Page 56 of The Rookie

“You weren’t trying to make her jealous? When I asked about that, asked you if you were faking it with me to show her it was over, you said ‘something like that.’ It was about getting back together?”

“It’s not like that.”

I stand on wobbly legs and hold my own, even though my insides are a quivering mess. “Tell me what it is like.”

“My team is hiring a part time manager,” he begins quickly, like he can’t get the words out fast enough. “I’ve been going back and forth with the head manager all day. I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure, but he wants to interview you for the job. He’s very impressed with all you’ve done. He told me if you’re as good as I say you are, the job is yours. You’d be based out of Seattle, and…” I falter backward as understanding fully dawns, and his words fall off. “Are you okay?”

He reaches for me, but I step back, putting a measure of distance between us. If he touches me, I might very well shatter. I pinch my eyes shut. With everything coming at me so fast, it’s hard to keep up. My brain races.

Wes wants me to move to Seattle?

My head drops, and tears pound behind my eyes as I stare at the pretty dress, eager to get out of it and back into my own clothes. I bite the inside of my cheek to fight a big ugly sob, and lift my head, doing my best not to fall apart in front of the man I’ve fallen in love with, the man who knows nothing about me.

“Charlotte?”

“Charlotte? What happened to Charlie?” I ask as I set my drink down on the nearest table before I drop it. “That name only suits me when I’m in coveralls, not when I’m dressed up, or at a fancy restaurant with you?”

A line forms in his forehead as he frowns, his panicked gaze racing over my face. “I thought—”

I grip the table, sure my knees are going to give out. “You thought you could change me into what you want. The dress, the name, the job. I’m not Breton. I’ll never be Breton, or any of the other bunnies I’ve seen you photographed with.” My God, how could I have been so wrong? How could I have thought he was a sweet farm boy, when he’s really a player who wants me to fit into his lifestyle, all the while ignoring mine?

The line in his forehead deepens, and he backs up like I’d just slapped him. That’s when I realize I’m causing a scene. I fold my arms over my stomach as it roils.

“I…I never said you were Breton, or any other girl.”

“No, you just want me to be like them in every other way.”

“Charlotte…” He tugs on his collar. “I mean…Charlie.” His eyes briefly close, and they’re full of bewilderment and agony when he opens them again. “Please. Can we just talk about this?”

“No, Wes. I believe you’ve said…” I glance at the dress again. “With and without words, all I need to hear.”

His head hangs, his face tight. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry…you’re sorry. That’s all you have to say.”

“I overstepped, I get it. I didn’t mean…” His voice falls off as he fists his hair, his breaths coming faster.

Overstepped!

Trying to change me into his vision of a woman, yeah that’s overstepping. “I thought…” I swallow against the stupid lump expanding in my throat. “I thought you knew who I was.”

“I do know who you are, just like you know who I am.”

“Actually, you don’t know me at all, Wes.” I fight to stay strong, to keep my voice even, but I’m breaking inside. No man has ever made me break before.And why is that, Charlie?Oh, because I’ve always kept myself closed off. With Wes, it was different. He dug a tunnel through my barriers, and I happily let him. “Just like I don’t know who you are. I thought I did, but I was wrong.” I shake my head and take another step back. My tight throat turns my next words into a garbled mess. “I made a mistake.”

Sam jumps up as I back away on shaky legs, and I’m not sure what Wes is saying to me as I flee. The next thing I know Sam’s arm is around me and he’s guiding me out. Wes shouts something, but my rattled brain can’t quite comprehend.

There’s only one thing that I fully understand. Disney isn’t real. Happily ever after doesn’t exist, and I’m no Cinderella in need of a transformation before Prince Charming loves her. I want to be loved for exactly who I am—not who someone else wants me to be.

17

Wes

What the ever-loving fuck just happened?

As I watch her walk off with Sam, his arm around her body, the same body I made love to numerous times, my heart thumps against my chest. No matter how many times I said it was just sex, I knew it wasn’t. No, what we were doing wasn’t sex at all. It was making love. At least it was on my part and honest to God, the pain I felt when Breton left me for Sam, walking away because I was a simple farm boy, is nothing compared to the pain I’m feeling now.

I take gulping breaths as voices reach my ears, everyone staring as I stand here, confused, barely able to fill my lungs as the vision of Charlie and Sam exit the tent and disappear into the crowd swims before my eyes. I try to make a move to run, to go after her, to claim her as mine, but I can’t seem to make my legs work, can’t handle her rejecting me twice in one night.

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