“What the fuck is going on here?” She slammed the door behind her.
36
Vanessa
I slowly pushed myself off Isaac, careful not to jostle him in the bed. He couldn’t feel his leg, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t hurt him.
“Well?” Charlie’s hands were on her hips.
“I can explain,” I started.
She shook her head. “I really didn’t think you had it in you. You’re cheating on Dylan? This is unbelievable.”
“No. No.” I shook my head.
“She’s not. We’re not…” Isaac’s words were starting to slur. I realized the pain meds must be kicking in. I looked at him. He was fighting to keep his eyes open.
“You think since it’s not a real engagement that you can sneak around with his best friend? That’s not how publicity relationships work.” Her hands moved from her hips to a folded position.
“No. I know.” I ran my hands through my hair. Isaac was practically snoring. “We’re not cheating. Dylan knows.”
“Doesn’t make it any better.”
I exhaled. I was tired of the secrets. Tired of the lies. The laws that kept me from letting my heart live the way it wanted to. I’d been pushed and managed. Everyone told me what to do. Even tonight, when Isaac needed me, I had to sit back at the stadium because of our image. It was bullshit. I was tired of it. I wanted to start living the truth.
“Charlie, you might not want to hear the truth.”
“Yeah, actually I do. It’s the one thing I do want. It’s the only way I can my job for you.”
“I am with Isaac.”
She shook her head.
“And Dylan,” I added.
“Excuse me?” Her mouth opened in a perfect O.
Isaac’s snores started to fill the room. “I’m with both of them. I’m in love with Isaac and Dylan. And they know. And we’re all good with it. That’s the truth.”
She staggered to the chair, taking the seat Steve had occupied.
“Wait? What? Are they? Are they together too? How in the hell?”
I shook my head. “Oh no. No. No. I mean they’re friends, but not like that. I love Isaac, he loves me. I love Dylan, he loves me. It’s simple from our point of view.”
“You have a fucking open relationship with your two wide receivers?”
I exhaled. There was a small rolling stool near Isaac’s bed. I perched on top. “It’s not open. I’m exclusively with them. They are exclusively with me.”
Her eyes grew even wider. “This is unbelievable. You can’t be fucking serious, Vanessa.”
I nodded. “I am. I’m dead serious. And I need you to figure out a way that I can have both of them. That’s your job now.”
I crossed my arms, realizing suddenly just how valuable Charlie Maine was to me.
37
Vanessa