Page 48 of The Breakup

“Sorry,” I said when Bella stepped into the living room. “I didn’t think I was going to be this long. I’ll get you some water.” I shot Charlie a death stare. “Charlie, this is Bella. Bella, this is my sister, Charlie.”

“It’s so nice to meet you,” Bella said, holding her hand out.

Charlie snorted. “Christian says you need to borrow my clothes. Sorry they aren’t designer. And my boobs and hips are bigger than yours so I’m not sure how this is going to work, but I’ll find you sweats or something.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“Whatever.”

“Charlie,” I snarled at my sister. “Don’t be a dick.”

But she was unmoved. She was nothing like our mother in personality. She was like her father. The real one. Not the one she thought she had.

Sometimes I wanted to tell her, especially when she got like this. But I just couldn’t do that to her. How did you explain to your sister that she was the result of your mother having an affair with a rich guy while her husband was in prison? You didn’t. Though I was tempted when she got all high and mighty about “rich bitches” to blow the lid off and point out her biological father was exactly that. A rich bitch.

But I never did.

Charlie just walked away with a parting shot of, “I’m not the one with a son to lose custody of.”

That was a direct hit. I winced. I couldn’t help it. Bella saw it.

“What does she mean? Are you in a custody dispute?”

“Nope. Not at all. Ali is in town, as you know, but she hasn’t asked to see Camp.” I played it off. I sounded confident. But there was a trigger of fear that had started to pull back with Charlie’s warnings and I didn’t like it. I couldn’t lose Camp. That would kill me. I couldn’t have him subjected to Ali’s apathy.

I reminded myself this was temporary, this time with Bella. I couldn’t take on her problems and she couldn’t take on mine. And neither of us wanted that anyway.

Bella chewed on her bottom lip. Her hair still looked overdone for a casual Sunday. All those curls were intact, despite me keeping her in bed most of the afternoon the day before. Even her lips still looked stained. Money clearly bought some kick-ass makeup and hair.

She reached out and tickled Camp’s belly, giving him a smile. “Hi, little guy,” she whispered. Then she looked over at me with troubled eyes. “I don’t want you to get in trouble, Christian,” she said. “Maybe you should just take me to a hotel.”

“That’s probably a good idea,” Charlie agreed before I could speak.

I shot my sister a glare. “You don’t need to go to a hotel.” I handed Bella a glass of water.

“Well. Maybe I should just call my parents. I mean, I’m going to have to eventually.”

“Did you text them last night that you are okay?”

She nodded. “Yes. I don’t think they are worried about me so much as they are probably angry and upset.”

So she clearly didn’t know there was a missing person’s report filed on her. Though now I wondered if Charlie had just made that up. I watched Bella sip her water. “Do you want to go home? I can take you home right now if that’s what you really want.”

There was a touch of both panic and passion in her eyes. “No. I don’t. I want to stay with you.”

If I had to label what I felt right then, I guess I would call it satisfaction. “Then you’re staying with me.”

Even if it was stupid. Even if my gut clenched when she reached out to hold Camp and he readily moved into her arms. Even if I felt shit I had no business feeling when she cooed to my son and looked every inch a woman who should be a mother.

“Can I talk to you for a second?” Charlie asked. “In my room?”

“Sure.” I followed her, knowing exactly what she was going to say. “Save your breath,” I told her once we were out of earshot of Bella. “I know this is stupid.”

“If you know it’s stupid, why are you doing it?” Her normally snappish voice was soft and filled with concern. Her eyes held worry.

That unnerved me a little. Charlie was an unemotional badass. She didn’t worry. “I don’t know,” I told her honestly. “I really don’t. But I can’t stop myself.”

“Tell her she has to call her family. Like, now. So they chill out.” She turned and dug in her dresser and pulled out some shorts and a T-shirt. “Here. Just, seriously, be careful.”

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