Holy fuck! I knew he’d been a wanker, but I didn’t realize the extent. “Charlotte …”
“Nope. Don’t do that!”
“Do what?” I asked. I hadn’t flinched. At least I’d tried my best not to.
“Don’t feel sorry for me. I did that enough and he doesn’t deserve any more tears.”
“Okay,” I choked out the word, reaching for her hand but instead of taking it, she kept pacing.
“That wasn’t the worst part. While I was on our honeymoon, he cleaned out the apartment. Took everything. It wasn’t until I was sitting at Hannah’s place, downing tequila shots to numb the pain that the thing that hurt me the most wasn’t the fact I was forced to cancel my wedding at the last minute. It wasn’t that I went on my honeymoon alone like a loser. It wasn’t even that he was cheating on me and didn’t even have the decency to look apologetic about it when he got caught. It wasn’t until I was there that I realized Todd never loved me. He loved what I could do for him. He loved that I could give him the lifestyle he wanted. Hell, he even loved the fact I didn’t ask him to cook or clean or do the laundry. He loved what I could give him, but he never loved me.”
“He’s an idiot,” I muttered unable to stop myself.
“I’m not denying that. But what I’m trying to say is, I was in a relationship with someone who said they loved me, but the truth was, they loved how easy I made their life.”
“Surely you’re not comparing me with that ... that fuckwit?”
“What? No! No! Never! There’s no comparison. What I’m trying to say is, Todd offered me everything I thought I wanted, and he broke my heart and stole my grandmother’s pearls. Tonight, you said you loved me …”
“Because it’s true,” I confirmed, wanting to make sure there was no misunderstanding.
“And I want to believe it, I really do, but I don’t have anything to give you.”
“Anything to give me? You don’t need to give me anything.”
“But I do. And I have. And I’m afraid, Luke. I’m so afraid. When I took a step back, I realized I didn’t love Todd and he almost destroyed me.”
Charlotte was freaking out. She was wringing her hands and pacing. She couldn’t stand still.
“I’m not going to destroy you, Charlotte. That’s the last thing I want to do. I just want you to be a part of my life. Part of Isla’s life. I love you, Charlotte. I’m in love with you and all I want from you, all I’m asking from you is to give us a chance.”
My heart was in her hands. I was sitting there, offering her everything I had holding my breath hoping she didn’t stomp on it with those sexy as fuck boots. It hadn’t been easy to take a chance again, but Charlotte was worth it. I just hoped she thought I was.
“That’s the thing …”
“What’s the thing?”
“You’re not asking for anything more than for me to love you. For me to love Isla. And I do. I really do.”
“You do?”
“I do. I’m so in love with you Luke. You and Isla both.”
I couldn’t sit there a second longer. I was on my feet and sweeping her off her feet and into my arms. Hugging her and kissing her. I couldn’t get enough. Letting out the breath I’d been holding, I couldn’t stop smiling. Charlotte loved me. She loved me.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you?”
“I know it’s hard for you to trust me and I can promise you, I’m not like your asshole ex. I’m not going to cheat on you. That’s not something I’d ever do. It’s just not me.”
“I know that.”
“Let’s just take it one step at a time and see how we go.”
“I like that idea. Just the three of us.”
“Three?”
