Falling for the Ghost of You(62)

Grandma stops my rush of words with a wave of her hand. "Violet, I'm not so out of touch to think that you aren't having sex by now. And I'd like to think that you are smart enough and responsible enough to be safe." She pauses and sighs. "But with that one... Violet, does your mother know?"

"No! I just...it just sort of happened with Zane." I shrug and pleat my fingers together nervously. "I was going to tell her after the wedding. I didn't... I don't know. Please don't tell her—I promise I'll do it myself."

Grandma raises one perfectly groomed eyebrow. "I'm surprised she doesn't already suspect. Anyone can see the sparks flying between you two every time you're together."

I bite my lip, both pleased and embarrassed. "She's been really distracted with the wedding and stuff."

"I suppose so!" She allows a smile to crack her disapproving expression. "He's absolutely gorgeous. I can see the temptation."

"Grandma!" I laugh and hook my arm through hers. "I am still a virgin, though."

"Hm, but from the looks of it, you won't be for much longer." She pats my cheek hard. "Take steps to protect yourself. I am far too young to be a great grandmother."

We start strolling back towards the ball room. "I'm not the one you should be worried about," I snicker.

"Taylor?" Grandma nods knowingly. "She'll be lucky to know who the father is, that one. She's a bit of a tramp, isn't she?"

I beam at her. "I love you, Grandma."

"I know, dear." She smiles and squeezes my arm. "That doesn't mean I won't kick your ass if I catch you carrying on like that in public again. Is that clear?"

"Crystal."

I think if I were to keep track of all my humiliations, I would probably have to kill myself.



I find Zane talking with a couple of guys that I assume are Bill's co-workers. When he sees me, he raises both eyebrows. I shrug and smile sheepishly in response. He excuses himself and walks over to me.

"Everything okay?" he asks, rubbing my arm.

"I think so. I don't know if I'll ever be able to look her in the eye again, but she was pretty cool about it."

“Yeah?” He chuckles. “From the look on her face, I thought I was gonna have to climb an ivory tower to rescue you.”

“Mm,” I say, squinting up at him. “Would you really do that for me?”

“I could probably be talked into it.”

“Well if I ever—”

“Violet!”

Something rams into the back of my legs, propelling me forward into Zane, who catches me against his chest.

Oh, my god. What’s happening right now?! Ow.

I whirl around, still supported by Zane’s arms. “Hunter!” I gasp.

My six year old demon cousin grins at me. The blonde Mohawk he's rocking makes him look like a miniature biker dude--.in a suit.

"I'm a shark! Rawr!" He slaps me in the belly—hard.

"Ha," I say, ruffling his stripe of hair. "Sharks don't say 'rawr.' And what did I say about you hitting me?"

Hunter jumps into a karate pose. "That you'll hit me back, only harder 'cause your waaay stronger than me." He walks up to Zane and tilts his head back to look at him. "Mom says you're my cousin now. Is that true?" he demands suspiciously.

Zane looks down at him with that half smile. "Guess so, little man. What do you think about that?"

"It's okay, I guess," Hunter says thoughtfully. "But...you're not really gonna eat Violet, are you?"

Zane and I exchange puzzled looks. "Hunter, why would you ask that?" I want to know.

"My mom says he looks at you like he wants to eat you," he replies matter-of-factly. " She says it's 'cause of your ginormous boobies. But why would that make you want to eat her?"

Zane starts laughing while I cover my flaming cheeks with my hands. I'm going to kill my aunt!

He crouches down and waves Hunter over. My little cousin leans close and listens intently to whatever Zane is whispering. Suddenly, his eyes widen. "For reals?" he demands skeptically.

"Would I lie?" Zane says solemnly.

"Whoa!"

Hunter suddenly whirls around and takes off like a bullet. I turn to Zane.

"What did you tell him?" I ask suspiciously.

Zane shrugs and watches Hunter go. "Just a little secret that us older guys have discovered."

A scream draws my attention to across the room to the table my aunt's sitting at. Aunt Lisa is covering her chest with one arm, and slapping wildly at her feral-looking son with the other. Hunter is jumping up at her, jaws snapping. It looks like he's trying to...

Zane gives me a sideways glance. "I told him boobies taste like chocolate cake."