One Lucky Hero (26 page)

Still, he waited. The conversation they needed to have was one that shouldn't happen over the phone.

He pulled into Alpha Dog and was surprised to find Casey standing out in front, waiting.

Dean climbed out of his car. “Does your sister know you're here?”

“Yeah, she dropped me off. I told her I wanted to see Apollo, and she said she'd come back and get me.”

“So what are you doing out here instead of visiting Apollo?”

“I wanted to talk to you about this morning.”

Dean shook his head. “Casey, I don't know what you heard, but this is between me and Violet.”

“You know she didn't mean it, though, right? That she was just being an idiot because that's what she does? She overreacts and then regrets what she does after. It's her MO.” Casey cast him a pleading look. “Just don't give up on her yet, okay?”

“I'm not doing anything, Casey. I think we both just need time to cool off.”

Casey's phone rang, and he jerked it out of his pocket, looking at the caller ID before answering. “What's up, dude?”

Casey's face lost all its color, and Dean stepped toward him, afraid he'd collapse.

“You did? Holy shit.” Casey swallowed and nodded, his eyes huge. “Yeah, yeah man. I'm coming now.”

As Casey dropped the phone from his ear, Dean asked, “What's going on?”

Casey's eyes were massively wide, nearly taking up his whole face. “My friend Jose. He's down at the police station.”

“Is he in trouble?”

“No, the . . . the guy who . . . The art teacher at the youth center's been arrested. Jose recorded him with his phone confessing.” Casey started dialing on his phone. “I gotta call Violet. I need to get down there.”

Dean took Casey's arm and led him toward the truck. “I'll drive you. Your sister can meet us there.”

“Don't you have to work?”

“I'm the boss. I'll get someone to cover for me.”

V
IOLET SAT ACROSS
from her father at the IHOP in Natomas, nursing a cup of coffee. His dark eyes, once bloodshot and wild, were clear and sharp as they stared back at her from across the booth. It was unsettling to say the least. In twenty-four years, this was the first time she could actually see how her mother might have fallen for him. His square jaw was clean-shaven, and his once dark hair had flecks of gray throughout, but he was still handsome.

After she'd dropped Casey off at Alpha Dog, slightly relieved she hadn't seen Dean's truck, she'd taken Dean's advice and called her father. He'd agreed to meet her, but now that they were sitting face to face, she had a hard time coming up with something to say. Luckily, he spoke first.

“I take it you got the papers.”

“Yes, I got them.” She took a sip, ignoring the way the cup shook in her hands. She shouldn't be this nervous. She had been the adult, the one to stay and handle her responsibilities. So why did this Jack Douglas make her feel like a rebellious daughter trying to punish him?

“I want you to know that I had already filed the papers before I saw you. I wasn't trying to hurt you.”

A flash of anger burned in her chest. “You're going to take Casey from me. I call that trying to hurt me.”

“No, that's not what I'm doing. I am trying to get my rights back. It has nothing to do with taking Casey or hurting you. I just want to be able to see him.” Running his hand along his jaw, he emitted a laugh filled with bitterness. “Believe me, I understand why you would think that. I've been an asshole for most of your life, so why would you believe me?” His earnest expression held her spellbound as he pleaded, “I have been trying to deal with everything that was wrong with me, everything that made me turn to drugs in the first place, but it is a process. Nothing I say is going to make you see me for the man I am now, but I would just like to prove to you that I have changed.”

How could he expect her to believe that he had been able to eradicate twenty-four years of behavior in a mere year and a half? “So you're telling me that you weren't doing this whole thing to get custody? That you weren't going to tell people I forced you to leave?”

When he reached across to take her hand, she moved back. Violet saw the hurt in his expression before it was gone, but he couldn't have expected this would be easy.

“Violet, the events of that night are shaky, but I don't blame you for anything. I was an out-of-control mess. I know that. All I want is a second chance. I'm not telling the court anything except that I left you guys because I was afraid I might hurt you if I didn't get help.”

Deep down, she wanted to believe him, but after her explosion with Dean, she wasn't in much of a positive frame of mind. “Why? Why would you do that?”

“Regardless of what you may think of me, Violet, I'm weak, but I am not a monster. In my right mind, I would never hurt any of you.”

