Page 89 of The Last Time

“What do you mean?” I drawl in annoyance.

He leans forward, elbows resting on his knees. “I mean, how is keeping everybody in your life at arm’s length working for you?”

“It’s better this way.”

“So, if you see her around with another man, you’ll be okay with that? You know, since it’s better this way.” He gives me a knowing look. “Just something to think about. Stay out here until you calm down. I’ll tell everyone in there this conversation is off limits the rest of the night.”

Once he’s inside, I let out the ragged breath I was holding in. Fuck, just the thought of seeing her with another man.

Nothing about that feels right.

There’s no way another man will please her the way I do. Will love her the way I do.

I walk back inside and hear laughter coming from the kitchen. When I walk in, Brie is dancing around to music while my family cheers her on.

“Where’d you learn to do this?” Ma asks as she watches Brie move her hands in the air.

“Charwotte.” Brie spots me. “Right, Daddy?”

I can feel the sudden shift in the room. I never told anybody that Charlotte came around Brie so often. Layla may have known about the festival on the Fourth of July, but he hasn’t told her about all the other nights.

“Right, sweetheart,” I feign a smile as I reply.

“Alright, well, let’s eat dinner,” Ma breaks the silence.

The rest of the evening I stay silent. I have so many thoughts running through my brain, I can’t seem to slow them down enough to even begin to understand them.

If I didn’t have Brie, I would likely be drowning myself in a bottle of whiskey to drown out the noise.

It’s too much.

I opt to head out as soon as dinner is over with the pretense that I need to get back home and get Brie in bed.

It’s close enough to a truth that no one gives me shit. But truth be told, I need to be alone. I need some time to think about all the comments that have been thrown at me tonight.

It weighs heavy on me the entire way home. But nothing prepares me for Brie’s comment at bedtime.

“Daddy?” she whispers as she hugs her teddy to her chest.

“Yeah, honey?”

“Charwotte come over tomorrow?” she asks innocently. “I miss her.”

It guts me. I’ve never had to lie to my daughter before, and I hate that I put her in a position where I have to.

“I think Charlotte is a little busy right now with work and finishing her house.”

“Oh, okay,” she replies with sadness in her voice.

“Goodnight, sweetie. I’ll see you in the morning.”

I kiss her forehead and walk out of her room. As soon as the door is closed, I lean against the wall. My head hangs forward in defeat.

I officially don’t know what the hell I’m doing anymore.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Charlotte

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