Page 75 of Pretend for Me

I couldn’t help but watch the scene like a bad car crash, inching closer to better observe. I felt betrayed by Bridget and Holden. I mean, his best friend was fighting for his life because of the brat they were comforting.

“Matthew’s still in surgery,” I heard him mutter as he looked down at the pair.

How dare he update Charlotte after what she’d done?

To sell out Matthew, the only person who had consistently given her a chance, was terrible, horrific even. For her to have such disregard for her foster brother’s safety—she hadn’t even checked to make sure he wasn’t home—this ran deeper than just the actions of a naive little girl. It was clear that nobody had ever stopped to explain to Charlotte right from wrong. That she had no one truly listen to her and really guide her in a positive direction. But that didn’t excuse her from having common decency and regard for someone’s life.

Bridget looked at Holden and nodded in acknowledgement of the update.

Charlie made a gurgling noise, wiping her nose on her sleeve as she straightened out her position on the bench. She wore a grim smile and looked at Holden, as if she were searching for something.

I hated her. She was out herefine. And Matthew was in there— I gritted my teeth and continued watching.

“Charlotte, I know you don’t know me, but I just want to say I think you telling Cassie the truth was very brave,” Bridget started, pursing her lips.

“But I think it goes without saying that what you did was incredibly selfish and dangerous. I mean, Matthew’s lying in a hospital bed for God’s sake,” Holden added, as he ran his fingers through his hair.

Bridget gave Holden a pointed look. “Clearly,” Bridget muttered.

“I didn’t want to do it. I know now how stupid it was. I should have known better and that it was too big of a risk even giving him the little bit of information I did. I could never have thought— How Derek could’ve done this, I don’t know … I just wanted him to love me. For a while, I thought he did. Then he started hitting me, and he pushed me to have sex with him, but I justcouldn’t. I didn’t want to … I wouldn’t. Not after what Louis did to me as a child.” She mumbled the last part.

I gasped and then covered my mouth with my hand. I ducked behind a pillar as they peered in my direction.

This was news to me. Louis was Charlotte and my foster dad before I aged out. He was definitely one of the more pervy ones, constantly making innuendos and staring creepily. Not having Matthew around put me on edge, but he never tried anything with me. I was so busy trying to survive until I could be with Matty and start our future together that I hadn’t even thought he might be targeting Charlie. She showed no signs of anything being amiss. A pit formed in my stomach at the thought of how I’d been in the dark to her abuse..

“What did he do to you?” Holden roared, his fists clenched at his sides.

“He’d come into my room at night and want to play a ‘game’ with me. He molested me for weeks right before he died,” she choked out, her words barely above a whisper. Silent tears streamed down her face.

Bridget enveloped Charlie in a hug, whispering things in her ear that I was too far away to hear.

“When Matthew got his fancy job and started getting busier, I felt left behind. So once I heard Cassie was back in the picture, I thought things would be great again. I started an operation to get the two fools back together, thinking it would be like old times. I even recruited Derek to help. Then Derek became more demanding, wanting me to do things in order for him to give me simple affection because he said I ‘owed him.’ Nia worked so much that she was never home, and I had really nobody there for me consistently. Because of that, I was desperately trying to imitate the bond Matthew and Cassie had by clinging to Derek,” Charlie explained, droplets running down her face.

Bridget wiped them away as they fell, but for each one she cleared, two more took its place. With a sigh, she moved her hand to run through her hair instead.

“I just wanted him to love me. When me and my big mouth shared Matthew’s financial status to Derek, he became obsessed. Always asking me about Matthew and his family, making snide remarks about all the things the money could buy him. I brushed it off as him being jealous and wanting to sell more weed to get to the same place.” Charlotte paused, looking between Holden and Bridget.

“So then what happened?” Holden inquired.

“I became more ‘demanding’ of him—his words not mine—so he would withhold even the barest hint of affection until I told him certain things. After that, I started staying home more often, and that was when I distanced myself from Matthew, figuring if he really cared, he’d come look for me and he did. But by then, Derek had already started hitting me. I told Nia about it, and she grounded me, banished me from seeing him. Even my own ‘mother’ couldn’t show me affection, treating me more like a chore than someone worthy of love. It wasn’t long before I was lonely again so I reached out to Derek.” Charlie played with the hem of her shirt, and she hung her head.

“I called him and apologized for everything. I told him I’d do anything to get him back. I thought he loved me as much as I loved him. Derek asked me for Matthew’s address, promising that if I was a good little girl and just gave him that, all would be forgiven, so I told him. I should have known he was just using me, manipulating me just to get what he wanted. The physical abuse was bad enough, but the bruises would heal eventually. He messed with my head but I was too blind to see it. I think in the back of my mind, I was rationalizing that at least he hadn’t forced himself on me. I can’t believe how stupid I was.” Charlie was bawling at this point.

Bridget and Holden looked between each other and then back at Charlie. Abruptly, she stood and wiped her tears, a look of determination on her face as she took off toward the parking lot leading to the street.

“Charlotte, where are you going?” Bridget shouted as she ran behind her, almost falling with her heels on the cobblestone pavement. I never saw Bridget so out of sorts.

“Cassie hates me. Matthew is half dead because of me. I fuck everything up. I can see the looks on your faces. You hate me, and once everyone else finds out what I’ve done, they’ll hate me too. You’ll leave and I’ll get in trouble. I’m going to go to jail, aren’t I?” she yelled, waving her arms, practically having a meltdown. “I’m so broken. Nobody loves me. Why would they? I’m so alone. I’m just going to do everyone a favor and disappear.” Charlie started for the corner but was intercepted before she could get far.

Holden went behind Charlie to ensure she couldn’t bolt.

“Charlotte,” Bridget ordered like she did with her restaurant staff.

“What?” Charlie spat, closing her eyes, tears escaping as she covered her face.

Bridget stalked over to where the girl stood, and she grabbed her shoulders. “Listen to me clearly. You made a mistake. A very stupid, dangerous one. One that you’re probably going to hate yourself for for a long time. But you are not broken. You are not alone. You have us. Running away isn’t the answer. You need to do the right thing now. You can fix this.” Bridget hissed.

Charlotte shook her head back and forth. “I’m nothing.”

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