A genuine smile slips over her mouth. “Ah, I see. You’re in denial too.”
“This is a strange conversation,” I truthfully admit.
“Yeah,” she readily agrees. “Even though our wedding wasn’t real, and I was in love with Kai, it still pissed me off that Charlie slept with someone else that night. It was disrespectful and inappropriate. But I was curious about his mystery woman. And now I’ve met you, it makes more sense.”
My brows climb to my hairline. “It does? Well, maybe, you can enlighten me because I’ve no idea what’s going on. And while we’re being brutally honest, I kind of hated you, and I was terrified you were going to show up here and call me out for sleeping with your husband. Which I didn’t know, by the way, until after the deed was done,” I add.
“If you’re beating yourself up over it, stop now. I’ve no beef with either of you over that night.”
“Cheating is a deal breaker for me, and I was disgusted with myself and beyond furious with him. I know the truth now, and that should help, but the fact is, Charlie believed your marriage was real and he still had sex with me. That’s hardly a great character endorsement. Or the fact he’s a walking STD.”
She barks out a laugh. “Charlie once told me he loves sex, but that’s all he’s known. A purely physical act. He’s never been in a relationship. I wouldn’t be too quick to dismiss him.” She peers into my eyes. “Despite how he treats you, Charlie is a great guy. He lost his way for a while, but he’s loyal and dependable, and he would die before he let anything happen to those he loves.” She looks off into space for a minute. “He nearly died protecting me,” she whispers.
“What?”
“He wasn’t injured by the bomb. That was the story the elite fed the media. He jumped in front of a bullet aimed at me.” She stands. “I don’t know what’s going on between you, and I won’t interfere, but if you have feelings for him, please don’t give up on him. Please give him a chance to show you who he truly is. All I want is for him to be happy, and if he could have that with you…” She trails off, her hopeful eyes searching mine for answers I can’t give.
I stand. “I think you’re under some misapprehension, Abby. There is nothing going on between me and Charlie.”
She takes my arm, pulling me over to the window. We stand side by side in front of the glass, our reflections staring back at us. “I know you’ve seen it. How much we look alike.”
“All that proves is Charlie is still in love with you.”
She turns to face me, repeatedly shaking her head. “Charlie was never in love with me. I think he believed he was, at one point, but it was tied up with the elite crap we were dealing with and his need to keep me safe. Trust me when I say the love we share is strictly platonic, because the way he looked at you back there?” Her voice elevates a few decibels as she arches a brow. “I’ve never seen Charlie look at any woman like that.”
CHAPTER 8
Charlie
A week passes and nothing changes although the world continues to revolve. Since her surprise visit last week, Abby is on a one-woman mission to bring me back into the crew. She calls and texts several times a day and accosts me every time I step foot on campus, and it’s clear she’s not giving up until I concede something.
“Why does it matter so much to you?” I say as we stand in line in the food court at lunchtime on Monday.
“Because you’re my friend, our friend, and I don’t want you to be alone.”
“Save your pity for someone who cares,” I deadpan, swiping two chocolate muffins on a whim and plonking them on my tray.
“It’s not pity, and you’re not fooling me, Charlie.” She shoots me a smug grin. “I can keep this up forever. You, of all people, know how stubborn I can be.”
My lips twitch at the truth. “I doubt your husband supports your plan.”
I try not to hiss the word husband, but it’s still a bit of a touchy subject, because I feel like such a fool every time I reflect on the whole scenario. I was a blind idiot not to see what was right in front of my eyes.
Abby was never mine, and if I’m honest with myself, I was never hers either.
At the time, I really thought what I was feeling was love, but when she was gone from my life, I realized it couldn’t have been that, because the pain I felt at her loss paled in comparison to the pain of losing my family.
And while I miss having Abby around, I don’t miss her much more than I’ve missed her brother.
She was right all along. I confused platonic love, and wanting to keep her safe, with romantic love. I was never in love with her that way. I’m glad we cleared the air last week. That she believes and agrees with me.
Maybe, I should make more of an effort.
No man actually likes being an island, and I’m getting sick of my own company.
I glance over at their usual table, finding Kaiden’s eyes fixed on mine. He’s not glaring at me, but it’s far from a friendly look. My eyes flit to Jackson Lauder, watching his mouth curl in a sneer as a pretty girl with long dark-blonde hair walks by. Kaiden’s attention switches, and he looks away from me, mouthing something at Lauder, and they get into it. I turn around, finding Abby watching me with that invasive all-seeing look of hers.
Air whooshes out of her mouth, and she rolls her eyes. “You two need to quit this shit. Holding on to your hatred is so pointless. Get over yourself already.” She prods me with one slim finger in the chest. “Drew needs you. He’s every bit as stubborn as me, so he won’t admit it, but he needs your friendship, and for that to happen, you need to fix shit with Kai too.”
I hand my items to the girl behind the register and swipe my card. “Look.” I angle my body so I’m facing her. “I appreciate the effort you’re making. I genuinely do. But you can’t fix this.”
“You can.” She swipes her card, paying for her lunch, as the girl hands me my takeout bag. “Starting with coming to dinner on Sunday.”
I open my mouth to decline, again, but she clamps her hand over my lips. “I’m not taking no for an answer. Three o’clock at our place.” She grabs her tray, fighting a smirk. “Bring Demi,” she adds, sauntering off with a pleased smile on her face, not even allowing me to respond either way.
I’m thinking of Demi as I climb into my Land Rover and exit the college campus, heading for the city.
Then again, when am I ever not thinking about her?
It’s getting worse since we went down on each other in my office last week. I’ve been replaying it in my mind, over and over, jerking off repeatedly to visions of her hot mouth suctioned around my dick and the addictive taste of her arousal as I ravished her pussy. Nothing has ever tasted sweeter, and I can’t evict her from my mind or the craving to return for more. Desire pools in my groin, and my cock predictably responds, thickening behind my pants.
I’ve tried my best to keep her at arm’s length this past week, but my resolve is weakening.
I know she’s noticed how I avail of every opportunity to touch her. Whether it’s a fleeting alignment of our bodies as I waltz past or a deliberate brush of my fingers against hers when she’s handing me something or touching her arm accidentally on purpose when I lean over her desk, invading her personal space as I hover way too close for comfort, I’m having a hard time staying away from her. Fighting a daily battle not to put my hands on her.