Page 70 of Pretend for Me

Charlie looked down nervously and texted on her phone.

“Who are you texting?”

I tried to peer over and sneak a peek but she shot me a dirty look.

I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable so I joked, “You couldn’t even text us back after our gorgeous selfie. We’re back together by the way.”

“Oh, Cassie, I knew you and Lover Boy couldn't stay away from each other for too long,” Charlie gloated. “So let’s get bagels. Can I get two? You know Matthew loves those French toast ones, right? I mean, how can he eat them? They’re way too sweet.”

Charlie started for the door, but I stopped her by grabbing her hand. “No, no, no, missy. You aren’t getting out of this that easily,” I reprimanded, giving Charlie a no-nonsense look.

Charlie winced and bit her lip. After a moment, she glanced up at me through her eyelashes, similar to what she did when she was a little kid and really wanted something. “Can we at least get the bagels first?” Charlotte pleaded, as I let go of her hand.

I noticed Charlie’s jumpy behavior, and I certainly didn’t want her to run off, so I nodded. Getting her back to the apartment was my best bet of prying any information out of the stubborn girl.

We entered the bagel shop, and Charlie laughed.

I looked at her and asked, “What’s so funny?”

“Did you guys have lots of makeup sex?” Charlie giggled uncontrollably, and the other patrons looked at us. “Is that what took you so long?”

“Charlotte!” I spat, swatting Charlie’s arm.

“What?” Charlie said innocently as she jutted out her bottom lip.

I groaned, shaking my head, and went to the counter to place our order.

“No,Cassie. Cinnamon raisin is for old people in nursing homes.” Charlie droned on as the elevator climbed to Matthew’s apartment.

I shook my head. “Well, I like it,” I said, dejectedly.

Charlie had an opinion about everything. To what the girl at the counter had been wearing, to the amount of cologne the guy after them had on, to Louisa once again not being at the front desk. Charlie had to talk about it all.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Charlie sang out her greeting. “Honey, we’re home.” Charlotte took a sip from her frappe.

Something felt off once we were inside the foyer. I noticed one of the barstools was knocked over onto its side, a picture frame had fallen to the ground, and Matthew was nowhere in sight. He should have been done with his shower by now.

I heard Rocky clawing and barking at the bedroom door. That was odd. It was also odd how quiet the apartment was aside from Rocky's meltdown. I opened the door, and Rocky rushed out, heading in the opposite direction of the apartment, toward Matthew’s office.

I did a once-over of his bedroom and bathroom and still there was no sign of Matthew. He had indeed showered because a towel was hanging to dry.

Growing increasingly worried by his absence, I raced past the kitchen where Charlie had made herself at home and sat eating at the kitchen counter.

Something wasn’t right. It wasn’t like Matthew to leave and not say anything to me. Not even a note to be found.

Maybe he went to visit Wyatt and pay his condolences over Liz.

I shook my head. It didn’t add up.

I turned the corner in a hurry and saw streaks of bright red smeared in the hallway leading to Matthew’s home office. Blood. Lots and lots of blood.

A bloodcurdling scream ripped from my chest as a dozen different scenarios ran through my mind. Without hesitation, I rushed into the room.

My knees grew weak as I came face to face with the scene before me. There lay Matthew, his once white t-shirt drenched in blood. He was so still, his chest not moving, and in his unconsciousness, I wasn’t even sure if he was breathing. His skin was ashen, and he looked as pale as a ghost.

“Matthew,” I screamed, crouching down to feel for a pulse.

I frantically felt around his body, searching for the source of his bleeding. The darkest spot was around his middle, and as I peeled back his shirt, I saw gushes of blood coming from his stomach.

---