Page 49 of Shattering Nash

“I know you mentioned me trying to kiss Nash.” Charley cleared her throat. “I don’t remember any of it.”

Penny chuckled. “Asking for details?”

It was probably a godsend she had no recollection of the humiliating moment. She should’ve left it alone. Charley could easily avoid Nash for the rest of her life. But…

“Just one.” Charley paused, building up her courage to ask. “Did he kiss me back?”

Penny’s delayed response told her everything she needed to know. Charley’s heart sank and her stomach twisted.Of course he didn’t.

“I know men, Charley. Can read them really well. It’s a gift and a curse. Guys can be such dicks.” Penny shrugged. “No, he didn’t kiss you back.” Penny reached for the door, and the corner of her mouth curled. “But hewantedto.”

What? Before she had a chance to push for more, Penny walked out the door, closing it behind her.

Nashwantedto kiss her?

*

It was just after eight when she finally unpacked the last of her clothes. Charley had plenty left to do, but she’d done the basics in the kitchen and her bedroom. It had been forever since she’d lived alone. She’d only been six months in her first apartment when her brother came to live with her. Everything about being alone here felt strange.

Charley managed to get a small storage unit for her brother’s things. He didn’t have much, and had she gone through his stuff, there were probably possessions she could’ve parted with. But she loaded everything in boxes and dropped them off. It would all be waiting for him when he finally came back. One thing she noted while packing up his things was there wasn’t anything that didn’t belong to Cody. She still had no clue what Zeke was looking for, but it was clear Cody didn’t have it.

Charley walked over to her pocketbook, reaching inside for the envelope of money. At Penny’s suggestion, she stopped by the ATM machine to get cash to pay the rent. There was no mention of any deposit, but she withdrew two months’ worth of rent. It was the usual standard for every rental she’d had in the past.

She grabbed her keys and shoved them into her back pocket and her phone in the other before walking out of the apartment. It was eerily quiet, especially for such a large building. Most of the apartments on her floor showed no sign of occupancy. She took the elevator up to the seventh floor. She walked slowly, eyeing the numbers on the apartments. For some reason, she thought the landlord would’ve been on the main floor. The seventh was so random, but who was she to question it?

Penny had given her strict instructions to slip the envelope under the door. Charley had every intention to do that. However, when she reached apartment 708, Charley realized she’d never put her name on the bank envelope. How was the landlord supposed to know it was coming from her?

“Shoot,” she muttered, peering down at the bottom of the door.

Charley could’ve gone back down to her apartment, but as she stood there, she heard muffled voices coming from inside. Clearly, someone was home. It was probably best to introduce herself anyway. Surely, they’d see each other around the complex from time to time.

She gently knocked on the door. Within seconds, all noise ceased. She expected the door to open, but as she waited, the seconds ticked by slowly. She refrained from knocking again. She’d learned her lesson from Caine that night at the X-Lounge.I need to learn patience.Charley tucked her hands in her pockets, rocking back on her heels.

“Who the hell are you?” The female voice on the other side of the door was not welcoming. Had she gotten the wrong apartment number?

Charley inched closer. “I’m Charley Hudson, ma’am, and I…”

She never got to finish. In a flash, the door swung open, and she was met with a small woman in her late sixties with a cigarette in one hand, glaring back at her. She couldn’t have been more than five feet tall. The tiny woman shouldn’t have been intimidating.But she is.

“Who the fuck are you calling ma’am?” The venomous shout had Charley jumping in her skin. When the woman stepped forward, Charley inched backward. “Do I look a ma’am to you?”

There was a right answer, Charley just wasn’t sure what it was. Ma’am and sir had always been part of her vocabulary growing up. Her parents had taught her it was a sign of respect. Were they wrong?

“I-I’m sorry, I’m…” Charley was at a complete loss for words. She whipped out her hand. It was shaking slightly. “This is my rent for unit three twenty-two.”

The woman eyed her suspiciously before snatching it from her hand.

“Again, my apologies.” Charley held up her hands and walked backward, spinning around and speed walking toward the elevator. She only made it one door down.

“Get your ass back here.”

Charley slowly turned, walking back to the door. “Inez. You call me Inez. None of that miss, missus, or ma’am bullshit, you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Charley blurted and quickly gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. “It’s habit. I’m sorry. I’ll break it, I promise.

Inez scoffed, shaking her head and taking a drag from her cigarette. All the while, she was inspecting Charley from head to toe.

Inez widened the door, “Get in here.”

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