Page 111 of The Charlie Method

As he steps away, I catch a whiff of his familiar scent, so reminiscent of the ocean. It infuses my senses. I remember breathing him in when he was kissing me. When his face was buried in my neck. When his fingers were gliding down my body, turning me over so Will could put his cock in—

Enough. I can’t think about it anymore, damn it.

Embarrassment creeps into my cheeks. “It was a fantasy. And I got it out of my system.”

“If you say so.”

He’s not touching me. There’s a foot of distance between us, and his hands are in the pockets of his faded blue jeans. Yet I feel the phantom sensations of those hands on me. His tongue licking a line up my thigh, traveling toward my—

“It’s okay to want it, Charlie.” A knowing smile flits across his lips.

I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to hold back the sting of tears.

Then I exhale and say, “I’ve never felt more ashamed than when I left your house that morning.”

That visibly startles him. “Charlotte—”

“No. Just drop it. I have to go. My friends are waiting for me.”

I can feel him watching me walk away, but I don’t look back. I find Faith and Blake at the front entrance, and I must not be doing a good job keeping my mask in place because Faith’s features soften with concern.

“You okay?” she asks. “You look a bit pale.”

“I’m fine. Just remembered all the stuff I have to do when I get home tonight. I guess I’m feeling overwhelmed.”

“Is this the grad school admissions essays?”

I nod. “They extended the deadline, so I want to reread them and make some edits. I rushed them before because of midterms.”

“If it helps, I can proofread everything before you submit it?”

I’m touched by the offer. “Aw, thanks. I’d really appreciate that.”

As we exit the bar, I stick my hand inside my purse and fish around for my car keys. My fingers collide with metal at the same time as the sight of a guy standing near the entrance, partially obscured by the night shadows, snags my attention.

There’s something about him—the haircut, his posture, the way he’s trying to blend in but failing—that makes my skin prickle.

Faith follows my gaze. “Do you know that guy?”

“I don’t think so—”

I cut myself off when he turns to leave and I catch a glimpse of his eyebrow. Suddenly, the image of that same guy lurking in the parking lot on campus comes rushing back.

“Wait, shit. I’ve definitely seen him before. Just…stay here a second.”

Faith frowns. “Charlotte—”

Ignoring her, I make my way toward him, my heart pounding not from fear but from the adrenaline of an impending confrontation.

At my approach, the raven-haired guy stiffens, realizing he’d been spotted. He tries to walk away, but I’m faster, blocking his path.

“Hey!” I call, my voice sharp. “Why are you following me?”

His eyes widen, and he takes a step back, hands raised in surrender. “I’m not following you, I swear.”

“Bullshit,” I snap, advancing on him. “I’ve seen you around campus, and now here? Are you stalking me?”

“Charlotte. What’s going on?” Faith comes up beside me while Blake remains near the entrance of Malone’s, on the alert.

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