Chapter 4
Charlie
Istand in front of the sink, staring at my reflection through the smudged mirror, wondering how the hell I ended up here. I’ve spent time with Dillon’s friends before, but tonight…They’reawful. And he is just sitting there saying nothing or, worse, agreeing with them.
It’s all a dick-measuring contest.I have never heard anything like that come out of his mouth. He sounded like a complete asshole. I pull in a deep breath, splashing cool water on my wrists and cheeks. The idea of going out there almost has me breaking out in hives.
I stall by leaning against the vanity and grabbing my phone out of my pocket, pulling up my message thread with Barrett.
Charlie:
This night is the *worst*.
Barrett:
You already knew it would be.
Charlie:
Now times that by 100.
Barrett:
Do you need an emergency save? It’s just me and Alec.
I stare at the blinking cursor in the empty response bar, internally debating with myself. There’s a large part of methat desperately wants to grab onto the lifeline he is offering, but it’s not fair on Dillon to just bail like that. I also don’t want to interrupt Barrett’s night, even if he’s out drinking with hisboss.
Charlie:
Not yet. Stay posted.
His response comes back almost instantaneously, making me smile.
Barrett:
Aye-aye, Captain.
Barrett and I grew up together in the same neighborhood, even if our families were vastly different. From the very first day we met, he’s had my back unquestioningly, and knowing that fills me with enough courage to straighten my shoulders.
These nights out with Dillon’s friends never happen often enough to be a real problem for me, especially when I’ve managed to come up with an excuse to miss the last several. A veil has been yanked away from my eyes tonight, showing me a truth I wasn’t ready to see. It’s making me doubt Dillon, wondering which side is the real him…Because the way he’s acting is nothing like the person I love.
I was so confident when I agreed to move in with him, trusting in our relationship and what we’ve built together. I could see a future for us, and it was everything I dreamed of. Sure, we bicker, just like anyone. Never over anything big, and life feels good with him at my side.
Tonight, though? Nothing about tonight feels good.
Sucking in a grounding breath, I remind myself that this version of Dillon isn’t the real one. Everyone’s different when they’re drinking, and theychange when they’re around different crowds, different friends. He’s just falling into old habits with these guys, making him oblivious to how much of an asshole Jack actually is.
And how much Bliss really doesn’t like me.
Giving myself one last glance in the mirror, my jaw set with determination, I head out of the bathroom, walking down the hallway toward the main area of the bar, my steps slowing as voices carry toward me from the booth right beside the door.
“…don’t understand, Dillon.” Bliss’s voice is unmistakable, as sharp as a blade. “Why are you with her?” Someone snorts—Corey, I think—but she isn’t finished. “We all thought you were just getting yourself some strange. Now you’ve moved her into your place.”
Amber adds, “Did her lease run out or something? Was she homeless? We could understand that. You’ve always been too much of a giver. You can tell her to leave, you know.”
Corey grumbles, “Next thing you know, you’re bankrolling her while she does jack shit.” There’s a loud gasp and then, “Fuck! That hurt!”
“Don’t be an asshole, and I won’t pinch you,” Amber snaps. “I work harder than you do.”
