Page 38 of Charlie

"What does that mean?" he asks, the muscle in his jaw twitching.

"Not working. Fucking random chicks. Fucking not so random chicks." My mind flashes back to finding them in bed together, and a stabbing pain shoots through my chest. I don't miss Rob, but I sure as hell miss my friend. "I found him in bed with my best friend."

Jack's at my side before I can blink, his hands engulfing mine as he pulls me into his embrace. He envelops me in warm whisky and leather. He presses his lips to my hair, one hand moving in comforting circles over my back.

"God, I'm sorry."

I squeeze my arms around his neck, my body melting against his. He smooths my hair away from my face as I blink back tears.

"Have you talked to anyone about this yet?" he asks, pulling back a little so he can look me in the face.

I shake my head. "I would have talked to her," I sniff.

He cups my face, his thumbs wiping the tears away.

"I'm honored you shared with me, Charlotte."

"Thank you for letting me cry on you. I think that was another first."

He turns toward the fire, one arm hugging me against his side. "You've been strong your entire life, haven't you?"

"Strong? I wouldn't call it that." I laugh. Embarrassment creeps up my neck. Vulnerability is not my forte.

"Your douche canoe ex cheated on you with your ex-best friend, and instead of wallowing, you come to Scotland on a new adventure, make new friends, and you're living your truth. If that's not strong, I'm not sure what that is."

"Impulsive?"

Jack laughs. "Maybe some of that, too. Whatever it is, I'm glad you're here."

"I am, too." I twirl a twig between my fingers, watching the flames eat away at a log.

"That was one huge fucking first step, Charlotte."

I grin.

He turns toward me, his gaze soft. "You should be proud of yourself."

I lean my head against his shoulder. "Thank you for listening."

"Always," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the crown of my head. "Is there anything else you'd like to talk about?"

I consider for a moment. "Yes. I want you to tell me about...well, what Lachlan told me about." I don't even know how to put it into words.

He nods, taking a second to organize his thoughts. "We were in university. There was a girl on the floor below us who was fun to be around. Her name was Emily. She would hang out in our suite all the time. The four of us would go to movies, go to dinner... we pretty much did everything together. Over time all three of us fell for her. It took her a long time to admit it, but she fell in love with us, too." He pauses to sip from the bottle, passing it to me. "Eventually, life caught up with us. Lachlan and our other roommate moved away to different schools."

"What happened after that?"

"I married her."

Fuck. He married her?

"Someday, I'll tell you about what happened after that, but not tonight. Go on, ask another question."

I took a long drag from the bottle, my pulse thrumming in my throat. "How did it work exactly? The logistics of it all?"

"The sex, you mean?"

I choke on the fire sliding down my throat.

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