"Because I got you. I know what you need. What time do you want to come over?"
The bedroom door creaks open and Charlie shuffles out, sleep-tousled and soft. My heart tightens, overflowing with love.
Fuck. She's so damn beautiful.
"Keaton?" Rianna rumbles in my ear, but my girl is the one who holds my attention now that she’s in front of me.
"I'll call you back later," I murmur, ignoring her pleas to hang on as I end the call.
I toss my phone aside as Charlie pads over and drops beside me. I wrap her up, pulling her close, and press a kiss to her forehead. 'Morning, my beautiful butterfly.'
She kisses my chest and, like always, warmth fills me. "Morning, my dragon. Who were you talking to?"
I hesitate for a few seconds because I know they don't really get along, but this is my girl, and I love her. So, I refuse to keep something away from her.
"Rianna," I admit.
She stiffens against me, trying to slip away, but I hold her close, unwilling to let go.
"What did she want?" she grumbles as she settles back against me.
"She wants to hang out, but she knows I need to check with you first."
This time, when she pulls away, I let her. She sits up and folds her arms over her chest. "I'm not your damn keeper, Keaton. If you want to go, then do it. I've never controlled you before, and I'm not starting now."
"What are you and Amelia doing today?"
The flash of anger in her eyes throws me. Why is she mad just because I asked?
"I'm working, Keaton. Just like I do every fucking day. You should already know this."
"We're still going to David's party tonight? We haven't had much time together, so it'll be nice to spend time with you tonight," I reply.
"You're not going to spend time with Rianna?" she asks, and for the first time in forever, I detect the note of vulnerability in her voice.
"No, baby. I'll just hang here."
Rianna has to be wrong. Charlie and I—we’re endgame. No one else comes close.
We spend the next hour tangled together on the couch, the TV murmuring in the background. It’s the kind of time we’ve been starving for.
But a piece of me is missing from the moment. For the first time, I want to be somewhere else, and the guilt is suffocating.I bury it deep, but it claws its way up when Rianna’s message lights up my phone.
Even as my throat tightens, my fingers betray me, tapping out a reply before I can stop myself.
My hand trembles as I set my phone face down, whispering to myself that it’s harmless, just hanging out with a friend.
***
"God, are you messaging her again? Can she not go two seconds without you?" Rianna whines. "You're supposed to be spending time with me."
I grimace and set my phone on my thigh.
Guilt has been riding me all day, and I can’t figure out why. All I know is I miss my girl. My body’s been aching for her since this morning.
So instead of being present with my best friend, I’ve been glued to my phone, sexting Charlie. I’m so fucking hungry for her, I almost ditch Rianna to pick her up from work early. But that would be rude, and my mama raised me better.
Rianna rubs my shoulder, and I swallow hard. She's been a lot more touchy-feely today, and I don't know what to think. It makes me feel weird, but if I pull away, then she's going to think I'm reading into it, and I'm not. She promised me and Charlie that she felt nothing but friendship for me, so my brain is just being ridiculous.