The little girl inside who had always hoped he'd get better wanted to believe him. “I don't know if I could ever trust you.”

“That's why I am here. To try. That's all I'm asking. For you to just try.”

Try. She tried every day to be the best for Casey and Daisy. She tried to better herself and their situations. She'd tried to let Dean in and be happy, but it seemed like every time she tried, shit went south.

Before she could tell him any of that, though, her phone rang. “Sorry.” Glancing down at the screen, she saw Casey's smiling face. “Sorry, I need to get this. It's Casey.”

“Of course, go ahead,” her dad said.

Violet answered. “Are you okay?”

“We're headed to the police station; can you meet us there?”

What the hell had happened now? “Who? Are you okay? What is going on?”

“Dean's driving me. I'll explain when you get there.”

Violet stared at the phone as Casey hung up, then panic took over. Jumping to her feet, Violet said, “I'm sorry, I have to go.”

“Is something wrong with Casey?”

“He's going to the police station but won't tell me why.”

Her father threw down some money. “I'll follow you.”

Violet almost argued, almost told him that she could handle it, but paused. It had taken a lot for him to come back here and face his kids. He could have stayed away and started over elsewhere, but he was here. Trying.

Dean had tried to tell her that people changed. She owed it to herself to see if he was right.

“Fine.”

Her father's face brightened, and he raced ahead to open the door for her.

And at least when you get to the station, you won't have to face Dean alone.

When Violet arrived at the police station fifteen minutes later, she and her father were brought back to a holding room where Casey and Dean sat. As they stood up, Violet avoided Dean's gaze awkwardly, a blush burning her cheeks.

“What is going on?” Violet asked, grabbing Casey to her in a bear hug.

Casey stared past Violet at his father. “Dad?”

“Hey, Case. Wow, you got big.”

“I'm short,” Casey said.

Their father smiled softly. “So was I, until I was eighteen.”

Violet's chest pinched when Casey returned his smile. “Really?”

As much as Violet wanted Casey to have this moment with their dad, they were inside a police station and she was dying to find out why. “Why are we here, Case? Did something happen with your sentence?”

“No, no I—” He glanced over at Dean and their dad. “Can I talk to Violet alone?”

Dean clapped him on the shoulder. “I'll be right outside.”

Violet stared at him, wishing she could say something, anything, but she didn't want to talk in front of Casey or her father.

“I'm Jack Douglas.”

“Dean Sparks. I'm a friend of your daughter and son.”

Whatever else was said between them was lost to her as they left the room. Violet sat down next to Casey at the table. “What is going on?”

Violet could feel Casey shaking next to her, and the fear squeezing her stomach into knots intensified.

“I'm going to tell them what happened to me,” he said.

That one statement hit Violet in the gut like a sucker punch. “You are?” He nodded slowly, and she wrapped her arm around his shoulder. “What changed your mind?”

“Jose. He's been wanting me to come forward with him, but I told him it would be our word against his.”

Violet's heart slammed in her chest. “Whose?”

“The art teacher at the youth center, Mr. Davis.”

Mr. Davis.
The tall, lanky art teacher had been so kind when she'd gone down to the youth center to sign Casey up last year. So normal. How could she not have known he was a monster?

“Mr. Davis is the one who attacked you?”

Casey nodded, a tear falling down his pale cheek, and Violet beat down the violent urge to find Mr. Davis and make sure he never touched another kid again.

“He . . . He asked me to stay after class one afternoon for some extra help, and I was excited, you know? I thought he was a good teacher, but then he tried to give me a beer from this mini fridge under his desk. At first, I thought it was cool of him, but then he sat down next to me. He . . . He put his hand on my leg and tried to go higher. I knew something was off, so I ran.” Sniffing, he added, “I told Jose about it, and he said I was lucky. He didn't run.”

His meaning sunk in, and Violet hugged him harder. “Oh my God.”

“But Jose told him he was going to the police. That there were other kids, too, that they'd all found each other and he was going to jail. Jose recorded the whole thing, even Mr. Davis offering him money to keep quiet.”

“Jose is really smart,” Violet said, softly.

“And brave. A lot braver than me.”

“You did the right thing.” Violet kissed the top of Casey's head. “You're here now, and I'm so proud of you. That's all that matters.”

