Charlie was still playing hard, chocolate all around his mouth, on his shirt and on his new tie, too.
“Charlie, we have to get going. Come on.”
“Aw, Emmy!”
“Right now!”
Charlie shot me a wounded glance, but followed me downstairs. We went by the library doors, now wide open, and I heard Luke’s voice echo off the marble floors. I should tell him goodbye.
“…Yes, she’s a waitress and she works in a grocery store,” Luke was saying. “Her sister was a tramp. What do you want me to say?”
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I backed away from the door. That was what he thought of me? And I had let him touch me, I—
I had to get out of here.
Diego was still at the windows in the living room. “Could you give us a ride home?” I asked him.
“Sure,” he answered. “Where’s Luke?”
Probably busy denigrating me with his cold father and witch of a sister. “I’m not sure. Are you guys leaving now?”
“Yeah, Tara went out to get a jump on the valet line. Let’s motor.”
I felt dizzy and disoriented. I didn’t wait to find my coat, just hurried with Charlie into the chilly night. I was so dumb. How could I be so dumb?
The lights were off in the house when Tara and Diego dropped us off. Charlie had fallen asleep on me in the car. My phone had dinged and vibrated with messages and calls, but I turned it off halfway home.
“You ok?” Tara asked when I opened the car door and tried to rouse Charlie.
“I’m great.” Just dumb. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
Chapter 8
Icried myself into an uneasy sleep, and Monday morning didn’t offer any solace. My head throbbed from too much drinking, and I felt achy and bruised.
Charlie was surly after our late night, picking at his breakfast and complaining that there was nothing good to eat at our house. That was the problem with seeing how the other half lived; it was really hard to go back to reality. I was the only caterer around Nana’s house, and the food really did suck.
I had two missed calls and five texts from Luke the night before:
Lukewhere are you?
LukeDid you guys get another ride home?
LukeWhat happened? Why did you leave like that?
LukeEmily, please call me. I talked to Annie and I need to talk to you.
Lukeplease call me.
Tara had texted too. I ignored everyone.
Mike’s keys were next to his wallet on the kitchen table. I took them, and Charlie and I hopped into the Jeep. I noticed that the driver’s side door was smashed in—a new developmentfrom Mike’s travels downstate. I drove Charlie to school, then headed to work. It was busy, which made it easier not to think about Luke. Until, of course, he came into the store.
“Hi,” he said, looking all at once handsome, confused, and hurt. “Can we talk for a minute? You didn’t answer me. I was worried.”
“I can’t take a break right now. Can I help you with something?”
“I talked to my sister.” The customer I was ringing up listened avidly. “She told me what happened.”
