Page 37 of Shattering Nash

Penny raised her brows.

Charley twisted her lips and nodded. “And that jerk even threatened me. Said if I didn’t get it to him, he’d come back for me. And then I got this, which is taking forever to heal.” Charley tugged her turtleneck down, exposing her throat. “I have to wear turtlenecks and scarves all the time to hide it. Penny, I hate scarves. My life is a mess right now.”

Charley smiled at Penny, expecting her to laugh. She got the polar opposite reaction. Penny pointed to her neck.

“Who did that?” Even over the music Charley could make out the anger in her tone. Charley grabbed her hand.

“My brother. He didn’t mean it. I think he was on something or coming down hard from withdrawals.”

“That’s not your fault,” Penny snapped.

Charley waved her hand. “I know but…”

“No!” Penny slammed her hand on the bar. “If you’re following up withbut,then you don’t fucking know. That” —She pointed to Charley’s neck again— “Is one hundred percent all on him. I don’t care if he’s high as a fucking kite. There’s no excuse for what he did to you, and don’t you dare make one for him, Charley.”

It was a horrible cycle. She’d spent so many years making excuses for him. It was as if she’d trained herself to do it. And with that carried some shame. Her head was light as she was trying to make sense of the conversation. It had taken a turn, and she wasn’t in the right mindset to deal with it.

Penny sighed. “Losing your buzz?”

Charley pouted and slowly nodded.

Penny smiled. “Alright, let’s get you back on it. Something tells you need alcohol induced bliss more than anyone in the club tonight.”

“I’d really like that.”

Penny chuckled and cocked her head. “Tell me about Nash.”

If Penny was trying to get her in her happy place, she was leading Charley in the right direction.

“Isn’t he the most beautiful man you’ve ever seen?”

Penny smirked. “He’s sexy, I’ll give him that.”

Charley straightened on her stool, grabbing her glass. “And so nice, right?”

Penny scoffed, shaking her head. Charley didn’t know what to make of the reaction. Penny sipped her drink, licked her lips, and stared back at her. “Is Nash always nice to you, Charley?”

There was something in her tone that had Charley hesitating on her response. It almost felt like a trick question. Had she not had so many purple drinks, she might’ve been able to read between the lines of the seemingly innocent question. But unfortunately, she’d lost the ability of that task about two drinks ago.

“Yes. I mean, he let me come back here. And the other night he walked me to my car. And he said I looked beautiful.”

Penny’s lips twitched, and she slowly nodded.

“What?”

“When I think of Nash, nice is not what comes to mind.” Penny squinted. “But things are starting to add up.”

“What do you mean?”

Penny glanced over Charley’s shoulder and lifted her gaze with a small smile playing on her lips. “He’s got his men watching you and keeping everyone away. You think it’s just by chance that everyone on the dance floor stayed at least five feet away from you?”

Charley swiveled on her stool. “They did?”

Penny arched her brow and nodded.

“Keely thinks I should make out with him. You know, make the first move. What do you think?”

Penny glanced up when the lights brightened, and the music faded. Charley squeezed her eyes shut, trying to get her eyes toadjust to the lights. She glanced across the bar. It was completely empty. When she spun on her stool, the few remaining people were gathering their things and headed to the door.

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