I already know I won’t stay away, even if she wants me to.
“You spoke to her?” Charlie asks.
He is sprawled out on my sofa, still in his suit. You’ll rarely catch him in anything else.
Charlie has known me for years. There used to be nothing he didn’t know, but that changed last year. He is probably still pissed at me, but I wouldn’t take it back, even if that meant I took the blame and suffered the consequences.
“Yeah, she went to Melders Tuesday night. Jim called me.”
He nods his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. “I presume you didn’t sort things out?”
Elliot and Lance are hyping each other up about the stag, bouncing ludicrous ideas around and not paying us any attention. I nod my head to the kitchen and stand, Charlie following behind.
“I don’t know, Aldridge.” I cross my arms over my chest, resting my head back against the fridge. “Nina had a shitty time growing up. She built the studio from nothing to a fully functioning business, and then I came in and fucked it all up. I don’t know how she will get over me selling her studio, and to taint her with the truth unnecessarily seems wrong when she already has the twisted shit that she does in her head.”
“I get it, I do. But can you see yourself not being with her? Like, if she met someone else and moved on. You could accept that?”
“No,” I grit out, ready to brawl with any man who’d dare to look in her direction. “Absolutely fucking not.”
“I know,” he smiles. “I liked Nina from day one. She isn’t like anyone you’ve dated before. Which is why you can’t let my mistakes screw your future. I made the call, Mase, not you. Yeah, you fucked up, but you did what I couldn’t. You did what you knew I wanted.” He shrugs as if it’s simple. “I think you should tell her.”
“I already told you I’m not telling her, Charles. The more people who know, the more chance of it coming out.”
“You sound like a fucking broken record! What do you think she is going to do? Go to the police?”
“No, but if anyone else does…” I grit my teeth, not wanting to go there. “She can’t know.”
“Well, then here’s to you.” He raises his bottle in the air, and I lift mine to his, unsure. “To more stupid fucking mistakes.” He bashes my bottle with his and walks out of the kitchen.
Fucking sensitive prick.
* * *
Nina
I’ve been mopey—walkingaround feeling sorry for myself, and mad at the world when I should be on a mission to find a new studio. Maggie and John have covered the next two months on my rent and I have just about enough to cover my bills, but that’s not going to last long.
Today, I am doing something for myself. I have an induction at a new gym that Logan told me about and insisted I check out. I am so ready to get my ass moving again.
After everything with the studio, Mason, and his dad, I feel like I’ve let myself go. I’m ready to getmeback—nothing like a girls’ weekend to pull me out of my funk.
There’s a spring in my step as I exit my apartment, feeling better than I have in weeks.
Sliding my key in the lock, I do a little happy dance, my excitement too much to contain.
I’m actually going to work out!
“Nina.”
“Holy fuck!” I scream, my hands grasping my chest as my keys clunk to the ground.
Charlie’s broad smile beams at me from his spot against the wall. He must have been waiting for me. “Charlie, you scared the life out of me. Why didn’t you knock?”
“Sorry.” He chuckles, but his face quickly grows solemn. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say to be honest.”
My eyes are still wide, and my heart pounds. “Is everyone okay?”
“Yeah. But I do have some things to tell you.” He scratches his brow. “If you’re not busy, of course.”
