Page 71 of The One I Hate
“I’m fine,” she says. “A little freaked out. But he didn’t touch me.”
“Thank fuck,” I say, bringing her into my embrace. I expect her to fight me. To push me away. But she doesn’t. She actually does the last thing I expect her to do—she relaxes into my hold.
Fuck, she feels good; but those thoughts need pushed to the side. She’s clearly shook up. I need to forget about our past and anything that’s happened between us recently. Right now, she needs a friend.
She needs the guy she knew all those years ago.
“Here,” I say, walking us over to a bench I see against the building. We sit down, and I don’t let her go.
I might never.
“I lied,” she says, her voice just above a whisper.
“About?”
“Billy,” she says. I think she feels me tensing up, because she quickly catches up her words. “I knew he had a crush on me.”
“Oh,” I say. “So that’s your way of saying I was right.”
She laughs under her breath, her head on my shoulder. “Yes. You were right.”
“I think those might be the four sexiest words you’ve ever said to me.”
This makes her fully laugh as she sits up, playfully smacking my chest for good measure. Which I’ll take. I might still need to know what happened all those years ago, but I need her touch more than that.
Fuck. I need her. I need her in whatever way I can have her. Having her back in my life these past few weeks has been…I don’t know how to explain it. I feel whole again. Like I’m not just going through the motions of the day.
So whether it’s as a friend, something more, or just the woman who serves me french toast every weekend, I’m going to take it. Because having any form of Charlie in my life is better than no Charlie at all.
“Thank you,” she says. “I think I could have taken him, but I’m glad I didn’t have to.”
“You absolutely could have,” I say. “What happened?”
“I’m not quite sure,” she begins. “I wasn’t feeling well today. I think it’s just exhaustion from working so much. I actually almost passed out.”
“What!”
“I’m fine,” she quickly says. “But I was lightheaded, and I felt like I was going to pass out, so I went back to the office. He followed me. At first I thought he was just helping me get my balance. Next thing I know he was pressing me against the wall.”
“That fucker,” I say, trying to stand up, but Charlie grabs my arm in time to pull me back down.
“He’s not worth it. Plus, you’ll get blood on your suit.”
I know she’s trying to make a joke, but it’s not the time. “He tried to take advantage of you while you were sick. My fist through his face should be the least of his problems.”
She shakes her head. “He’s not worth it. And I’m never going to see him again.”
“Damn right you aren’t.”
“Instead I get a different pain in the ass in Rolling Hills.”
I smile as she starts to put me at ease. “Damn right you do. And he’s much better looking. And can reach the top shelf.”
She can’t hold in her laughter.
“You’re the actual worst.” Charlie slaps my chest again, but this time I catch her hand before she can pull it away.
Our eyes lock as I take hold of it, moving it up over my racing heart. She can feel it. I can tell just by looking into her beautiful blue eyes. So many emotions are racing through them.
