Page 180 of The Charlie Method

“You’re probably right.”

I’m still giggling as we rejoin the festivities, but the humor dies when I remember what Mom had interrupted.

Mitch heard me talking to a guy who isn’t Will, my public boyfriend.

Heheardme, damn it.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

CHARLOTTE

Breathe with me

SOMEHOW, IMAINTAIN MY COMPOSURE FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING. Most of the older guests start to head out before midnight, but as a member of the exec board, I’m expected to stay until the very end, even if this thing goes on until four in the morning. Although I’m fairly certain we only have the ballroom until two, thank God. I really don’t want to be here all night.

The Delta Tau guys don’t seem to be in a hurry to leave. I keep hearing laughter from their table, and every time I glance over there, they’re huddled together like a pack of wolves.

As Faith and Will chat beside me, I catch Mitch’s eye for a second before he leans in closer to his frat brothers, saying something that makes them roar with laughter.

“What the hell are those idiots giggling about?” Faith says, looking annoyed.

“Joey probably told another one of his stellar fart jokes,” I reply, but the knot in my stomach hints at something more ominous.

My instincts are screaming that Mitch told the Delta Tau guys what he heard earlier, and I want desperately for those instincts to be wrong.

But then I hear it—Mitch’s voice, clear and cutting, slicing in our direction. “Yeah, Charlotte’s fucking two guys. Total slut.”

Will goes rigid beside me. His jaw clenches.

I feel the blood rushing to my face, turning my cheeks into tomatoes, but rather than flee for the door the way my mortification wants me to do, my legs have a mind of their own. Before I can stop myself, I stomp toward the Delta Tau table.

“What did you just say?” I growl at Mitch.

Heads turn toward us, curious stares lingering, but I don’t give a shit.

He leans back in his chair, a cocky grin spreading across his face. “Oh, didn’t hear me the first time? I was just telling the guys about how you like to keep things interesting with more than one dick. Must be exhausting keeping up the prim-and-proper act all the time.”

Will comes up beside me, his fists tightening, but I place a hand on his chest to stop him. I’m not about to let my ex-boyfriend get to me, not like this.

“You don’t know anything about me,” I snap at him. “Keep my name out of your mouth, Mitch.”

Before he can say anything else, Agatha marches over in her white designer dress, perfectly styled hair bouncing with each step.

“What is going on here?” she demands.

Mitch grins up at her from his chair. “Hey, Agatha, did you know Charlotte’s been bed-hopping between two hockey players? Gotta satisfy her sex addiction somehow, right?”

Now it’s Faith lunging forward. “Hey, asshole, give it a fucking rest.”

He rolls his eyes at my best friend. “You should be giving that advice to Char, Faith. She needs to rest between all the dicks she’s sucking.”

Once again, I have to restrain Will from attacking my ex. I squeeze his hand, a silent message to stay calm.

“Is any of this true, Charlotte?” Agatha’s jaw is agape.

“Of course it’s not true,” Faith snaps back. “Jesus, Agatha. Charlotte isn’t a sex addict. He’s just bitter that she dumped him. Pathetic asshole.”

“It’s not true,” I assure Agatha, anger churning in my gut. “He’s trying to stir up trouble, as usual.”

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