Page 181 of Always You

“What do you mean?” I know very well what she means, but up until now, I was too much of a coward.

“Charlie, you’ve always been in love with Hunter. Ben was a rebound. A rebound who almost got completely out of control, and to be honest, I’m sorry that happened to you. But I’m glad it did.”

I start sobbing again, that horrible morning still carved into my membrane, and she lets out a deep sigh.

“I’m sorry, Charlie. I know you’re hurt, but you gotta take the risk. Give Hunter a shot.”

“I’ve taken the risk. Twice! And it crushed me!” I shout, throwing up my hands in despair. A brick lays in my stomach, and my feet growing heavier with every step I take. “And last week, it crushed me again just thinking about him when he wasn’t even fucking there!”

Sometimes I wonder if he hurt me beyond repair, but then he sauntered into that bar, and I swear my heart somehow found the strength to glue parts back together without my permission. I try to keep my heart chained and behind bars, but the little bitch keeps growing stronger and stronger, and I don’t know how to make it fucking stop.

I can’t lose him again.

“And not being with him is still crushing you. Look, not to sound like a fucking fortune teller right now, but I think there’s a reason he returned thatexactday. Life’s throwing you the bone you’ve been waiting for.Take it.”

“I’m scared, Jules,” I croak out. My mind is scrambling, because at this point, I don’t even know what exactly I’m scared of anymore: being with him or being without him.

“I know, girl. But so is he. You can be scared together. He’s an asshole. But he’s always beenyourasshole.”

70

I’m in my truck, pissed at myself for kissing Charlotte when she isn’t mine to kiss.

Not yet anyway.

The dial tone echoes as I wait for Jason to answer the phone.

“What’s up, Hansen?”

“I fucked up.”

“Why?” His voice sounds bored, and I rub the back of my neck.

“We went to get some ice cream, then I kissed her… at the same time we ran into her fucking boyfriend.”

He lets out a full belly burst of laughter, and I roll my eyes, unamused.

“Talk about bad timing, playboy.”

“Shut up.”

“How did she react to you kissing her?”

A fluttering feeling forms in my gut, my heart rate speeding up in excitement, thinking back to my lips on hers. It was only brief, a slight brush of our lips, but fuck me, I was ready to dive in for more if that damn guy hadn’t shown up.

“Like she wanted more.” I chuckle before my face falls a bit. “But then he got into her face, I got into his face, and she snapped. Then she walked away. I wanted to take her to the shelter to get a dog.”

“She walked away?”

“Yeah,” I reply, dragging out the word. “I guess it was more like storming off? And I’m pretty sure she broke up with that douchebag.”

“Wait, what? She broke up with him on the sidewalk?”

“I don’t know!?” I blurt, confused. “She was like:I need time. I need to be by myself after what happened.And I have no clue what that means. I wanted to go after her, but I don’t know.”

“Where was douchebag Ben?”

“Still glaring.” I huff. “I wanted to punch him real bad. Thinking about how he’s been kissing my girl for the last few months, but instead I punched a trashcan and walked to my truck.”

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