Before Violet

*Kane's POV*

We both get up from the booth and head towards his car. When we get in, the tension in the vehicle is almost tangible. I start driving and when we’re in front of her dorm, I look at her and she says, “Kane, you and I both know this can’t work. It would be best if we just, you know, kept our distance.”

She’s 100% right but that does nothing to stop the sharp pain that slices through my chest. But I would suffer this pain every day for the rest of my life to protect her. And that’s exactly what I will do.

“I know. Like I said this morning, it won’t happen again,” I tell her, forcing my voice to not give away the pain I feel.

“Right,” she whispers and then gets out of the car. I fight the urge to go help her with her bag because if I do, I won’t have enough self-control to stop myself from doing things I shouldn’t. I push the button to open the trunk and when I hear he