A
N HOUR LATER
, Dean and Violet's dad waited in the lobby while Casey gave his statement. Violet had stayed in there with him, and although Dean and Jack had tried to make conversation while they waited, most of the time they were silent.

Finally, Casey came through the door with Violet close behind, her face red and swollen from crying, but Dean thought she still looked absolutely beautiful. He'd wanted to hug her, hold her to him and tell her everything was going to be fine, but when she hardly looked his way, he kept his distance.

Casey stopped a few feet in front of his father. “Violet told me that you want to get to know me.”

“That's right.”

“Wanna drive me home?” Violet started to protest, but Casey cut her off. “I'll be fine, Violet. I'll see you at home.”

Dean could tell that Violet wasn't happy about it. He was tempted to tell her that Casey would be fine, but he held his tongue. They followed Casey and Jack to the parking garage silently, listening to them talking.

Finally, Dean asked, “What floor are you on?”

“Three. You?”

“Two.”

“Oh.”

They climbed the stairs together, and Dean, who couldn't stand the awkward silence any longer, said the first thing that came to mind.

“I was offered a chance to go back overseas today.”

Violet glanced at him, but he couldn't tell what she was thinking. “Wow, so you got what you wanted.”

Had she not been listening to him the last week? “I told you, it's not what I want anymore.”

“Yeah, but that was . . . Well, I'm happy for you.”

“I turned it down.”

Dean stopped on level two, and Violet, a few feet above him, swallowed. “I hope you didn't do that for me.”

The words couldn't have cut him deeper if she'd used a knife. What the hell did that mean? Did that mean that she was done with him? It was over just like that?

“Of course not. I did it because I love Alpha Dog.”

“Good.”

“Okay.”

Violet opened her mouth, and his spirits soared as he waited for her to say something, anything.

Instead, she gave him a nod. “I've got to get going. Good luck, Dean.”

Unable to believe she was just walking away, Dean refused to break in front of her. “Good-bye, Violet.”

And then he watched the love of his life walk up the steps and disappear like they'd never been anything more than a fling.

Two Weeks Later

D
EAN HAD JUST
finished taping up Casey's birthday gift when Best walked into the room.

“Hey, we're all riding over together. You want to join us?”

“No thanks. I'm going to stay.” Placing the finished gift on the edge of his desk, he tapped it twice. “Can you take this with you, though? I'll call him and take him out later, but I've just got a lot of shit to do.”

Best stared at the present in disgust. “Fuck, no, I am not taking that gift and letting you puss out.”

Dean knew what Best meant. He thought that Dean was afraid to see Violet, but he wasn't. He was over it. He'd made up his mind to stay for him, not her, and if she was willing to let him go, then he could do the same.

He was just really busy.

Dean glared at Best. “Mind your own fucking business.”

“Not when you mope around here like some lovesick ogre, growling and roaring at everyone. You yelled at Dilbert the other day just for being Dilbert!” Pointing his finger at Dean, he continued, “Whatever happened between you and Violet, you need to sack up and deal with it, because this is not healthy. I mean, you were bad before you met her, but at least you were tolerable. You're so miserable, you're bringing down everyone else around you.”

“Then you better get out of here before I contaminate you, too.”

“Fine, I guess if you're not interested in Violet, I'll have a go—”

Before he knew what he was doing, Dean was around the desk and had Best pinned to the door by his throat. “Finish that sentence and it will be your last.”

Banging on the other side of the door made Dean release Best, who coughed and wheezed.

“I was just . . . trying to get you to admit . . . that you love her.”

Of course he loved her, he would always love her, but love wasn't always enough. “Like I said, leave it alone.”

Best shook his head. “You know, I never thought you were a coward. At least, not until today.” Dean bristled, but Best stood his ground. “Casey told me that Violet cries all the time, if that helps make up your mind. Maybe whatever you thought was over was just two stupid, stubborn people mucking it up because they have their heads up their asses.”

Clenching his fists, Dean took a menacing step toward his friend. “I swear to God, if you don't get out of here—”

“I'm gone. Enjoy your own company then.”

Best left, and Dean sat down at his desk, staring at Casey's gift.

For two weeks, he'd nearly called Violet, holding his thumb over her smiling face on his phone, but every time he'd stopped. Convinced himself that it wouldn't do any good. That she didn't feel the same way.

