Page 110 of House of Deceit

“This is really nice. Surprisingly warm and inviting,” he says, pulling out a stool at the island and I can feel him watching me as I create an ice pack and press it to my eye. “Did you decorate in here? It’s nice. I might have to hire you.”

“No, my sister Lorelei took care of that. She was convinced my bachelor pad was the reason I was single.”

“I’m assuming that wasn’t the reason.”

“No. I was single because I hadn’t met Charlie.” He nods like he understands and just sits, watching me. For a second, I think I understand what it felt like to be Charlie in the house. Monitored.

“For the hundredth time, would you like to share with me why you’re here?” I ask him.

“I figured I would help you stop standing in your own way,” he says simply.

“I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean. What am I standing in my own way of?”

“Charlie, dumbass. She got home from her tour a few days ago. I called to check. We are going to go visit and either get you back in her good graces or give you both a chance to talk about whatever shit happened and then move on.”

My heart skips a beat. I’ve considered showing up on her doorstep begging her on bended knee to forgive me. But the thought of her telling me I lost any chance I had with her kept me in place, missing her and not knowing what to do about it.

“She doesn’t want me back, man. I was an ass,” I say.

“You didn’t see her after whatever happened between the two of you. I’m telling you, she misses you. Stop being a baby, suck it up, and go apologize.”

I dump my ice pack into the sink, moving to the fridge and yanking it open.

“Do you want a drink?” I ask.

“I wouldn’t be upset with a beer, if you have one.”

Grabbing two, I hand one to the man who might end up saving me from myself.

Twisting off the top, I take a deep drink.

“So, before we come up with a plan for me to get my girl back, how the hell did you find out where I live?”

It takes me twenty-four hours to get everything lined up and then we are on a red-eye to North Carolina. I let Tom know where I was going and he was more than thrilled to give me a few days to get my life in order. “Go get her, son,” he said with enthusiasm before hanging up on me.

Lorelei could tell I was a bundle of nerves at her party and kicked me out after an hour. Plus, the black eye was ruining her pictures. The airplane is loaded down with passengers trying to get to the East Coast. Soon, we are taxiing and in the air. Unable to sleep, I watch a movie while Parker reads.

The sounds of passengers moving around interrupt the quiet. Rays of sunlight crest the horizon outside the window as we circle Atlanta. Our connection takes off in an hour. While I chafe at the delay, I’m thankful for the chance to stretch my legs.

“Do you think she’s going to go for this?” I ask.

“For the seventh time, yes. I’m going to need you to trust me. Just a little.”

He leans his head back and closes his eyes for the final bit of the flight. I try to plan out what I’m going to say, how I’m going to beg her to forgive me. I’m starting to drift off with thoughts of the amazing makeup sex I hope we have as the captain comes over the PA system to announce we are making our final descent. The city rises up to meet us as we circle lower.

Parker and I make our way through the crowd to the gate of our connection. Awaiting passengers mill about as we take a seat and waste some time. Suddenly, the board announcing our flight flicks to canceled. Parker and I look at each other, shock written on both of our faces.

“Drive?” I ask.

“Drive,” he confirms.

Luckily, we both have carry-ons and can avoid baggage claim. We finally get to the front of the line of the rental car company, both of us about to strangle anyone to get out of this city.

“Hello, sirs, how can I help you?”

“Hi, we need a car, any car. We are going to North Carolina, one way,” Parker says, flashing the smile that made all the viewers love him.

“Of course! Now, we do only have one car left at this time and it might be a tight fit for you and your husband, but with the unexpected cancellations, all the other companies are also on the last legs of their fleet,” the woman says typing on her computer.

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