❝ Ṡ𝗶𝚗cₗǟ𝗶ℝ❞

Nearly got it.

I stared at the wooden puzzle piece. I had no idea where it was supposed to fit. While Viola had been gifted edible body paint, I received a pair of 3D geometric puzzles from the Secret Santa at her department party a few nights ago.

Maybe I should have swapped for the chocolate paint.

I dismantled the 3D cross I had been building and spread the pieces out on the dining table. And with a sigh, I started over.

“Still struggling with this thing?” my mom said as she rolled up beside me.

She picked up one of the pieces and tapped it on the tabletop.

“Hmm.”

I took the piece from her.

“I can’t decide if I’m having fun or not. It’s a little bit frustrating.”

My mother gave a soft chuckle.

“You’ll figure it out eventually. Or find a loophole.”

I looked at her.

“Loophole? What are you talking about?”

“You were only little. You had one of those buckets with different-shaped holes in the lid. You were supposed to fit the shapes to the right holes to get them inside.”

“Ah, I know the toy you mean.”

“Turned out you could pretty much push every shape through one of the holes. You looked so pleased with yourself.”

I laughed.

“Work smart, not hard.”

She rubbed my arm.

“Are you okay, baby? You look tired.”

I raised his shoulders.

“I’m fine. It’s just been busy at work at the office. Lots to do.”

“Are you sure? If coming round here is too much for you, then—”

“Mom, I’m fine” I rested my hand over hers. “Promise. Besides it won’t be for much longer. Then, I’ll get out of your and Dad’s way.”

“Hey, now you’re making me feel bad. We’ve loved seeing more of you. I just don’t like the idea of burdening you with our problems.”

I leaned over and hugged her.

“As if I’d think that” I pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Honestly, I’m fine.”

I fiddled with one of the puzzle pieces. As well as being busy at work, I was distracted by not one, but two puzzles. One, the wooden cross, the other my heart. I wasn’t going to tell my mom that, though. She didn’t need to know about Viola and how she’d been in my thoughts the last few days.

Not yet.

“Okay, I believe you” She squeezed my arm. “Are you staying for supper?”

I shook my head.

“Not tonight. I’m meeting work friends for a drink, and then, I’ll head back to my place. I’ve nothing organized for tomorrow, so I’ll swing by later in the day. I might treat myself and sleep in.”

“You mean you plan on getting drunk?”

I grinned. “Maybe that, too.”

“If you want to stay home tomorrow you can” She stroked my forearm with my thumb. “We’ll manage for a day.”

A lazy day sounded nice.

“I’ll think about it.”

But I was usually happiest when I was keeping busy. I leaned to bump my shoulder to hers. “I’ll see what time I wake up” I winked.

She pressed her hand to my cheek.

“Don’t drink too much” She smiled.

“I won’t.”

***

“Sin,” Mars called out when I entered the bar.

I raised a hand, acknowledging I had seen her. I slipped through a crowd of people and joined Mars at a table in the corner.

“Hey,” I stopped, surprised to find Viola sitting with her, tucked in the corner. “Oh, Vie. Hey. I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Not willingly,” she grumbled.

I laughed.

“Okay,” I slid into the seat next to Mars and asked, “What did you do to her?”

Mars rested her head in her hand.

“I saved her from an ocean of Post-it notes. She was driving himself crazy working on something” She shared a glance with Viola, who went to say something but backed down. “I thought a break was in order.”

Narrowing my eyes, I looked between the two of them.

“Right. Well, a break is always good” I shrugged off my jacket.

Mars pointed at her glass of wine.

“What do you want to drink?”

“Beer’s fine.”

Marcelina went to stand, but it was Viola who jumped to her feet.

“I’ll get it,” she insisted and strolled away before anyone could disagree.

“Is she okay?” I asked.

“Who?”

“Vie.”

“Oh,” she said, “Ignore her. She’s fine. Wired on equations and overthinking” she sipped her wine. “Have you been okay? I presume the Christmas party went without a hitch?”

I nodded.

“Didn’t Vie say anything?”

“Not specifically about that, but she did talk to me about what happened after the reunion.”

“She did?”

“Said you kissed her,” Mars prompted, but I knew that it wasn’t Marcelina I needed to talk to, but Viola herself. “But that’s between the two of you, so...” she shrugged. “Anyway, I went over to the apartment this afternoon to find Viola dazed and confused on the couch, hypothesizing” she leaned in closer. “Not sure what about though.”

She may or may not have confessed to liking me.

But no way in hell was I bringing that up. I glanced over to the bar where Vie was being served.

“I don’t know either.”

“Hmm,” Mars sat back and narrowed her eyes as she stared at me.

There was a warning in her gaze. The 'break my friend and I’ll break you' look.

But it wasn’t necessary. I’d felt off balance since the Christmas party, a little lost, and the craving for more kisses, or just to see Viola again, was fierce.

We were interrupted by Viola returning with drinks, and when she began to ramble about the whiskey-making process as soon as she sat down, it was the perfect excuse to listen and not have to think at all. When it was my turn to get drinks, I headed for the restroom first, anything to get away from the fact that Lincoln, fellow boyfriend for hire, had arrived and was currently talking Viola’s ear off about stem cell research.

I’m not jealous. She’s not even mine.

“Sin!” Viola exclaimed as we came face-to-face just as I exited the restroom.

“Sorry,” I said and stepped around her, expecting her to go past into the female's bathroom on the other side.

“Wait” she grabbed me by the wrist. “Um...”

I moved to one side so as not to block the door. She followed me, and we stood against the wall.

“Is everything okay?”

I waited. Viola seemed agitated.

“Well...”

Maybe I should go first.

“Listen, Vie, about the other night—”

“I need one more favor.”

I flinched as Viola met my eyes with a determined expression.

“Erm, okay. What?”

“I’m sorry. I know it’s troublesome, but can you pretend to be my boyfriend again?” she scratched her cheek. “I’ll tell everyone we broke up in the New Year, so I promise this is the last time.”

The last time?

Why did my chest ache at those words?

“Assuming I’m available, I don’t see why not. Is it the engagement party you mentioned or—”

Viola sighed. “It’s my family.”

“‘Family’?”

“My parents usually go on vacation for Christmas, so we have a family meal the week before” She rested a hand on her hip. “Sia and those damn pictures. My little sister saw them, and so now, everyone wants to meet you.”

“At the family dinner?”

She nodded.

“She and my brother always bring someone. I never have. In fact, I don’t think my family has met any of my previous boyfriends.”

“So why now?”

“Because of Sia’s photos,” she pouted. “My previous relationships have hardly been worth shouting about. I never told them anything even if they asked. It’s the first time they’ve had irrefutable evidence of me dating someone” she huffed. “Anastasia,” she muttered.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Viola was so damn cute when she was grumpy.

“Okay. I’ll do it.”

“Really?”

“As I said, assuming I’m available. Text me the date in case I forget, and I’ll check it as soon as I can.”

Viola seemed relieved. “You’re a lifesaver. I’ll get in touch with Miss Rhoda and—”

“No need.”

“What?”

“You don’t need to go through Rhoda” I met Viola’s eyes and considered saying more.

I found the girl interesting and was drawn to her quirky character. There was a definite attraction, and I had found myself enjoying the dates we had spent together, even if they had been paid for. But we barely knew each other.

I don’t think I’m ready to make any grand statement.

The only way to know was to spend more time with her. So I pulled Viola into a hug and said, “I want to help.”

I smiled when I felt Viola’s arms around my waist, squeezing me back.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the lingering hug. Vie’s body was warm against mine.

“You’re welcome.”