Chapter 57 | Overnight

Violet

We stay for hours talking to Phoenix and by the time it’s past midnight Magnolia says, “We should head back home.”

I notice the glimmer of disappointment in Phoenix’s eyes, but it’s quickly replaced with a blank stare. I need to prove to Magnolia and Charlie that we truly can trust him and there’s only one way I can think to do that. I say, “You two go on back. I’m going to stay overnight with Phoenix.”

I obviously caught him off guard because he looks at me, startled. Magnolia looks at me with furrowed eyebrows as she asks, “Are you sure?”

I nod as I glance at Phoenix with a small smile and say, “You two go on back. I’ll be home in the morning. He won’t hurt me, I’m safe here.”

Magnolia’s gaze roams over Phoenix as if she’s trying to decide how much she trusts him right now. Charlie doesn’t care, it’s obvious that this night helped him because he seems to have trusted Phoenix from the moment he told him to do his worst if he ever hurt me.

Charlie motions with his head for them