Lyle smiles in his softly accepting way and nods at me. “What an amazing sponsor you must be, Violet.”
“Oh, I’m not her sponsor,” I correct before I have time to think better of it. Then, when I do, I could kick myself.
“Well, her loss is our gain. You’d be a great sponsor.”
I give him an uneasy smile and take my seat, silently cursing Tia for making this nightmare that much worse.
On edge, I’m ready to deflect and defend for the rest of the night, but, thankfully, the need doesn’t arise. I must’ve said just the right thing. No one else asks me anything for the remainder of the session.
Until Tia and I are headed for the door.
“Violet,” I hear a deep and oddly familiar voice say just as we are on our way out the door.
I look back to see Jet making his way toward me, two coffee cups in hand. He gives me a lopsided grin when he reaches me, handing me one of them. “I thought I’d buy you a drink,” he says casually. “Because I know you drink coffee.”
I return his smile, taking the cup yet knowing I won’t drink a drop of the steaming contents. It would keep me up all night. “Yes, I do. Thank you.”
“Vi,” I hear from the other side of the partially open door. “You coming?” It’s Tia. I glance behind me in time to see her poke her head back inside. Her eyes meet mine for a fraction of a second before they rise and widen. I know exactly who they’re trained on behind me. I feel a surge of possessive jealousy well up inside me, which is very unusual. I chalk it up to wanting to keep Jet to myself so that neither he nor Tia does something stupid.
At least that’s what I tell myself.
Tia walks slowly back into the room, her hips already adopting that swivel they get when she’s interested in someone. I turn toward her when she stops in front of me. I see her flash her most dazzling smile over my shoulder.
“Tia, right?” Jet says from behind me. I see his muscular forearm shoot out past me at my side as he leans forward to offer his hand, his chest pressing into my back.
“Yes. You remembered,” Tia says, happily sliding her palm over his.
“I’m Jet. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” she drawls, all but salivating. It isn’t hard to picture her with the toothy grin of a great white shark, sharp teeth flashing in the light as it opens its mouth to gulp down its prey.
Jet’s next words surprise me. “Tia, would you mind if I borrowed Violet? I promise to bring her right back.”
His words surprise Tia, too, as evidenced by the way they round in confusion. She’s not accustomed to anyone else getting the least bit of attention when she’s around. She’s beautiful, vivacious, and extremely flirtatious. When she sets her sights on something, she unerringly gets it.
And I can’t help but wonder if now they’ll be set on Jet.
Still, Tia recovers quickly and graciously agrees. “Of course not. I don’t mind sharing.”
There’s no mistaking what she really means by that comment. I glance back at Jet. It’s obvious by the wink he gives Tia that he didn’t miss it either. Rather than respond, however, he just looks down at me as though she never spoke. He tips his head toward the wall behind us. “Do you mind?”
I’m so caught off guard, I don’t think to do anything but agree. “Of course not.”
All I can think of are Tia’s eyes on me as Jet lays his hand on the small of my back and guides me away from her. He leads me to a corner that’s fairly private—well, as private as two people can be when surrounded by a roomful of ears and eyes.
When he stops, leaning casually against the concrete block and smiling down at me, I forget all about Tia. And everyone else in the room, for that matter. The only person I’m aware of is Jet—Jet with his piercing eyes, Jet with his heart-stopping smile. Jet with his bag full of problems that somehow make him real and more attractive than any other man I’ve known.
“Look, I, uh . . . I was wondering . . .”
He trails off. I wait for him to continue.
I don’t mind waiting. If he never said another word, I’m not sure I’d care. I could stare at him, stare into those amazing, fathomless eyes for days on end and never utter a single complaint. When he finally speaks, I struggle to focus on his words.
Jet takes a deep breath and blurts, “Would you be my sponsor? I know it’s not the normal practice since we are the opposite sex, but you’re pretty much the only one in our group who could do it.”
My mind is filled with the sound of screeching brakes. His words are like a concrete barrier in front of the speeding car of my silent fawning.
“Jet, I—”
“I know it’s probably a headache for you to even consider it, but let me tell you first how much I would appreciate it. I promise not to bother you every day like some people might. I’m very familiar with my . . . triggers, and it’s during those times that I could really use a little help. Sometimes just an ear, sometimes maybe a visit to keep me focused on what I need to be focused on. I swear I won’t be a full-time job.”
When he finishes, Jet gives me a wry yet charming smile. It reminds me that, while he’s amazingly handsome and charismatic as all hell, he’s just a guy. Human. Like the rest of us. He’s just a little weaker in some areas than the majority of the population, but at least he’s smart enough to realize it and try to get some help. And whether he knows it or not, he’s speaking my language. I’m nothing if not helpful.
I sigh, worrying my lip as I nervously contemplate all the hundred and one ways this could go awry. I want to help him. I do. And a big part of me is already saying yes. I mean, how hard could it be to make sure the guy goes home alone?
But the more reserved part of me is reminding me that I’d be doing this under false pretenses. It’s all a lie on my end. This could blow up in my face in the worst possible way. And end up hurting him.
With Jet watching me as I deliberate, I try to formulate an appropriately easy letdown. Unfortunately, that gives Tia just enough time to jump in and make my life a little harder than it was fifteen seconds ago.
“Of course she will,” Tia says, stepping up to us from where she was standing closer to the door.
Jet and I start to respond at the same time.
“Tia, I—” I begin.
“I don’t want to impose if you think—” Jet says.
But Tia interrupts us both.
“I don’t want to hear excuses. This isn’t the place for excuses, right? This is a place where we can be real with each other, where we come for help. Jet, Vi is an amazing person and such a great fixer. And you need fixing. This is right up her alley,” she says, turning to smile meaningfully into my eyes. “She’s helped me so much, and I know she can help you, too. She’s just shy. Once you get past that, I think you two will really be able to . . . connect.”