“No, you loved the idea of me. You weren’t capable of loving anyone back then, Jaxon.” She pauses, lifting her eyes to meet mine. “You and Charlotte, I can see it’s different. Don’t let yourself ruin this, Jaxon.”
Her words echo through me as she leaves the room. I sit down, resting my head in my hands. There’s much more truth to what she said than I care to admit, but the one thing I can’t deny is that my feelings for Charlotte are real.
My phone beeps. Getting up, I walk over and pick it up from the floor. My heart jumps when I see it’s a text from Charlotte.
Charlotte: I need to send Jess for my things if that’s okay. I’m sorry.
I read the text over and over, Brynne’s words haunting my thoughts. Am I prepared to let her walk out of my life, or am I going to fight for her? I press Call and hold the phone to my ear, still unsure of what I’m going to say.
“Hello?”
“You can come for your things yourself,” I say, the words coming out harsher than I intended. I rub my forehead and sigh. Why can’t I just say what I feel? “This afternoon suits me,” I add in a softer tone.
“Okay,” she agrees.
“I’ll see you then.” I end the call and sit on the arm of the sofa, staring out the window. I’m so bad at expressing how I feel, but I know I have one chance at fixing this. I just hope I can do it.
Either I tell her how I feel when she comes over, or she walks out of my life forever.
Chapter 28
Charlotte
“I guess this is it.”
I place my bags on the floor and wait for him to say something. I want him to tell me not to go, but as he sits in his armchair in front of me, I’m convinced that’s not going to happen.
“Is it?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. I sigh and cross my arms over my chest, not wanting to give away how badly I want him to tell me to stay. “I think we still have a lot to talk about.”
“Like what?” I retort. How he’s gone back to her? How I was just a distraction, a means to an end? My stomach clenches as I realize how much I feel for this guy. A guy who clearly belongs to someone else.
“You haven’t finished asking me questions for your big story,” he points out.
“It can wait.” The truth is I can’t stand to be under this roof any longer knowing he’s aware that she’s still alive. My heart is a mess not knowing where I stand.
He nods, his eyes moving away from me. My heart drops a little bit more. He’s really going to let me go. Just like that. I reach down, my fingers tightening around the handles of my bags.
All I can offer him is a small smile as I turn and make my way outside. If I try to speak, I’ll either cry or say something I’ll regret. My heels click as I move across the tiled floor. Marina stands at the door, holding it open for me, wearing her usual tight smile. Hell, I’m even going to miss her.
I walk across the grounds to where my car is waiting for me. In the safety of my car, I let my emotions out. I’m shaking, crying, and in a strange way happy to be free. But at the same time I’m not ready to let this go. All I can think about is him and what we could have been.
Forget him. He’s already made his choice clear.
Easier said than done.
—
“Wow.” Dee’s eyes grow wide as I nod. “Holy shit, Char. And he’s willing to let you run with all that? Do you have any idea how fucking amazing this is for your career?”
“I know.” I hesitate, looking down at the table.
We’re in Patty’s Bar, unwinding with a few drinks while I tell her everything I know about Jaxon Murphy. Well, minus the fact that I’m in love with the guy. I sneak a look at her face, wondering if I should just fess up and tell her everything. Jess sits next to Dee—who is still struggling to comprehend everything that’s happened—watching me through narrowed eyes.
“Spit it out, Char,” Jess orders, narrowing her eyes at me. “You’re holding something back.”
“I’m not sure I want to write the story anymore,” I mutter.
“What?” she squeaks. “Are you fucking kidding me? What could possibly be stopping you from—” Her face falls. She lets out a loud groan, her hands dropping onto the table dramatically. “You’re not. Please tell me you’re not.”