The Gender Lie(47)

“Hey Owen,” Violet said cheerfully. “What’s up?”

“Hey Violet,” he greeted, looking slightly bashful. “I know that you slated this time for Viggo,” he nodded at me as he said my name, and I held up my hand in return. “But Thomas and Desmond have that list for us, and Des is kind of in a fit to get it done sooner rather than later, so…”

“Oh,” Violet said, turning back to glance at me, her face indecisive. “Uh… Sorry, Owen. Viggo takes priority right now. Ask Quinn to help you.”

“Quinn,” he replied flatly, looking dubious. “He’s so….” And then he rolled his eyes and made an excited face, and Violet laughed.

I zeroed in on that laugh and Owen’s face, a wave of jealousy crashing over me. I suddenly felt like I had the strength to get out of bed and smash my fist into his jaw, and I even started to sit up but was forestalled by Dr. Tierney’s hand on my chest, as well as the pain that was still radiating in my thighs from the simple exercises.

Violet hadn’t noticed, but Owen had, and he shifted nervously. “Okay, well. If you find some time later…?”

Violet nodded, her dark hair bouncing. “All right, Owen. Please be careful.”

I tried to read the nuance of her voice as she said it, trying to get a feel if there was something more there, but she said it casually, as if he were a friend. Owen raised his hand and then left.

Violet turned back to me. “Ready for the next exercise?” she asked, clapping her hands together.

I frowned at her. “Who was that?” I asked, hating the tone of my voice as I said it. I was too old to be jealous like this, but I couldn’t seem to be getting anything right.

Violet gave me a confused smile, and I could tell she had picked up that something was wrong. “That was Owen. He’s one of the people who went with me to Patrus to get the laser for you.”

The words registered, causing me to falter. “Oh. He seemed…uh, nice.”

Cocking her head at me, Violet’s gaze twinkled as realization dawned. I suppressed a groan. “Oh my God… you’re jealous!” she announced. “Of Owen!”

I flicked my attention over to Dr. Tierney, who took a slow and exaggerated step back and walked away, her face a careful mask of neutrality.

I felt my cheeks grow hot in embarrassment.

“No,” I insisted, and Violet shook her head, refuting my statement with her disbelieving gaze.

“You are! Aww, that is adorable.”

I felt a flash of irritation at her adjective of choice but rolled my eyes. “Okay. I’m sorry—I did… feel… a moment of jealousy,” I admitted, unable to meet her eyes. “It’s just… he took you away yesterday and now he came for you again today… and I’ve just missed so much over the past two weeks that it’s hard to take in all of these changes at once. I’m having a hard time processing.”

I risked a glance at Violet and saw total understanding. She reached out to cup my cheek, her thumb stroking my stubble. “It’s okay,” she said. “I get it. I know it’s a lot to take in, but I’m here. Okay?”

I nodded, some of my negative feelings dissipating, before my lips turned upward. “I really do appreciate it, but as I said before, if there is somewhere you need to be or something you need to do… then you should do it. I’ll be okay here with Dr. Tierney.”

Violet’s eyebrows drew together and she slowly lowered her hand from my face. “You… want me to go?” she asked.

“No! Of course not. I’m not saying that at all. I just… I don’t want you to waste your time — doesn’t that make sense?”

Violet’s frown deepened, and I sighed, my earlier frustration returning. “I didn’t mean to imply that I’m not important to you,” I said, picking at a loose string on my hospital gown. “I just meant that—”

“It’s okay, I think I understand,” Violet murmured. “I mean, I don’t totally understand, but if you think I should go and help Owen, then I will.”

I let out the breath I was holding and jumped on the out she was offering me. “I do. I can tell you’ve come to care about the people here, so if there’s something you need to do to help them, then do it… you, uh, know where to find me.”

The last part I added in a dry tone, and it had the desired effect of wiping away Violet’s frown and getting her to chuckle. “Okay,” she acquiesced, leaning forward to land a kiss on my forehead. “But if you need anything, or if you just want to see me, then—”