Page 3 of The One I Hate
That’s her tell when she’s lying. It’s subtle. And it hasn’t changed in fifteen years.
“Bullshit,” I say. And while I’d love to call her out on the lie, I have a more important question. “What are you doing here?”
“Working.”
One-word answers. Great.
“Can we talk?”
She shakes her head. “I’m working.”
I let out a sigh of frustration. “We already ate dinner. I know the bride and groom, so if you’re worried about not getting paid, I’ll take care of it. I think you can sneak away for five minutes. Please, Charlie. It’s been fifteen years, and, well, I think a talk is the least I’m owed.”
I know I’m begging now, but I don’t care. This woman owes me an explanation, and I’m not about to have her walk out of my life again without getting one.
She flicks a glance to the kitchen then looks back to me. And for just a second, her hardened demeanor is gone. Her sarcastic shield has been lowered. I only saw this side of Charlie a few times during our years together.
Including the night I thought everything was going to change for the better.
“I’m sorry, Simon. I can’t.”
She turns to walk away, and out of reaction, I grab her arm and stop her. She looks down at our connection, then back up to me.
Does she feel it, too? Did the jolt of electricity that just shot through me go through her also?
“Bug…please…” My voice is pleading. I’m begging. I didn’t know until right now how much I needed this closure.
How much I needed to see her again.
“Please, Simon. Just let me go.”
Her words are pained as she pulls her arm from my hold and walks back into the kitchen. And for the second time in my life, Charlie leaves without an explanation.
Only this time I watch her walk away.
I thought for years that her ghosting me was the worst feeling in the world.
I was wrong.
It’s this.
Chapter 1
Charlie
~~ 4 months later ~~
There is literally nothing that could make this day worse.
Nothing. Not one damn thing. In fact, I could get hit by a car, and I’d thank the driver for putting me out of my misery.
I barely slept because my niece was up crying most of the night due to an ear infection. When I did wake up from my whopping three hours of restless slumber, I stepped in pee from a dog I barely like. There wasn’t any hot water when I took a shower. My hairdryer died one minute into use so I had to come to work with wet hair. Two people called out, and we’re booked solid today with prospective client tastings. Oh, and I was out of coffee.
So yeah, how about that hit and run?
“Charlie?” I look up from the onions I’m chopping to realize the shaky voice comes from Bella, one of the apprentices.
“Yeah?”
