There is a banging on the wall next to us around the corner.
“You two better wrap it up. I would hate to kick you out, Mr. Breckenridge,” Reggie calls out.
I fix my dress as we both catch our breath. Charlie fixes himself before pulling money from his pocket. He reaches his hand around the corner, without taking his eyes off me.
“This better be from your clean hand, you hear me?” Reggie laughs, before his footfalls fade.
I look up at Charlie who kisses me on the mouth.
“I’m the only one who can make you make those noises.” His voice is rough when he says it.
“I’m the only one you’re allowed to make those noises with,” I counter, unsure if we ever really resolved this.
“I fucked up,” he admits, holding his hand out to me. “But I love you and I’ll make it up to you. I promise. And I can promise that you are my priority. I can’t excuse going after Ainsley. I can, but it just doesn’t matter as much as you do.”
“I hope you don’t plan to make it up by buying me another ten thousand dollar necklace,” I scold gently.
He grins, tilting my chin up to look at him. “Nah, that one will probably be twenty thousand. I fucked up big.”
I swat at him gently. “Buying gifts is not the way to my heart. Loving and respecting me is the way to win me over. Listening to me is. Sex is great but it’s also not the answer to our problems.”
He blows out a long breath of air. “I’m sorry. I get it. I’m in the dog house, but can we salvage tonight? Maybe do more tequila shots until I get to take you home and make love to you properly.” Charlie walks behind me before scooping down to kiss my cheek, then my neck.
I want to push him about Jack, but now isn’t the time. We’re both a little drunk and already on edge.
Vivian and Taryn greet us with trepidation. I give them both a nod, leaning into Charlie. For now, we’re okay, until I have to lay into him about his friend's attempts to sabotage us. Charlie offers me a drink and I take it. The group of us make our way onto the dance floor and I find myself not caring what his friends think or what they have to say about me or what I do. It can’t get lower than watching him follow his ex-fiancée after she gave him a lap dance.
I don’t let Jack bother me or Ainsley hang over our heads. I give myself to Charlie entirely, dancing until the club shuts down and I send my wishes for the new year out into the universe.
Chapter 21
Wedon’twakeupuntil the afternoon. Staying up and eating pizza helped to curb the hangover somewhat. Charlie rises before I do, making coffee and getting his laptop, which is how I find him when I wake. I have no intentions of getting out of this bed.
I glance at Charlie out of the corner of my eye. I shouldn’t be surprised that he’s working, but there it is. What I haven’t been able to suss out is if Charlie does this to himself or if it’s all pressure from his father. I have to imagine a mixture of both. He catches me, before turning in my direction.
“Can I help you?” he asks, lowering the screen so his full attention is on me.
“Coffee would be wonderful.” I mean it as a joke, but Charlie goes and gets my coffee and then returns to his laptop. As I sip my coffee, I continue to watch him. Once again, he lowers his screen and turns to me.
I bite my lip before plunging ahead with my thoughts. “It’s going to sound insecure, but are you willing to tell me what you and Ainsley talked about?”
He lets out a sigh, figuring this was coming. I want to feel confident, not only in myself but also in our relationship. But so much has happened that I just can’t feel secure. I’m going to have to give both time, but I hope having answers will help build up my confidence. Charlie closes his computer entirely and places it on his nightstand.
“We didn’t talk about much. She apologized profusely. She actually wanted me to apologize to you on her behalf. She said she’s too embarrassed to show her face around you. She said she was under the impression that I was still single, and I let it drop from there. I was only outside for so long because I wanted to make sure she got in the right PickMeUp! since she was a little unsteady on her feet.” He turns to face me better. “You don’t sound insecure and you have every right to ask. I am an open book and will tell you anything you want to know.”
Content, I open my book, knowing that even if he did chase Ainsley outside, I’m the one in his bed now. It might make me a coward, but I put off confronting him about Jack, knowing that conversation isn’t going to lead anywhere good. I’m in no position to issue an ultimatum about his best friend. While I know that Ainsley won’t break us up, I believe that Jack just might be the thing that does.
With the gala coming up, I oblige Charlie and go dress shopping with Vivian and Taryn. Unfortunately, Taryn looks the worse for wear, holding a thermos in her hands.
“You okay?” I ask as I meet her outside the store.
“This is full of Dayquil,” she says with a sniff. “I can’t afford to take time off work, so I’m pushing through. I think I have a head cold.”
“Probably because you work too much,” Vivian, the last to arrive, scolds. “I’m sorry, I had a deposition run late. Let's find you a dress.”
We spend a few hours going through so many dresses that my head spins. Taryn and Vivian play dress up with me, making me try on some ridiculous options, including one that has an all feather cape.
As I emerge in that dress, I frown. “I feel like a bird,” I pout, prompting the two of them to burst into giggles after snapping a photo.