I jumped up and began pacing because I was too angry to sit still. “It worked okay because I thought we would get back together. You acted like it was just a temporary break! I didn’t know you were already looking for your next lay…”
“Don’t say that about Tammy,” he cut in. “She’s not just a random hookup.”
“Oh,excuse mefor not showing her the respect you think she deserves. That wouldn’t befair, now would it?” Before he could respond, I charged forward with the question that had been nagging me for the last week. “How long have you been seeing her? Were you two talking whilewewere still dating?”
His hesitation told me everything I needed to know.
“That’s what I thought,” I said bitterly.
Scott cleared his throat. It was something he did when he was trying to collect himself in an uncomfortable situation, and I imagined him on the other end of the line standing up straighter. Puffing his chest out.
“Charlie, let’s get back to the original topic. Your name is still on half the business. This ad spot in the magazine would really boost our daily foot traffic, which means less spoiled food—”
“I don’t care,” I interrupted. “I don’t want to be part of it anymore. As far as I’m concerned, it’s your business now.”
“You have responsibilities,” he said in the condescending tone I had grown to hate. “If I purchase this magazine ad spot, you owe me half the cost.”
“I don’t care what you do.” I took a deep breath, like the wind-up before throwing a punch. “Gofuckyourself, Scott.”
22
Jayce
I laid in bed, staring at my phone. Waiting to see if Charlotte would text me. I’d been the one to text her first last night, and the night before that. I figured tonight it was time for her to be the one to initiate the conversation withme. I didn’t want to seem too eager, like a clingy boyfriend.
I shook my head.What has gotten into me?Worrying about text message initiations and seeming too eager was high school bullshit. The kind of shit guys grew out of when they were adults.
But Charlotte was the kind of girl who made me feel like I was young again, totally clueless about everything I thought I knew.
Our nightly texts were something I’d come to look forward to every day. During the day, while we worked, we pretended like we were just two strangers. Barely even acquaintances. But at night, we got more and more daring. It was crazy what a little distance could do for one’s self-confidence. Charlotte was slowly coming out of her shell.
And I was loving every minute of it.
To keep myself from texting her, I scrolled up to read the exchange from last night:
Charlotte: Well, what did you have in mind?
Jayce: Dealer’s choice. I’m not picky
Charlotte: Here you go!
[Photo attached]
Jayce: What is that? All I can see are a few freckles.
Charlotte: That’s a photo of the back of my calf. Sexy, huh?
Jayce: Your plan backfired, Peaches. I happen to have a calf fetish.
Charlotte: LOL, is that right?
Jayce: Hell yeah. Calves are much sexier than tits or asses.
Jayce: Give me 5 minutes and I can get off to this.
And then she’d sent another photo.
Onemuchbetter than the one of her calf.