Charlotte never answered my question when I texted her which really riled me, not to mention the dozen text messages I had sent her trying to explain what happened last week at my parents’ house.
Then I got her text, telling me to go have a nice life.
My concentration dwindled to nothing as anger and fear were consuming me. I’d fucked up, big time, and I deserved the cold shoulder. But she could have at least heard me out, but instead, I was standing listening to something I had no interest
in whatsoever.
Samantha pulled me aside, digging her nails into my arm. “I’m over this bullshit, Alex. Get your fucking act together and act like my goddamn husband. You’re embarrassing me,” she spat, clenching her teeth with animosity.
“I’m embarrassing you?” I laughed in her face. “Talking about what position is best to make a baby is what’s embarrassing, Samantha.”
“What do you want?”
“I don’t want to be here.” I waved my hands around.
“Then just leave,” she shouted and walked away.
I grabbed my keys and left without saying goodbye. On autopilot, I drove my car to exactly where I wanted to be. With Charlotte.
Elijah had texted me earlier to let me know Adriana was okay. But Dad, on the other hand, gave me a long-winded rant about Mom allowing her to go in the first place. On a whim, I called Dad to let him know I’d supervise. He thanked me, then warned me to watch her and make sure Elijah didn’t sleep in the same room as her.
I made my way to the club, lucky to get in because I was twenty-five, and it was an underage club.
Charlotte was there on the dance floor, dancing with some dude her own age. At first, I stood at the bar watching them, desperate for a drink, but they weren’t serving alcohol.
She finally spotted me and excused herself as she made her way through the crowd of people dancing.
I wanted to tell her how sexy she looked in the dress and heels, but instead, we fought, both of us frustrated. I led her to a dark corner of the club and pulled her into me. No one could see, and I wanted her so bad that nothing mattered anymore.
We danced and grinded for only a few minutes, but it was enough to have me hard as a fucking rock until I spotted Adriana. I pushed Charlotte aside, hoping she understood. It took her a moment to register before she slipped away. Adriana was happy I came and asked if I had seen Charlotte.
“There she is.” Adriana spotted her. “I’m glad she finally met someone… and what a hottie!”
This guy? What the fuck did he think he was doing?
Adriana walked toward Charlotte, leaving me alone with my heated thoughts. He was a jerk, that was all I knew. Adriana motioned for me to follow them, and with every step I took, jealousy shot through me like a thousand bullets.
“Alex, we’re going out for a bite to eat. You coming?” Adriana asked.
“Sure, why not.”
We left the club and walked over to the hotel which had a restaurant on the lower level. We sat at a booth, Charlotte next to that guy, and Adriana wedged between Elijah and me.
“The mega burger and fries look to die for,” Adriana mentioned while reading the menu.
“I know you don’t share,” Elijah followed. “So, I’ll get the turkey burger.”
“I’ll have the same.”
“Charlotte, introduce us to your friend,” Adriana insisted, placing the menu down.
His name was David. He talked football with Elijah as I sat there quietly watching Charlotte without being too obvious. After the most boring conversation about college, we were interrupted by Finn as he walked in and squished himself beside Charlotte at the same time the waiter brought the food over.
“Finn, that was my pickle. I was saving that till last,” Charlotte whined.
“Sorry, Charlie… you snooze, you lose,” he joked, placing the pickle in his mouth.
“You jerk,” she mumbled, knocking his shoulder.