“I’m sorry, Char.”
“It’s not your fault.”
I pressed my face against her neck, taking in her sweet, familiar scent. “I should’ve done better.”
She pulled back, hands on my shoulders, and looked up into my eyes.
“It’s not your fault, Bennett. You were only defending yourself.”
“I just hate this for you. You missed your appointment and the doctor’s office probably—”
She laughed. “I’ll be finding a new doctor.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re banned from Dr. Lansing’s office now.”
I shook my head. “Shit. I’m sorry, babe.”
“It’s all right. They’re squares.”
“You okay?” I asked, stroking a thumb over her cheekbone. “This had to be stressful for you.”
Shrugging, she said, “I didn’t have to clean out my savings to bail you guys out, so all in all, I’m good.”
“What about the baby?”
Rubbing a hand over her belly, she smiled. “The baby’s good. I felt some kicks while I was waiting for you.”
She looked at someone behind me and I turned. Liam was approaching.
“Let’s go,” she said to me. “I’m not talking to him right now.”
“Charlotte,” I said softly. “Come on, he means well. He loves you.”
“He’s got a funny way of showing it.”
I tipped her chin up so she’d meet my eyes. “I’ve got two sisters. Bet I’d have done the same thing.”
“In a doctor’s office?”
“Eh . . . maybe in the parking lot so I could find a big rock to beat the guy with.”
She looked at Liam. “Are you sorry?”
He shrugged and sneered at me. “I’m sorry you’re carrying his kid.”
“You told me I was like a brother to you,” I said to Liam.
Liam narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, you were.”
I felt that hit harder than any of the rest. He walked out of the police station then, not looking back.
Charlotte
Bennett stared up at my spinning ceiling fan, lying in my bed with his hands behind his head. Liam knew now, and we could spend as many nights together as we wanted with no fear of being caught. But there was no joy in it, because Bennett was a million miles away.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, closing my laptop and turning to him.