Page 110 of The Roommate Lie

Nothing he says makes me feel better, and I hate that Charlie is right behind us. That he just heard an entire list of reasons why he shouldn’t choose me, either. But when Jason finally leaves, and I turn around, it’s worse than that.

Charlie is gone. He’s disappeared again, and no matter how long I wait, he doesn’t come back.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

CHARLIE

Spotted:

Reformed rakes make the best husbands.

There. I said it.

How is it already Wednesday morning?

I’ve been dreading today since Alice showed up. In less than an hour, she’ll be gone, but that isn’t my only problem. Any day that starts with a mountain man aiming a can of bear spray at you is destined to be bad for a lot of reasons.

“Don’t shoot,” I mumble in a sleepy daze, curled up on his porch like it’s a bed. “I come in peace.”

Dean Myers lowers his bear spray and calls back through the open cabin door to his wife. “False alarm. It isn’t an angry bear bent on destruction. It’s just Charlie.”

Raven pops up in the front window, still wearing her pajamas and holding a frying pan like a baseball bat. Lowering her weapon, she scowls down at me like I’ve ruined her entire morning, but she also looks concerned.

“You scared me to death,” she hisses through the glass. “To death.Vengeance will be mine.”

But then her husband helps me to my feet, ushers me inside, and Raven pours me a cup of coffee. Which is basically the opposite of vengeance.

This place is the perfect woodland getaway, the best spot to hide and not get found. Part of me still can’t believe Raven lives here, in Dean’s cozy cabin on the edge of the wilderness resort. If there weren’t Halloween bats still hanging from the ceiling—in May—I’d think she was just hiding out here too.

They lead me to their couch, and I sit slumped in a heap. Looking pathetic and nursing my coffee while their black cat, Grizz, bats at my shoelaces. Raven and Dean share a concerned glance, but he’s the one who speaks first.

“Girl trouble?”

I groan. Pitifully.

Then I surrender and tell them everything. No secrets kept. No dignity spared.

“Sorry I crashed on your porch—I was hiding from Alice. And her ex. They’re still in love, apparently, but I knew no one would find me here.”

It took forever to walk to their cabin last night. The long hiking trail that connects the wilderness resort to the rest of town is an epic trek on a good day. At 3 a.m. with no flashlight, it’s basically like traveling to Mordor. But with extra bugs.

“I tried to tell Alice how I felt last night—she’s leaving today—but her ex showed up before I could finish. I guess he wanted to profess his undying love for her too. I should’ve known she’d pick him.”

Raven winces, cradling her own cup of coffee. “I’m so sorry you had to hear that, Charlie.”

Dean nods. “No one should ever have to listen to the girl they like getting back together with someone else.”

Well…

“I mean, I didn’t stick around to hear it happen. He showed up, and I bolted. I couldn’t listen to that.”

Raven and Dean share another concerned glance. They have a whole conversation with their eyes, and this time, Raven is the one who goes first. “You should call her and make sure. Or send a text. If you didn’t hear them, what if you’re wrong? What if they didn’t get back together?”

I shake my head. “I can’t. I left my phone at home.”

I was halfway here before I realized I’d left it on the workbench in my art shed, and there was no way I was going back. Not if there was a chance I’d see Jason and Alice re-falling in love. I was in such a hurry to get out of there, I didn’t even grab my skateboard.

This time, Raven and Dean don’t bother looking at each other. He just grabs the keys to his truck and kisses her cheek.

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