But Casey said she'd been crying.

Grabbing his keys and Casey's gift, he headed for his truck. He could do this, for Casey's sake. He could see her. Talk to her.

Tell her he missed her.

No, he wasn't going to do that. Wasn't going to put himself out there again just to get his heart stomped on.

But if she's crying . . .

It's not because of him. She'd made that clear.

F
OR TWO WEEKS
, Violet hadn't been able to stop crying. Luckily most of her classes were online, so no one had to see her. Except for at work, where they all seemed to back away when she'd start to tear up. She'd managed to hold most of her shit together, but it was especially hard at night, alone in the dark . . .

God, she missed him.

Why couldn't she just tell him that? Just show up at his door or at Alpha Dog and tell him she loved him.

Except that she'd blown it, big time. She'd had the chance to tell him how she felt when he'd told her he was staying. Instead, she'd made it sound as if she didn't care, as if his leaving wouldn't have affected her at all.

What an amazing liar she was, even to herself.

He was never going to forgive her, and what was the point of putting herself out there if there was no hope?

“Everything looks great,” Tracy said beside her, pulling her out of her self-pity.

Violet looked around the backyard, at the bright blue tablecloths and Star Wars cake she'd made for Casey's fifteenth birthday party. A bunch of his friends from Alpha Dog were there, including Liam, whom Violet had heard so much about. Jose and a few kids from school were also there, standing around talking.

Her dad was manning the grill, smiling and joking with everyone who approached him. Their relationship was still hard, still awkward, but that was something only time could heal.

Unlike her broken heart, which seemed to get worse instead of better.

Violet was just laying out the utensils when Casey hollered, “Dean!”

Her heart froze while the rest of her spun around so fast, she nearly crashed into Tracy.

“Simmer down, you don't want him to think you're desperate.”

Violet ignored the dig as her eyes devoured him. He looked exactly the same, except his expression was just as closed off as the first day they'd met.

What did you expect? That you would tell him it's over and he'd be excited to see you?

She watched him hand Casey a wrapped package, and then Casey said something that had made him look around. When his gaze found hers, she had the crazy urge to run to him.

Instead her feet seemed glued to the grass as Casey walked away with his present and Dean made his way toward her.

“Hey, you are squeezing my hand!” Tracy hissed.

Violet released her hold on Tracy, hadn't even realized she'd reached out for her. “You are not being supportive.”

“Why, because I won't let you crush my hand or because I am about to leave you alone with the man you still love?”

“Tracy, I swear—”

But she was already gone, and Dean was now in front of her.

“Hello, Violet.”

She swallowed and pasted on what she hoped was a welcoming smile. “Hi, Dean.”

“How are you?” he asked.

Miserable.
“I'm fine, how are you?”

“Good.”

Well, this isn't awkward at all.

A thousand things Violet wanted to say raced through her mind. How she'd missed him. That she was sorry and wished she'd handled things differently.

That she still loved him so much it had been hard to think of him without hurting.

Instead, she said, “Thank you so much for coming. I know it means a lot to Casey.”

And me.

“Of course I'd come for Casey”—he hesitated—“but I can't stay. I just wanted to say hi.”

Disappointment sat like chalk on her tongue, the bitter taste in her mouth turning her stomach. “Oh, well, sure. I'm glad you did.”

“I just . . . ” Violet watched his throat work as he struggled and finally shook his head. “Yeah, I can't do this.”

He spun away from Violet and walked around the side of the house. Violet could feel dozens of eyes on her, and her face burned as he disappeared.

Go after him. What are you waiting for?

But she couldn't seem to make her feet work, until someone literally pushed her from behind. Violet stumbled and glared over her shoulder at her little brother.

“Why did you push me?”

“Because you're just standing there like an idiot when you should be running after him.”

Sure, she'd been thinking it, but it was another matter to have her brother call her on it.

“Seriously, Vi, if you don't hurry, he's going to be gone, and you need him. Hell, I need him . . . to distract you so you'll stop making me watch those crappy movies you like.”

Violet choked on a laugh, knowing her brother was right. Not about how crappy her movies were, but the other thing.

She needed Dean.

Racing after him, she hit the front walkway as he was climbing into his truck.

“Dean! Wait!”

