Free Living Violet by Jaime Reed

touched his arm, he finally looked at me.
    â€œYeah, it was part of the reason I came back to the States. My dad took her death hard, and I couldn’t watch him get dragged down with her.” He took a sharp intake of air and held it.
    â€œHe loved her a lot?”
    He exhaled slowly. “That is the mother of all understatements.” For a moment, Caleb was no longer with me, but someplace beyond time and distance.
    â€œHow’s your dad holding up?”
    â€œDon’t know. Haven’t spoken to him in over a year. I’ve kinda distanced myself from my entire family. I don’t want to get sucked back into all that strife for nothing to get solved. I love my family, but I’d rather express that love from afar.”
    I searched his eyes for what he didn’t say. “It’s that bad?”
    â€œYup.”
    I leaned away from him. “You don’t have mob ties or a warrant for your arrest, do you?”
    That made him smile, something I knew he needed right now, but it didn’t make the question any less relevant. “No, Sam. I’m squeaky clean, probably the dullest guy you’ll ever know.”
    â€œI seriously doubt that.” I looked out to the water, enjoying the lights tickling its surface. “Where have you traveled around the world?”
    â€œEverywhere. The only bad thing is I can’t pick up a language to save my life. My brothers and sisters lost their American accents, but I lived in the States longer, so mine sticks no matter where I go. I can speak more German ’cause I spent more time there, but French, Spanish, and Japanese fly right over my head. Nadine’s trying to teach me Polish, but I’m a lost cause.”
    At the mention of Nadine, a new question arose. The issue bothered me more than it should and I hoped Caleb was more forthcoming with answers. “Did you and Nadine used to date?”
    To my surprise, the thought made him shudder. “Oh God, no! Why would you ask that?”
    â€œI see you two looking at each other and how you guys talk, but not really. It’s always tense,” I began. “Did you break her heart? You didn’t cheat on her, did you?”
    His upper lip curled as if tasting something rancid. “No. We never dated. Our families have known each other for years, what with traveling and all that. Since I’m the baby of my family, Nadine likes to play big sis and designated cockblocker.” When he saw my puzzled look, he continued. “She thinks I’m a womanizer or something, and we all know her attitude toward men. She won’t let me forget it.”
    He had a point. Nadine had a way of cutting a man at the knees and even higher, should the chance arise. I shook my head, knowing that if she couldn’t end Caleb’s wicked ways, nothing would.
    I could tell he wanted to change topics, so I asked, “Where’s your favorite place to visit?”
    Caleb stepped behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. Without hesitation, he said, “India. The music there is insane. Love it.”
    Normally, I would have clocked a guy for invading my personal space, but the action felt appropriate for this personal moment. I may be guarded, as Caleb had proclaimed, but I wasn’t dead. Feeling the heat of his body coaxed me into a peace I’d never known I lacked. The way his chin tucked within the pocket between my neck and shoulder, the light whisper of hair touching my skin, and the gentle thud of his heartbeat made my own speed up to match his pace. I nestled my head against his chest and listened to his tales of international exploits.
    As the youngest of six children, Caleb received abundant coddling and hand-me-downs, something that I could tell he despised. He attended seven private schools and was expelled from three for causing unrest with the female student body. One of his teachers was suspended due to an unseemly event with him in the boys’