Page 117 of Forgive You

But how am I going to find out where he stores it? I don’t have access to his phone or his laptop. Not even his computer at the office. Besides, what if he has it stored somewhere else? What if he made copies?

Fuck.

I turn the car back onto the driveway of Charlotte’s home, parking it behind Hunter’s truck. I glance at my phone.

JASON: Where you at, baby?

My stomach feels like someone has put it into a washing machine. I wanna throw up. Dread courses through my veins.

JULIE: Went to help my dad with a showing.

JULIE: Are you still at Charlie’s?

JASON: No, Jensen gave me a ride home. Wanna hang tonight? Curl up and watch a movie?

That’s the only thing I want. To bury myself into his body and feel safe. To sense his warmth against mine and know I’m not alone. But if I see him now, he’ll know something is up. He always does. It’s like he has a radar for it.

JULIE: Gonna hang out with Charlie.

I’m pretty sure Charlotte is exhausted after today, but what else am I going to say? No? Sorry, not tonight, because I have to think about a way to beat your brother at his own game?

I get out of the car and cross the yard to the front door.

“Char? You in here?” I walk into the house and find my best friend swiping the countertop clean in the kitchen.

“Hey, where have you been?”

I sit down at the breakfast bar with a fake smile, hoping it doesn’t reveal I’m carrying a load that’s becoming too heavy for me.

“My dad texted if I could help him with a showing. It’s that Victorian house he loves on Holmes Avenue.”

I expect her to say something likeoh, yeah, I remember that house, but what I don’t expect is for her to stop what she’s doing altogether and lock her gaze onto mine with an edge.

Her harsh expression stuns me, discomfort coiling inside me.

Charlotte is the epitome of kindness and compassion. She doesn’t pick fights, and somehow, she can always see the good in people. But the last time I saw her sport this expression, she was giving Hunter hell about something.

She continues to study me with crinkled eyes.

“What?” I finally huff out.

She sighs, casting her gaze down before they fly back up. “Your dad called me this morning.”Shit.“Asked me if it was true that you’re in town and staying with us. We started chatting. He told me you haven’t spoken with your folks in months. Walked out on the business and moved to LA.”

My mouth opens, even though nothing comes out.

“I know something is going on with you,” Charlotte goes on. “I’m trying to let you come to me when you want to and not push you like I’m sure everyone else is doing. You don’t have to tell me everything. I’m your best friend, but that doesn’t mean you owe me any explanation. But what I do expect is honesty when you do decide to share. Don’t lie to me.”

There’s hurt in her expression and my throat aches. “Charlie.”

I don’t know what else to say.

Everything is crumbling around me, and I don’t know how to make it fucking stop.

“I’m sorry,” I croak out, tears threatening to escape.

She quickly crosses the kitchen, taking me into her arms.

“You don’t have to apologize, Jules,” she whispers in my ear, and I wrap my arms around her. “But you also don’t have to figure everything out by yourself.”

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