He paused, and as he looked around, she noted his exasperated expression and ignored it.

“I'm sorry. For how I left things—”

“No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have just shown up here like this.”

“But I'm glad you did—”

“Look, Violet—”

“No.” She rounded the tailgate and stood in front of him, breathing hard. “I don't want to look anymore. I don't want to search for reasons why things won't work out between us. Since the moment we met, we have put everything else before being with each other, and I'm done. We've been thrown back into each other's path again and again, and I don't want to miss my last chance.”

While she caught her breath, he shook his head. “Or the universe is trying to tell us that we're one of those couples who care about each other but can't be together.”

“No, I don't believe that. I think that the reason that it hasn't worked is because we were both afraid and holding back. I know I was. I was afraid that if I let you in, you were going to be another person I put before everything I wanted, but I realized that no one was getting in the way of me living but me. And I can't live without you.”

“You seem to be doing all right,” he said.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she laughed bitterly. “I'm not living, Dean. I had no idea what if felt like to be alive until you. I can be without you, I can go to work and school and be with my family, but it's not complete. For the longest time, I didn't know who I was, but I do now. I'm someone who loves to cook, and maybe I will open a restaurant one day, or maybe it will just remain a passion. I hate working at the hotline, and after the new year, I'll be looking for something else. I don't want to dwell on the past and continuously worry about my future. Instead of concentrating on all the drama, I want to be grateful for all that's right in my world. Raising Casey and Daisy was the hardest thing I'd ever done until now, and you know, I don't regret a second of it, even the bad times. I'd do it again, because they are a part of me. Just like you. Even if you get in that truck and I never see you again, that missing piece will go with you and I'll never be complete.”

Dean's hard expression eased a bit, and his mouth kicked up at the corner, a small smile, but it gave Violet a mountain of hope.

“Did you just tell me that I complete you?”

“In so many words, yes.”

Dean put his hands on the side of his truck bed and leaned over, sighing. “You could have told me this at any time, but you waited until I showed up here. Why?”

“It was easier to stay away. I know I've screwed up, but I've never known how to ask for help. I know how to fight, I know how to keep people at a distance, but this is my first bout into love, so I'm bound to make a shit storm of mistakes. I'm just hoping that you'll forgive me for them.”

Violet waited, holding her breath as Dean remained silent.

Finally, he stood up once more and faced her, arms crossed over his chest. “It wasn't all you.”

“What?”

He took a step toward her, and despite his guarded stance, she could feel the distance between them evaporating.

“I let you push me away. I knew what you were doing, and I didn't fight. I rolled over and conceded defeat, when I should have broken down your door and told you that without you, I'm just a miserable, angry asshole. I should have come back every day and told you how much I missed you. And that when I turned down the chance to go back overseas, I lied when I said it had nothing to do with you. I realized that I'd wanted to go back for the wrong reasons. It wasn't going to erase what happened or bring back the friends I lost.

“The week before we fought, my psychiatrist asked me three questions. What does my life look like in five years, what do I need to be the best version of myself, and what are three things that make me happy?” His hand came up to cup her cheek, and she covered it with hers as he finished. “The answer to every question was you. Yes, Alpha Dog and the guys, Casey, Daisy, and Dilbert were all there, but you were the center of everything. The only future I wanted included us, but I thought that you didn't need me the way I needed you.”

Violet threw herself against him, trusting him to catch her. “Oh my God, I do. I do. I am so sorry. So sorry.”

“I am, too.” The warmth of his breath and kiss in her hair made her squeeze harder.

“Can we start over?” she whispered.

Dean pulled back, framing her face with his hands. “No way. You and I have gone through some shit, and as many mistakes as we've made, we need those. They're going to remind us to do better. To be better.”

“But we just can't pick up where we left off,” Violet said.

“Why not?”

Without waiting for her response, Dean kissed her, and she pressed back, never wanting to lose this feeling again. To be without Dean. Holding tight to his waist, she would have protested, but the love she saw shining down at her eased her worry.

With one last brush of his lips, she sensed the promise in this moment. That they had something real and wonderful and would never take it for granted again.

Then Dean smiled down at her, and she suddenly got it.

Fresh starts were for the weak, for people who couldn't face their mistakes.

But together, they could take on anything.

And they would.