Page 108 of Always You

“I know, and if you can’t forgive him, I understand. But if you can? Well, you and I both know life is too short for regrets.” With that, she leaves me alone with my thoughts as she strolls back inside, the porch door slamming behind her with a loud thud.

Fucking hell.

Damn you, Mama.

38

CHARLOTTE: Thank you for the book.

With one hand holding up the towel around my hips, I almost let my phone slip out of the other. My heart feels like a jackhammer trying to break free with excitement curling my lips.

Finally, she’s sending some kind of sign of life after four weeks of radio silence. I had to ask Jason to ask Julie if Charlotte was fucking okay.

“Tell Hunter to fuck off”was Julie’s response, which made it clear I was still in the doghouse. I figured changing my tactic to gifts might help. Thank fuck it did.

HUNTER: What book?

I wait for the dots to appear, my heart in my throat when she’s taking longer than ten seconds to reply. With each second that passes, I regret my joke as I anxiously wait.

CHARLOTTE: That Kamasutra book you sent me?

What the fuck.

CHARLOTTE: That wasn’t yours?

CHARLOTTE: My bad, must’ve been Brad then.

HUNTER: Who the fuck isBrad?

CHARLOTTE: The guy I went on a date with yesterday.

Oh, hell no. Vigorously, I hit the dial button, the tone sounding annoyingly in my ear, but it’s no surprise that it quickly goes to voicemail.

HUNTER: Pick up the phone, Charls.

CHARLOTTE: I’m not sure you have earned that privilege yet.

Goddamnit.

HUNTER: Are you trying to give me a heart attack?

CHARLOTTE: Maybe. Is itworking?

HUNTER: Charls.

HUNTER: Please stop torturing me.

CHARLOTTE: I don’t think I’m ready to let you off the hook just yet.

Bullshit.The fact that she’s texting me back shows she’s giving me an inch. I just need to gently take it, make sure I don’t spook her so I can take the rest of her.

HUNTER: Then I’ll wait.

Five seconds later, my phone vibrates in my hand, her name flashing across the screen, and I answer it with my face split in half. Some smart-ass flirt sits on the tip of my tongue, but there’s still aCAUTIONsign hanging above my head, so I settle for “Hey.”

“Then I’ll wait?What is this, some reverse psychology?”

Confused, yet amused, I shake my head. “What are you talking about?”

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