Page 55 of Stone Rules

Of course he did, his dick was inside you and you were making him come.

I shake off the thought. After all, now I don’t have to try and explain the scars away. It’s better this way, I remind myself.

Walking back out into the dining room, my heart takes a tumble when I see who’s sitting at one of my tables. I quickly look at the front door of the restaurant to see if anyone else is coming. Then I make my way over to the table hoping no one notices my shaky legs.

“Hi, Kyle. Levi. How are you?”

The way they both look at me lets me know that, in fact, no one else will be joining them.

“Hey, Charlie,” Kyle says. “You okay?”

I nod, pulling my order pad from my apron so I don’t have to look at the man who shares a resemblance with the one who broke my heart. “What can I get you?”

Levi reaches out a hand and places it on mine. “We’re not here for the food, Charlie. We wanted to make sure you were okay.”

I look at him. “So, you’re not ordering?” I snap at them. Then I realize I sound like a complete bitch. “Sorry. I’m not mad atyou.”

“It’s okay,” Levi says. “You have every right to be pissed. Ethan told us what he did and it was a real dick move.”

“Yeah, um, seriously, are you eating? Because I have tables I need to get back to.”

He nods. “Yeah. Bring us a couple of burgers and fries please.”

“Water with that?” I ask.

“Please,” he says.

“Coming right up.” I stick my pad back into my apron and walk away.

I turn the corner and lean my back against the wall, breathing deeply. Seeing them is like seeing an extension ofhim. They see him every day. They talk to him. Maybe they even get to touch him. I don’t want them here. I don’t want any reminders of what I’m missing. And even though I’ve promised myself that there is no way in hell I’d give him another chance, part of me still wants him to try. But he had his second chance. And his third. Hell, no wonder he played me like a damn fiddle; I was a doormat.

I drop off their order in the kitchen, take care of a few tables and then return with their drinks.

“He’s a damn fool, Charlie,” Kyle tells me. “I’m not going to deny that, but there are things about him you don’t know. Things nobody knows.”

“We all have secrets,” I say. “But that’s still not a pass to be an asshole.” I deposit their drinks on the table and then hand a check to a customer in the booth next to them.

I ignore Kyle and Levi until I have to take them their food. I know they love the guy, and of course they are going to try and defend his actions, but I really don’t need to hear his excuses. “Enjoy your meal, guys,” I say placing their plates in front of them, then turning for a quick getaway.

But Kyle grabs my arm, pulling me down into the booth beside him. “Just give me one minute, Charlie. Hear me out. I swear it’s nothing you did. My brother has issues. Issues that keep him from having a relationship.”

Before I can stop myself, my curiosity gets the better of me. “Does this have anything to do with Gretchen?”

“Gretchen?” he says incredulously. “No. Hell no.”

“We would have warned you off sooner,” Levi adds. “But we really thought you were the one.”

“The one?”

Kyle nods. “Yeah. The way he talked about you. Looked at you. We really thought you were it for him. But we were wrong. He can’t be with you. He can’t be with anyone. He’s broken, Charlie. We realize now that there isn’t anything we or you or anyone can do about it. And I’m sorry as hell.”

I motion to their food. “It’s getting cold. You should eat.” I scoot out of the booth, leaving their check on the table. “It was nice seeing you again. Good luck in med school, Kyle. Bye Levi.” I make it sound final. Because it is. I know that now. They made good and well sure that I did.

He can’t be with you. He can’t be with anyone.

I hide out in the back until they leave, asking Mindy to cover a few of my tables. While I wait, I text Piper.

Me: I need a night out. You up for it?

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