Page 13 of Saved from Deception

Charlie is still tucked into my side, her curves fitting more perfectly than I’d like to be noticing. “Thank you,” she whispers, her gaze seeking mine.

“Anytime, Charlie.” I force my anger at the douche down to be dealt with later and smile at her instead. “I’ve got your six.”

CHAPTER FOUR

CHARLIE

I don’t think I slept more than an hour last night.

Which, sadly, has become the norm over the last few weeks. But at least this time, the reason was different.

Other nights, I alternate between laying in bed wondering how my life got so screwed up, sitting on the couch staring vacantly at infomercials, or torturing myself by searching my name on Google. Since my face started appearing in porn and explicit photos, I can’t stop seeing them, even when my eyes are closed. I try to drift off to sleep and the same questions keep repeating—who did this? For what reason? Why me?

Last night, though, I had something else on my mind. Namely, the two men who are going to be coming to live with me. I haven’t lived with anyone since college—my few relationships never got serious enough to hit that living together stage. So it would be an adjustment to live with anyone now, but two big men who make my apartment look like a tiny house? That’s a whole different ball game.

So last night, instead of watching an infomercial about a set of pans that swear they’ll make me a gourmet chef, I spent the time preparing my apartment for company.

I snuck out to the twenty-four-hour grocery store so I could buy food and drinks for the guys. Not knowing what they like, I tried to get a little of everything—healthy stuff and junk food. They’re guys, which makes me think of chips and frozen pizzas and soda.

But then again, look at them. Muscles on muscles. So I made sure to get plenty of lean proteins, lots of vegetables, multigrain breads, eggs, and fresh fruit. Then, as I was checking out, I had a moment of panic—what if one of them is a vegetarian? Vegan?

Back again to the aisles, where I stocked up on beans and tofu and some gluten-free stuff, just in case. It’s probably overkill, but I want to thank them somehow.

Then it was time to rearrange my apartment. Since Leo is the larger of the two men, I figured he should sleep in my bedroom on the queen-sized bed, which is still going to be laughably small, but it’s the best I can do on short notice.

As I was clearing away all my things in the bedroom—the jewelry box my grandmother gave me, the framed photos from college, my stuffed dog I got when I was five—I remembered: closets!

Which necessitated a full closet reshuffling, so Rylan and Leo can now share the bigger one in the bedroom, while my stuff is squashed into the one by the front door.

I have Rylan set up in my office on the air mattress I hauled out of my storage space in the basement. During my two A.M. shopping spree, I picked up a new mattress pad and pillows and sheets so I could make the bed as comfortable as possible. And I spent an hour trying to install blackout blinds in the window so he wouldn’t be woken up by the sun blasting in first thing in the morning.

Did I spend more money than I should have, considering I’m still unemployed with no job prospects in sight? Yes.

Is it worth it if they’re comfortable here? Absolutely.

I’ve been bouncing around the apartment all morning, full of restless energy and anticipation. Leo seemed so knowledgeable and confident about taking care of the videos. Even though he was careful not to make any promises, I’m hopeful.

And Rylan is going to keep men like that creep, Dustin, in the hallway away from me. When Rylan snapped at him, it looked like Dustin was going to pee himself. It was great.

Something else that wasn’t too bad? Rylan’s arm around me. Muscled, strong, his hand on my waist with just the right amount of pressure—I felt completely safe with him. If I had a fleeting thought of what it would be like to feel other parts of him… well, I’m only human.

Tough, rugged, that jaw and those muscles and those eyes... If my face wasn’t splashed all over the internet, my reputation wasn’t ruined, I still had a job, and my life wasn’t in shambles—I’d ask him out.

Okay. Maybe not. I’ve literally never asked a man out in my life. But I would think about it.

I’m back in the same spot I was the last time they came, by the front door, this time nervously staring at my phone. Even though Rylan called yesterday to confirm when they were arriving, there’s a scared part of me that keeps whispering what if they change their minds?

They won’t, will they? When Rylan looked at me, I couldn't be wrong about the sincerity I saw in his gaze. He believes me. So does Leo. But until they show up…

My phone buzzes; it’s someone at the door, and when I tap the button and hear Rylan say brightly, “Hi Charlie. Are you ready for us?” I could almost cry from the relief of it.

By the time they get up here, I’m so antsy and happy they’re here I have to stop myself from hugging them. I’m not typically a nervous person, and I can’t remember the last time I spontaneously hugged someone, but knowing that I’m not alone in this anymore has my emotions on overload.

Leo is as big as I remembered, but less intimidating now that I’ve met him. Rylan is wearing a green T-shirt this time, which makes his eyes pop, and when he smiles at me, his entire face transforms from tough to sweet.

“How are you holding up?” he asks, his gaze soft and concerned.

Without thinking of how it might sound, I reply, “Better now that you’re here.” Eeep. “I mean, both of you.” That doesn’t sound much better.

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