Page 28 of Redemption

“More wine.” She changes the subject and that’s fine. I’m sure I struck a nerve and reopened old wounds.

We spend the rest of the afternoon catching up and it’s like time hasn’t passed at all between us. We’re the same crazy college kids, groaning our way through life.

“They’ve been gone a while.” I glance out the window at the cloudy sky. Looks like we are in for one hell of a storm later. “You sure we shouldn’t call the police?”

“I’m sure they’re fine.” She waves my words off with her hand and sips more of her wine. After Lily woke up from her nap, we ate and sobered up somewhat. Once she went back down for another nap, we picked right back up where we left off.

“I guess you’re right.” Tears pool in my eyes as I stare down at my empty glass. I blame the alcohol for my sudden onslaught of emotions as images of Axel flood my head. “I hate that the lying bastard still makes me feel things.”

“Oh boy. We’re going to need the big guns for this. Hold on, chica.” Charlee runs into the kitchen, messes around, and then runs back out with two tumblers and a brand new bottle of whiskey.

“Is that from Asher’s stash?” The corners of my eyes crease as I wipe at the stray tears that have fallen down my cheeks.

“Nope.” Her green eyes brighten as she bounces on her feet. “This one’s Axel’s.”

“Give it here.” I motion with my hand for the bottle. “Looks like we’re getting fucked up then.”

“Yes, we are.” She clanks her glass against mine and we toss our drinks back in one go.

“Holy shit! That burns.” A cough escapes me as a fire races up my throat and spreads across my face.

“It does.” Charlee nods, but pours us each another drink. We down the shot and then Charlee perks up. “Good thing it’s Asher’s turn to get up with Lily tonight because mama is not going to be able to do it.”

We laugh and devour more of the bottle as we get lost in simple conversation. This is what I’ve been missing for the past two years. I’ve made acquaintances, but I kept them at a distance. None of them ever saw the real me. Not like Charlee; she’s the only one who ever saw the real me.

Out of the blue, Charlee jumps up to her feet. “Oh, follow me! I want to show you something.” She pulls me up from the couch and onto my feet so fast that I have to brace against the arm of the couch to keep from falling over.

We stumble down the hall and into one of the back rooms that’s remained hidden since I first arrived. Now that I’ve had time to explore more of this house I’m realizing that it’s much bigger than I first thought. Looks are very deceiving, like Axel himself.

“Wow!” My jaw drops, as I take in every single detail.

An easel is set up facing the only window in the room as rain starts to pound against the glass and the view is something you’d see in a magazine. It’s every artist’s dream studio. An entire blank canvas waiting for a unique spark of color to breathe life into it.

Charlee watches me take it all in for a few seconds before she asks, “You still paint?”

“No. Not since I left.” A lump forms in my throat at another thing that I was stripped of that night, but then an image of a freaking cat hidden in the corner of the far wall catches my attention and my heart sputters.

“Maybe you just haven’t had the right inspiration.” Her face lights up as Lily’s cries echo through the monitor. Motherhood has made her too damn intuitive for her own good.

Then a truck door shutting breaks through my thoughts. My insides tremble and my fingers hum with anticipation. Time to deal with my Savage.

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