Page 55 of The Rookie

“Not at all.” She waves me off. “I’ll find us a table.”

I head over to Sam and since he’s taller than everyone around him, he spots me coming. He pushes from the crowd and comes my way, a wide smile on his handsome face. I smile up at him, so happy his dreams have come true.

“Charlotte,” he says his arms out, a low whistle escaping his mouth when he sees my dress. “Since when did you get all fancied up for the fireworks?”

I laugh and hug him. “I was out to dinner with Wes Hatfield and Rider Lewis, and Rider’s wife, Jules.”

“No way, they’re in town.” He searches the crowd. “I have to say hello.” He zeroes back in on me. “But first, how are you?”

We spend a few minutes talking, and I notice the sudden stiffness in his body, when he glances over my head, his gaze focused on something—or someone—in the distance.

“What’s going on?”

I turn to find Breton all over Wes, as he stands there with two beers in his hand. But Wes isn’t looking at Breton, he’s staring at me.

“Are they back together?” Sam asks.

“I…don’t think so.”

“I always thought they were a good couple. Breton never did tell me why they broke up.” He shakes his head. “Wait, you just said you were out to dinner with Wes.” He waves his finger back and forth between the two of us. “Are you and him…a couple?”

“Um…no…yes…it’s complicated.”

“If looks could kill, I’d be dead, Charlotte. You better go see what’s going on. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

He backs up, and I head toward Wes and Breton. Cripes, she’s got her hands all over him, and he doesn’t look very comfortable. Is it because he doesn’t want her touching him, or he doesn’t want me to see it? My heart beats faster, harder…erratic.

“Hey,” I say, struggling to keep my voice normal when the sound has to pass over the lump in my throat.

Breton turns and glares at me. “What do you want?”

“Breton,” Wes warns through clenched teeth. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” She blinks at Wes. “Don’t tell her that you succeeded in making me jealous, and yes, I do want to get back together.”

My stomach squeezes tight, as fear circles my brain. “Wes?” I stand on shaky legs. “Is that true?”

Tell me it’s not. Please tell me it’s not.

“We need to talk,” he says quickly.

Oh, God, it’s true.

The room spins before me, and I stand here dazed, working to form a coherent sentence. “Um, okay?”

He takes a big, uneven breath. “Breton, can you excuse us please?”

Before she leaves she glares at me and says, “His slumming days are over, Charlie.”

I try to get air as she walks away, try to keep my heart from crumbling. Wes’ hand shakes as he passes me a beer. Mine shakes as I accept it, although there is no way I’ll be able to swallow this, not with my throat so tight.

“Are you two getting back together?” I bluntly ask.

“What, no.”

“The phone calls, and texts. That was Breton?”

“No, not at all.”

---