Page 56 of Heart Strings & Hotlines
“Anyway,” she says while flopping down on my bed, and I bite my tongue so I don’t yell at her to get her germ-infected clothing and dirty socks off my sheets. “Sharky said that Lottie canceled all her appointments for the last three days and even turned away the Scuttlebutts. Three days ago, you were carrying her across the lawn and who knows what else. So what did you do? Sharky said she’s sick, but I’m not buying it.”
“Sick?” I stand abruptly, forgetting about Hercules, who lets out a scream as she tumbles to the floor.
“She’s not sick, Brad, and we both know it.”
“What did he do?” Rafe asks from my doorway.
“I didn’t do anything. Charlotte’s my girlfriend.” I stand about ten feet tall and fucking smile as though I’m trying out for clown number one in the circus.
What the hell is that about?
“I’m happy to see you’re so proud of yourself.” Rafe smirks. “But did she agree to be your girlfriend? That’s…”
“Fast.” Kara sits up and crosses her legs on my bed. Now I can view the bottoms of her socks, and I fight back a heave. They’re disgusting. Forget about a sex talk, maybe Lottie should have a basic hygiene conversation with her.
“Yes, she agreed.” What do they take me for?
“Okay, after she agreed, what happened?” Rafe crosses the room and sits next to Kara.
What did I do to deserve this hell? Now I have two dirty asses on my sheets. I’ll have to burn them.
“She asked me to leave.”
“She…asked you to leave. Her house?” Kara’s brows pinch together. It could mean so many things. Frustration, disbelief, anger, confusion. Why the hell can’t there be one expression per emotion?
My mind quickly breaks it down, but I can only eliminate anger since she’s not yelling or stomping. That leaves frustration, disbelief, and confusion, and unfortunately, they could all fit this situation, so I give up.
“Yes. Her father is suing her, we kissed, I told her I agreed we were in a relationship, then she asked me to leave.”
“Was she angry?” At least Kara appears more thoughtful than vengeful now.
“No. Maybe frustrated. Siri said when girlfriends are frustrated to send flowers, which I did, chocolates, for no known reason, so I did, and jewelry, which should have arrived this morning.” There I go, standing ten feet tall again.
“You…did all of that? On your own?” Rafe asks, then stares at Kara with his mouth hanging open.
“I’m not incapable, Rafe.”
“You love her.” Kara grins, and it knocks something loose in my chest that pinches my insides hard.
“What? It’s been less than a month, Kara. You don’t fall in love in a handful of weeks.”
Do you?
“Why not?” Rafe asks. How much longer will he be here? Where is that damn court order?
“Google says love takes time. Reddit says it happens in a natural progression over many months. YouTube says?—”
“So you’ve already researched this?” My sister is going to have drool running down her chin if she doesn’t close her mouth soon.
For the first time in my life, I roll my eyes. It’s not even something I was aware I could do. It feels oddly like stretching. “I research everything. If she’s sick, I’ll go check on her. Google said to give her space, but?—”
“She’s not home,” Kara says.
I turn to Rafe, and he shrugs. “I saw her car pull out a couple of hours ago.”
I don’t like the acidic sensation swirling in my gut. What if she really is ill? What if her father did something else? I hate that I haven’t been able to find what he’s suing her for.
How the hell can I help if I don’t know what the problem is?
