A Million Dollars

Violet POV

I clenched her teeth to stop them from chattering and focused on Jayden, even though Dane’s presence in the room sucked all the air out of me. I think the goddess allocated the entire shitty luck quota of my entire life today.

“Is anything the matter?” Jayden asked when me. Surely, I was looking lost.

“Nothing,” I smiled, unable to stop the blush on my cheeks. I could feel Dane’s heated gaze on me, but I kept my eyes on Jayden.

Jayden smiled back. “Thank you for coming for a date with me,” he said, taking the napkin and spreading it on his lap. “I wonder what it would be to have you by my side forever.”

I picked up the glass of water and sipped it to wet my dry throat. “I wouldn’t keep my hopes high,” I explained to him for the hundredth time.

“Please don’t push me away, Violet. Give us a chance.”

I shook my head. “You are a good catch, Jayden, but—”

“Violet,” he said, placing his hand over mine. “Don’t reject me. You are a beautiful woman who is very talented and an