looking at me. The glass railing gives me a clear view of the way the dress sways with her hips as she walks down the stairs and I force myself to look away before my father sees me.

When I look at him, though, I see that I shouldn’t have been concerned about him looking at me because he’s only looking at her. I see a hungry look in his eyes and I feel jealousy shoot, burning hot, through my veins. Nobody should be able to look at her like that. Least of all him. I clench my jaw and force it down. She finally reaches the bottom of the stairs and her mother says, “Oh Violet, you look beautiful. I’m so glad you’re finally recovering.”

Her eyes flicker to me and I see panic behind them. “Uh, yeah. Thanks, mom.” she says nervously, looking back to the floor. Recovery from what? Was she sick or something? I don’t have time to dwell on it as Lana informs us the driver has arrived.

When the car pulls up at the restaurant, we all get out and are seated immediately. My father and Heather sit beside each other, leaving me across from him and Violet to my right. Sitting this close to her, I can smell the intoxicating scent of vanilla mixed with a little lavender coming off of her that filled my car and tortured me the entire drive up here.

My father orders a bottle of wine for the table and then looks at Violet and says, “And you’re in charge of ordering the whiskey.”

“Oh, um, right. We’ll take three of the Michter’s 20 year please,” She says quietly. The waiter nods.

“Make those doubles,” my dad says. The waiter nods and says, “Yes sir, I will be right back with those.”

We take a look at the menus and when the waiter returns, he opens the bottle and pours some in all of our glasses. We all order appetizers and then we taste the bourbon. I’m surprised at how much I like it. I see my dad is equally as surprised.

“This is quite good. I’m impressed by your choice Violet,” He tells her with a smile.

I see her cheeks colour a little as she says, “Thank you,” and then looks away quickly.

“So, Violet, how is everything going at school?” Heather asks her.

“Fine. We start classes Monday. My roommate is nice though,” she replies.

“Oh you’re staying on campus? I thought your father was getting you an apartment?” Heather asks.

“He offered, but I said I would prefer the dorms, you know, to make friends and whatnot.”

“I see. And what is it you’re taking again?” Heather asks and when I glance at Violet, she pauses briefly with her drink halfway to her mouth and I catch a brief flash of hurt in her eyes. My anger flares and I have to fight to contain it. How can she not even know what her own daughter is studying?

“Um, Sociology, and then hopefully law school,” She replies quietly.

“Right,” Heather replies and then takes a big drink from her wine glass.

Cutting the tension, my father says, “What kind of law are you interested in?”

“Criminal.” This piques my fathers interest. And mine. I just can’t picture someone so shy and quiet being able to hold their own in a courtroom.

“That’s very interesting. I’m sure you will do well,” He tells her, flashing her a grin.

“Thank you,” she replies, once again averting her gaze. He’s intentionally being charming to try and piss me off. Make me jealous and force me to show it.

“How is Jace doing?” Heather asks. That must be the boyfriend she mentioned in the car.

“He’s good. He’s just started second year at UMass. He helped me get all moved in.”

“Such a sweet boy. I’m so glad you have him.”

“Yeah. Me too,” Violet replies. There is more awkward silence, but thankfully the appetizers show up and we all pretend to be very interested in our food after ordering our main courses. I notice Violet picking at her salad and slowly taking a few bites. When we’re all finished, Violet sets her fork down, even though her bowl is still half full.

Heather notices too and says, “Are you not finishing that Violet?”

“No, I’m done,” she says, giving her a strange look.

“Are you sure you-”

“Yes, Mom. I’m sure,” Her tone is polite but her eyes are not. Heather decides to drop it and Violet downs the rest of her bourbon. When the waiter comes over to collect our plates, my father orders another bottle of wine and another round of bourbon.

He comes back quickly with our drinks and our meals follow soon after. The rest of the meal is filled with more awkward silences in between the forced attempts at conversation. Most of the questions are directed at Violet because she’s the one they haven’t seen in over a year and I can tell makes her uncomfortable, but she hides it well.

When we finish our main courses, the waiter comes and asks about dessert which we all decline and Heather gives Violet another strange look but doesn’t make a comment.

When we get back to the house, my father suggests another drink.

“Actually I told Jace I would facetime him tonight so I should go do that. Thank you though,” she replies with a polite smile.

“I’m good thanks,” I say, turning to go up the stairs.

“Thank you for dinner. Goodnight,” I hear say before her footsteps follow me up the stairs.

I wait for her just outside my bedroom door with my hand on the knob and when I hear her right behind me I say, “That dress looks incredible on you,” and then push open my door, walk in and close it behind me before she can answer.