Page 114 of House of Deceit

“Yeah, well, when I saw her on the show and then Kim kicked me out, I figured I could crash here while I let her cool off.”

I pull out my phone and see Molly tried calling me. We have plans for me to come visit in a few weeks and I am so excited to take Courtney with me. They really bonded at the after-party that night.

Swiping out of her message, I open my thread with Court and let her know what’s going on, trying not to laugh as she sends me image after image of her extreme eye roll.

“I dunno, maybe a few more weeks? Kim has quite the temper, but she always forgives me. Once Charlie’s fifteen minutes run out, I’ll try to get her back. She’s a tomcat in the sack, why would I want to let that go?”

And that’s all I can take. I open the door and lean against the jamb, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Get out of my house,” I say, my tone sweet as the bananas foster French toast I’m obsessed with at the cafe down the street.

“Charlie, you’re home,” he says, hanging up the phone.

“Shut the fuck up and get out. I heard all of that,” I say, all sweetness and warmth gone.

“Heard what? You’re taking everything out of context.”

“I’m taking it out of context?” I laugh. “Kim was the work ‘friend’ that you always told me not to worry about. Sounds like that was a lie. Is she the one you left me for originally? And then, you figured ‘Hey, Charlie isn’t at home right now, maybe I’ll just go stay there.’ Is that it?”

I walk out to the living room and run a finger along the arm of the couch I love so much, his footsteps following me, before setting the bottle of champagne I stopped to buy on the coffee table.

“No, sugar. I was confused and we were in a rut. I just needed to take time. You know how much I love you. I was thinking about marrying you and it just scared me. You know how I feel about marriage and to have someone that made me want to do that, it freaked me out!”

I turn toward him, no feelings toward the man standing before me.

“Why do you have champagne?” Scott asks, noticing the bottle.

“I got a book deal,” I tell him.

“What? Charlie! That’s amazing! Congratulations. I didn’t know you were writing a book.”

“I wasn’t, but I am now. However, it’s no longer any of your concern. Get out.”

I shove him toward the front door as he tries to take back all the awful things I heard him say. I rip the door open and shove him with all my strength straight into Parker’s unsuspecting arms.

“Parker. What are you doing here?” I ask him as he bear hugs my ex-boyfriend.

“Apparently catching whoever the fuck this guy is.” He turns Scott around in his arms and grabs a fistful of his shirt. “Who are you and why are you in Charlie’s house?”

“She’s my girlfriend! I’m Scott.” He tries to look affronted, but Parker’s grip on him diminishes the effect. Parker smiles at me.

“This is the stupid fucker?”

“Yup, that’s him.”

“You’re no longer welcome here. If I find out you have darkened her doorstep again, you’ll regret it,” Parker threatens as he flings Scott to the ground behind him. He turns to me. “Hey.” His smile glues together one of the cracks in my heart. “Can I come in?”

I smile back and move out of the way. “Of course, you’re always welcome.”

He walks in, ignoring Scott’s pained groan behind him. Right as I move to close the door, a blur of black snaps out and stops my forward progress.

“What about me? Can I come in?” Alec looks miserable.

I take him in head to toe, noting one of his beautiful gray eyes is blackened. Deep shadows rest under the other. His perfect hair is in disarray and his clothes hang on him a little too loosely. I consider denying him, but the hangdog look of the man who was in control around everyone except me makes my heart squeeze in pain.

“Oh, I might have brought you a present,” Parker jokes behind me.

“Okay,” I whisper, holding the door open. He gives Scott a swift kick, earning a yelp, as he walks by him. I shut the door and press my forehead against it, giving myself a few moments to collect my thoughts.

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