The Violet Hour (The Violet Hour Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

unpack a little and take a nap.  I was hoping the rest of the people in the house were at least considering the sleeping-in part.
    As if to prove me wrong, I heard voices coming from the kitchen and caught a whiff of breakfast on the stove.  I froze for a second debating whether to escape and sneak back upstairs or join them.
    “Logan?  Is that you?  We’re in the kitchen, come join us for breakfast,” my dad yelled from down the hall.  Busted.  I wondered how he even heard me over the noisy rain as I headed toward the kitchen.  Sure enough, when I turned the corner embarrassment washed over me as all five pairs of eyes turned to look at me .  Normally, I would’ve welcomed this kind of attention.  My dad stood up from his barstool and walked over.  As he approached, I locked eyes with Luke sitting at the dining room table and a chill scattered through me.
    “Good morning, Logan,” my dad said cheerfully as he hugged me.
    “You’re up early,” I said never breaking my gaze.  Luke shifted uneasily and then starred at his plate. 
    “I woke up when I heard you making noise from your room,” he mumbled softly into my shoulder.
    “What did you say?” I questioned, louder than I intended to, as I pulled away.
    “I thought you were having a bad dream, so I got up to check on you.  By the time I got down the hall you were sound asleep again so I drove to the store for some eggs and bacon.”
    “What made you think I was having a bad dream?” I pressed.
    “You were yelling in your sleep,” he said after a reluctant pause.  “Is everything okay?”
    “I’m fine.”
    “I’m sure you are, but I still wanted to check on you.” 
    “You didn’t need to.”
    “I… I wanted to,” he said painfully.  The last time we’d really spent time together I’d only been ten.  I could tell my directness had thrown him off.
    I hugged my father again to end the discussion.  He let go, took my cue and led me over to the table, seating me across from Luke.  Kate was right there with a plate of food. 
    My dad and Kate went back to having their own conversation while I sat awkwardly at the table with Luke and his brothers.
    “So… how old are you?” the youngest of the brothers finally asked in a tone that made me think he already knew the answer but was trying to make conversation.  Jesse seemed smart, calculated, though he played the card of ‘The Joker.’  He was attractive like his oldest brother, Jack, but neither was as strikingly gorgeous as Luke. 
    “I’ll be seventeen in a few weeks,” I replied.  “September 23 rd .” 
    My father made a deep sigh and I watched as his smile went flat.  My birthday was a reminder of all the years he’d missed in my life.  He excused himself and headed upstairs without speaking another word to anyone.
    Jesse kept his eyes glued to his plate like he knew what he’d done.  As I scraped jelly onto my toast, I tried to think of something to say. 
    “What grade are you guys in?” I asked.  Lame.  That was the best I could do?  They all smiled as if they were thinking the exact same thing. 
    “I’m a junior,” Jesse said “and Luke and Jack are both seniors.”
    “How?” I asked.  Jesse looked confused.  Jack and Luke looked at each other. 
    “Jack was held back a grade,” Kate answered from the kitchen.
    I still hadn’t taken my eyes off Luke and Jack staring at each other.  There was more to the story, I assumed.  Jesse broke the short silence with an awkward chuckle. 
    “I see,” I said, refocusing on my toast, letting the missing pieces of their story go.
    “Well, what grade are you in?” Luke asked, sarcastically.  I starred pointedly at him and calmly told him I was a senior. 
    “I see,” he said, not missing a beat.  I watched while a crocked smile slowly grew on his lips.  I couldn’t help but to smile in return.  Something about him put me on edge but I couldn’t help it – I liked him.  He was… special.  He