The Gender Game 5 by Bella Forrest (uplifting novels .txt) 📕

soft touch. I groaned, and allowed my hand to gently brush up her left arm and over the sides of her neck, like she was a fragile thing instead of the tough, resourceful girl I knew her to be.

“HEY, VIOLET!” I froze at the excited shout that cut through the door. Violet’s eyes shot open; she and I barely had a moment to exchange glances when the door was thrown open.

Jay bounded into the room, his youthful face a mask of pure excitement, completely unaware of the tender moment he’d interrupted. I’d managed to pry my lips from Violet’s in the second we’d had before he saw, swinging myself up into a sitting position. Meanwhile, Violet carefully turned herself over onto her back, her face grimacing in pain again, and looked up at the young man as he gave a whoop and flung himself at her.

“Jay—” I winced and surged forward to hold him off if I needed to, but reason caught up with Jay, and he paused just short of tackling Violet with a hug. He hovered instead, his blue eyes filling with concern as he took in her bandaged head and bruised face. She looked self-conscious, though I couldn’t see why, but seemed to push it aside, smiling at the younger man.

“Hi, Jay,” she said, sitting up and holding her arms open to him. Relief lit his features, and he carefully slid in to hug her, obviously taking great pains to rein in his incredible strength. She held him close with a light grip. I’d seen him around the base various times during Violet’s convalescence, but I realized she hadn’t, and it was plain to see the relief on her face that he was all right, save for a few small cuts and bruises on the side of his face.

He let go of her and perched on the side of the bed. She reached out and lightly touched the side of his face, where the bruises and scrapes were already mending. “How’d this happen?” she asked. I felt no jealousy watching her tenderness with the young man; he felt as much her brother as Tim did, after all, and it was sweet to watch her dote on him.

Jay frowned and looked away, his cheeks coloring slightly. “I, uh… ran into a wall in the palace,” he admitted. “We were being chased, and someone was firing, so I had to get low quickly. I wound up slipping.”

“Not bad at all, considering what could have happened,” I pointed out.

“Yeah,” Jay said, some nervousness emerging in his tone.

Violet frowned and lowered her fingers. “I’m glad you’re okay,” she said. It had apparently been the wrong thing to say, however, as Jay shot her, then me, a guilty look.

She cocked her head. “What’s wrong?”

His shoulders slumped and he stared up into her eyes, his eyes tearful. I had no time to worry what this was about, although I was beginning to guess…

“I’m so sorry, Violet,” he said, his voice thick. “I should’ve been the one to stay behind. But I thought Tim was right behind us. By the time we noticed he was gone…”

Realization dawned, and I felt a jarring sense of empathy. From the look on Violet’s face, she felt the same way. Of course Jay blamed himself. All of us felt horrible about Tim, and Jay had probably been the first person to know he was missing; why should he be any different?

I tried to find words to say, but Violet was ahead of me. Reaching out, she took Jay’s hand in her own, patting it gently. “It’s okay, Jay,” she soothed him, taking a deep breath. “It’s not your fault. Tim did what he thought was right, and I’m sure if your positions had been reversed, you would’ve done the same thing.”

“But I should’ve done it,” the young man practically shouted, his voice belligerent. “I should’ve been the one to stay!”

I sighed and shook my head as Violet continued to pat his hand. “Let me ask you a question,” she said. “When you found Quinn, how did you decide who would carry him?”

Jay blinked in confusion. “What do you mean? Of course I had to carry him—I’m stronger, and Tim’s skin makes it hard for him to… oh…”

Violet’s voice was firm, and I continued to watch, admiring the way she had allowed the young man to come to the conclusion on his own, even as I felt deeply for him. “Exactly. You both played to your strengths. Tim is better with a gun because of his advancement, just like you’re strong enough to carry a fully grown man for a long time. Jay, I’m sure you would’ve stayed if your positions had been reversed, but… they weren’t.”

Jay’s face darkened, and he shook his head, as if shaking off the comfort. “But Tim is your brother,” he exploded. “He should be here with you! I should be the one missing.”

Violet paused for a longer moment at that one. Watching them, I wondered if maybe, just maybe, a part of her would want that. But then I saw concern blossom over her face—and tenderness. Even if she somehow felt that way, Violet would never let it conquer her.

“But then we would be just as worried about you, Jay,” she said. He stared only at her, his eyes serious. “You’re family too,” she added.

That got her a ghost of a smile, and she pulled him back into another hug. After that he seemed to feel better, because he leaned forward eagerly and peppered Violet with questions, making me chuckle.

“How are you? I have to say, I really like your cousin, he’s cool. Did you know he snuck out to go find Tim? I wish he had told me, I would’ve gone with him. Oh! And Viggo got the Liberators to join the cause! In less than twelve hours!” Violet shot me a glance at that, one that imparted not only her admiration but a bit of her exasperation at the barrage of