Page 142 of Match Me if You Can

The threat that had her curling into that protective ball, the fear that had her running from me, the pain that came from us learning what Lex did, the worry and guilt over hurting me, the mistrust of Ally (who didn’t exactly smooth things over right away).

All of it goes away.

And she laughs.

Ally winks at me again then goes back to leaning in her chair, head tilted back to the ceiling, hands folded in front of her, heels on her desk as she assumes a familiar position—Agent Thinking Face.

Violet looks at me.

I look at her.

But when I open my mouth to explain, Ally strikes again⁠—

“I’ve got it.”

“Got what?”

She grins. “Got how to make sure that video gets deleted and never sees the light of day, and how to make sure all the Conrads—and Lex—stay far, far away from you and Violet.”

Her heels plunk down to the carpet, and Violet glances at me again.

And frankly, I’m looking back at her with the same question in my eyes.

“Um,” I say slowly. “Are you going to clue us in on that?”

“I need to make some calls first. Then”—she nods—“yeah, I’ll fill you in.”

“But they said I had to be there by five o’clock tonight,” Violet points out.

Ally pushes to her feet. “Let’s get one thing straight,” she says as she rounds the desk and stops in front of Violet. “You are absolutely never setting foot in the Conrad”—she makes air quotes—“compound again. Not because TJ threatened you with a fucking video. Not even if they get a wild hair, decide to turn over a new leaf, and want to throw you a fucking bridal shower. And certainly not because you love the big, dumb hockey player at your side⁠—”

“Hey,” I mutter, having been fully on board until that snide comment.

She ignores me. “—and decide you need to protect him from the shit you’ve brought into his life. That shit started with his brother⁠—”

“And now it’s ending with mine,” Vi says.

“No,” Ally snaps. “Now it’s ending with me. And when I say ending, I fucking mean ending. So you and Ace hole up in the AirBnB I reserved. Breathe. Sleep. Eat. Fuck away your worries. I’m going to make some calls and when I need you to do something to help take care of this shit, I’ll fucking let you know. Okay?”

“That was a lot of f-bombs,” Violet whispers.

Ally relaxes. “I’m sure you have plenty in your repertoire too, girlie.”

“We’ll have a competition when we get into that bottle of gin.”

A nod. “We will.” Then Ally nods again, this time in the direction of the door. “Go on now. Let me work.”

Ally can seriously be a pain in the ass.

But she’s my pain in the ass.

And in moments like this, I’m also reminded that she’s the absolute shit.

Violet stands and uses her free hand to squeeze Ally’s forearm. “Thank you.”

“Seeing their faces when I put the fear of God into them will be all the thanks I need.” Another jerk of her head to the door. “Now, seriously. Go.”

I find my own feet. “No, seriously, Alls. Thank you.”