Page 111 of Forbidden Flame

I moved around the couch to sit in one of the cushioned end chairs, dropping my head into my hands. “He was pissed.”

When I lifted my head, Charlotte’s brow furrowed. “I mean, isn’t that Emmett’s default setting? He’ll come around.”

“He won’t. Not this time.” I shook my head. “I can’t stay here.”

Charlotte’s eyes widened. “Did he kick you out? Do we need to leave?”

“Not in so many words. I’m sure it’s fine if you stay. Aunt Lori would never kick you out. Heath either.”

“Why would they make you leave? After everything you’ve done for them? You’ve worked here for years. You’ve given your entire life to this place.”

I threw my hands in the air. “I was never wanted here. I never belonged. Don’t you see?”

Realization came over Charlotte’s face. “You wanted to be part of their family. You’ve always wanted to be one of the brothers.”

I grimaced. “Maybe when I was a kid.”

“But on some level, you still do. You want to be a Monroe. You want a piece of this place. But we’re not, and you can’t. It’s not for us.”

I paced the room. “I wanted something different for me. For you.”

“We can’t erase our past or our family. The only thing we can do is heal and move on.”

“I don’t think I can do that.” I felt stuck. Mired in the past. “But I can’t stay here either. I need to get my own place. You said it yourself. We don’t own a piece of this, and it’s clear we never will.”

“I didn’t mean it like this.”

“Thank you for telling me how it is. I should have done something about this a long time ago.”

Charlotte stood and crossed her arms over her chest. “Done what? What are you planning?”

“I’ll get a hotel room for the night, and I’ll call a real estate agent in the morning. I need my own place.”

“I think it’s great you want to buy a place, but what about Daphne? Izzy? How did you leave it with them?”

“I asked for time and space to think.”

Charlotte’s face fell. “Oh, Cole.”

I paused and looked at her. “Isn’t that what anyone would do in this situation?”

“Daphne might think you’re walking away from her. That you don’t love her.”

“I love her. But we aren’t meant to be together. Don’t you see? There are too many obstacles. Her brothers. My cousins. No one wants us together.”

“None of that matters if you want to be together,” Charlotte said emphatically.

I huffed out a breath. “Now you sound like a child.”

“I’m not going to talk to you if you’re going to act like I’m a kid. Like my opinion doesn’t matter.”

When I resumed pacing, she sighed. “Will you stay here tonight? I don’t want you out driving when you’re this upset.”

I nodded. I was too exhausted to try and find a place to stay anyway.

“Why don’t you try to get some sleep. Hopefully, things will look better in the morning.” She erased the distance between us, hugging me tight.

When she let me go, her eyes were soft and full of sympathy.

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