Page 15 of Stalker's Pet

I glance down to see my feet bouncing and immediately stop. I hadn’t realized I was doing it, and when I blush, Charlie lifts a brow.

“Can I tell you a secret?” I’m bursting at the seams to talk about Callum. I know it should be a secret, but I can’t help myself. He didn’t tell me that I couldn't tell anyone, but it feels like this is something I should keep quiet. Especially since my dad is trying to set me up on dates.

“God, yes.” Charlie leans forward, ready for the tea.

“There's this guy?—”

“Are you fucking him?” She can’t keep herself from interrupting.

“Charlie!” I whisper-hiss, my cheeks heating again.

“You are.”

“I’m not,” I whisper again before glancing around to see if anyone is paying attention. Of course they aren’t. I’m new at the school, so no one knows anything about me. Plus, Charlie is scary. People tend to leave her alone. “We’ve done things.”

“Spill it.” Charlie leans in closer, and before I can stop myself, I’m telling her some of what’s happened. I don’t go into full detail, and I don’t say his name, but I paint a pretty good picture. “How old is this guy?”

“Are you really asking me that?” I give her a look.

She’s banging the ex-football coach who I know is more than ten years older than her. The problem is that I don't exactly know how old Callum is. If I think about it, I don't know much at all, but when we’re close, it feels like I do. Like I’ve known him forever and I can finally relax. The need to always fill the silence isn't there, and I don't have to force myself to smile. I don’t have to pretend that everything is peachy, and I think if I did, it would piss Callum off.

“It’s not that,” Charlie says, and there’s concern in her voice. “I'm worried he could be using you. Or taking advantage of you.”

“He’s not!” I snip at her louder than I intend to, and a few people glance our way. “Sorry.” I don’t like the idea of her saying anything bad about my Callum.

“All right, all right.” Charlie holds her hands up. “You’re really into him. I get it.”

“I know it’s crazy,” I admit. “But there’s this pull to him I can’t explain. It’s been there from the moment I saw him in the coffee shop.”

A smile tugs at her lips. “I get it. I literally fell for Shay. Like landed right on his head in the damn beaver suit.”

I snort a laugh. Charlie might hate being the school mascot, which she was ordered to do or be suspended from school, but I think she’s pretty kickass at it.

"How are you two?" I ask her.

"Really good." Charlie smirks. "Things are going to work out. Even my uncle is cool with it."

That makes me so happy for her. Charlie had pretty shitty parents that passed away a few years ago. Her uncle has really stepped in for her, and from the way it sounds, he has been more involved in her life than her parents ever were. I get that. Before Anne, there was a nanny and then an au pair until I could drive myself.

“I’m glad,” I tell her, and I really mean it.

I hope that one day I can say the same. If I’m honest with myself, I already know that my father isn’t going to let up about Carl. I’m going to have to push back, and that’s not something I’ve ever done before.

“Since your new man is a panty thief, why don’t we ditch our last class and go get new ones?” Charlie wiggles her eyebrows mischievously.

“I’ve never ditched a class before.” I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as I think it over. It does sound fun.

“Come on, let’s live a little.”

“All right,” I agree.

“Pack up. Mall food is way better than this. No offense to the adorable peanut butter and jellies.”

“None taken,” I laugh as I toss the rest of my sandwich into my lunch box and gather my things.

"Come on. I'll drive." I follow Charlie since she knows her way around the school better than I do. "This is always a good time to slip out. Everyone is coming and going during lunch."

She’s not wrong. People are even lingering in the parking lot as we hop into her car and take off.

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