Page 15 of Saved from Deception

“Mère?” I hate having to call her that in front of Leo and Rylan. It makes me feel pretentious even saying it.

“Enough is enough! You need to stop this at once.” Each word is razor sharp, little slashes as they hit me. “You’ve embarrassed the family enough.”

“I’ve told you, it’s not me.” Her voice is piercing; I’m certain Rylan and Leo can hear it.

“Whatever game you’re playing, Charlotte”—she says my name like a curse—“it needs to stop. Stop posting this filth online. Our clients are seeing it. Your père had to tell the Andersons that you’re in treatment for a mental illness. This is ridiculous. Stop it now.”

I can’t cry in front of Rylan and Leo. I can’t be a grown woman crying because her mother is yelling at her. But I’m afraid if I say anything right now, I’m going to start bawling. So I tap the end button and shove my phone back on the coffee table, gritting my teeth so hard I can hear them grinding.

This is so humiliating. And depressing. My own mother telling her clients I have a mental illness? We’ve never been close, but this betrayal… my chest feels carved out and I’m so empty.

Complete silence hangs in the room; I can’t even look up from my lap to see Rylan and Leo’s reactions.

And then, a light touch on my arm.

“Charlie?” So tender, such a contradiction to the vicious words my mother threw at me. “Can you look at me?”

Here I am, an adult, a professional, I used to pride myself on my independence, and I’m afraid to look up at him. But his voice is so kind, I can’t bring myself to ignore him.

When I look into his eyes, Rylan isn’t disdainful or pitying. He looks worried, his gaze soft, his brows pulled up in concern. “Are you alright?”

It’s so incongruous to how I’m feeling, I can’t stop my small burst of laughter. “Well. I guess you know what my parents’ opinion of me is now.”

I chance a quick glance at Leo, and he looks… not disappointed, but pissed. He has the same tight jaw as Rylan does, and I realize they’re angry at my mother. Which makes me feel a little better.

Rylan’s hand is still on my arm, and he rubs his thumb across my forearm a few times. Then he says, “Is that an Xbox I see over there?”

“Um, yes?” That is not what I was expecting him to say.

His mouth curves into a small smile. “So, should I assume you play?”

“Sometimes.” Is he going to think it’s weird? Too immature?

“Me too,” he says, his smile stretching wide. “I love video games. Maybe we can play once we get all settled?”

The vise around my heart unclenches a few twists. “Sure. If you want to?”

“Absolutely. I’m a fan of first-person shooters, but I’ll play anything.”

“I have a few of those. I’m not great at them, though.”

Eyes warm, a balm to my bruised heart, Rylan keeps smiling at me. “So, what do you like to play, Charlie?”

My lips twitch up. “I love Grand Theft Auto.”

Rylan stares at me for a second, then chuckles. “I wouldn’t have imagined that. But you’re on. Once we get all our gear taken care of, you and I are going to see who’s the better driver.”

Mood lifting, I grin back at him. “I’ll win. You’ll see.”

Leo laughs, his low rumbly voice breaking in. “You two.” He shakes his head. “I’ll stick with board games.” Then he winks at me. “But my money’s on Charlie.”

You two. I shouldn’t, it’s completely ridiculous, but I can’t help liking the sound of it.

CHAPTER FIVE

RYLAN

“I’m sorry to have dragged you all over Saratoga for nothing.”

---