Page 49 of Spiteful Lies

“Astrid, you really are tough,” he says, “You did a great thing by telling the truth.”

I grin. “I’m glad to see you’re back with Roni, though I haven’t seen much of you lately. Or her.”

“We keep to ourselves.” He shrugs. “We got a second chance, and I’m not screwing it up. But, good job on taking down Ted Leister.” He pauses. “You and Charlotte. How’s she doing?”

I shrug, not knowing what to say. “Charlotte’s okay but keeping a low profile. Some people think we should’ve kept our mouths shut.”

Terri shakes his head incredulously. “No one here at Stonehaven, I hope. I feel bad for Justin, but no one feels sorry for his dad. The shit has hit the fan, and now, Ted Leister is covered in it from head to toe.” Terri leans in and gives me a quick peck on the cheek. “Tell Charlotte I said hello and that she’s brave too.”

“She is,” I reply softly as he walks away, “More than you’ll ever know.”

Chapter 32

Astrid

I race toward the door, into the dorm, while smiling back at the people that smile at me. They’re not all smiling, but I don’t have time to convince the world that I’m a decent person despite what others are saying. I race up the stairs, run to Charlotte’s door, and knock hard.

“Come on in.”

Charlotte sits on her purple couch, holding court in her favorite purple overalls. Wren sits on her bed while Gemma sits in the chair by the desk. Charlotte pats the empty cushion beside her, and I sit down. I had expected the worst mental meltdown ever seen at Stonehaven, but Charlotte is glowing from the attention.

“Astrid, I was just telling Charlotte that I admire what the two of you have done,” says Gemma magnanimously. “It took an amazing amount of guts.”

Wren nods quickly. “It did. And I was just telling Charlotte that I don’t think I would ever have been able to do it. To admit to the things that that gross man did to you.” She wrinkles her nose. “I don’t think I could go out in public again.”

Charlotte smiles tightly. “I’m surprised you leave the dorm, considering the long list of things you would never be caught doing that you’ve done.”

Wren frowns, screwing up her mouth. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Charlotte folds her arms. “Just because you’re good at hiding your kinks doesn’t mean someone’s not going to find proof online.” Charlotte makes a V with her fingers and waggles her tongue. “Have you ever gone to Cairo, my dear?”

Wren’s jaw drops like she’s about to go down, and then she quickly closes it again. Her face turns pale, and then she scoots off the bed. “I have to go.” The door is open before she can finish the sentence. Without a word, Gemma jumps up and runs after her.

“Good, now we can talk alone,” says Charlotte, “I’m guessing you sawDaddy’sstatement.” The sarcasm is thick in her voice.

I nod. “I was expecting you to be more upset than this.”

“I am upset,” she twirls a strand of her hair thoughtfully around her finger, “but I did notice that he’s still referring to me as his daughter. He claims that I’ve embarrassed him, but at least he hasn’t shamed me yet.”

Charlotte is quiet as her lower lip trembles. It’s hitting harder than she wants to let on. “Other women are coming out and adding their stories,” she adds quietly, “You’re not alone in this. We’re not alone in this.”

I nod and then speak soothingly. “I saw Terri. He said a lot of nice things and still thinks the world of you. And while I was walking here, people were stopping me and telling me that we did the right thing.”

Charlotte scoffs. “That’s sweet of Terri, but he wouldn’t have been able to save me. Saying those things in court is nothing compared to being cut off.” She sighs, placing her hand on my thigh. “I wish I was a little bit more like you.”

I stare at her like she hasn’t been paying attention. “Charlotte, you have balls. Don’t put yourself down. I couldn’t go into the courtroom. I would have frozen on the stand. The thought of seeing Ted Leister makes me physically ill. Just saying his name, I can taste the sick in my throat.”

Charlotte stands and paces the room. “I get it. I’m great, and I can still own the world.”

I frown as I watch her chew on her lip, turning it bright pink. “You don’t look convincing. Charlotte, it’s okay to ask for help.”

Charlotte’s knees bend as she presses her hands against her chest and starts to zigzag back and forth in the air. A wracking sob comes out of nowhere, springing from her mouth. I leap up, grabbing her, and she leans her head heavily against my shoulder.

We stand still in the center of her room, and in the silence, the noises in the hall grow louder. The random chatter and laughter of people with problems they can handle, but right here, right now, we feel the weight of the world pushing us down.

Charlotte wipes her eyes on the back of her hand and takes a deep breath. “I was a real bitch, Astrid. I mean a really nasty one. You didn’t see me when I thought I was all that and a ton more. That night I showed you the basement, I was coming back from a bar. I went out and teased some old guy for drinks. And laughed in his face when he wanted more.” She stands on her own, but I hold onto her. “Teasing the kids around Stonehaven had become so dull.”

She cries it out, and I keep my mouth shut. I’m improving at the comfort thing as I rub my hand along her back, feeling her ragged breathing subside. I still don’t know what to say that won’t make me sound like a corny-ass Lifetime movie. Nothing I say will make it okay in the end.

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