“…not now, Mother,” Charli said, her tone sounding a little strained. “I’m in a hurry.”
“You’ve been gone for a week, and you didn’t answer any of my texts or calls.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“You’re still with that hockey player, I see?” the mother said. “Andliving with him, too, from what I’ve learned. You’re making a terrible mistake, Charlotte. Never give it all away for nothing. You should have had that ring on your finger, and a hefty, ironclad prenup, before sleeping with him. It’s not too late.”
“I’m not you,” Charli hissed so softly, but I heard her.
“Perhaps. But no matter his promisesnow, men like him will move on to someone new, and what are you left with? Yes, nothing. I’ve lived it, until I wised up. So, if you’re doing this to thwart me, Charlotte,youwill be the one heartbroken in the end and left withnothing.” She stressed the word. “Don’t let a handsome face and tender words be your downfall.”
Charli didn’t respond.
My hands clenched. If she were a guy, I would have beaten the shit out of him for that, and especially for undoing everything I’d worked fucking hard for when it came to winning Charli’s trust.
Jaw clenching, I stalked into the foyer.
“Ms. Dupont,” I said, tone flat. I had no damn clue what her current married name was, and I didn’t fucking care.
Charli spun to me, her usually tan skin ashen, her eyes like dark holes in her face.
Camile Dupont smiled coolly, and I wondered if she spouted off that crap because she knew I was here. Of course, she did. She must have seen us on the street.
Clenching my teeth at the anger whipping through me, I took the suitcase and the covered hangers Charli clutched to her chest like a lifeline and ushered her to the door, wanting to get out of this stifling place.
Back at my truck, I left her things in the back seat and turned to help her inside, but she’d already scrambled in and was fighting with the seatbelt. I brushed her hands aside and fastened it, but still she wouldn’t look at me.
I hated seeing the pain in her face. Jaw clenching, I made my way to the driver’s side and hopped in. “Charli—”
“Please, c-can we just go,” she begged.
As we left Pacific Heights, I glanced at her again, but she stared out through the side window, hiding.
I gave her space because I understood. With her cheating ex, and knowing how Charli felt about her mother’s many marriages and affairs, hell, I couldn’t blame her. But this damn face-off with her mother just made it more difficult for me to work this minefield that was our potential relationship.
CHARLI
War shut the door to the apartment and dropped the keys on the side table. I knew we should talk, but I couldn’t. Embarrassment and anger burned too deep. I couldn’t even look at him, trying to bolt down my shock and mortification.
I wanted the floor to open up so I could crawl inside.
War had heard everything.
It left me feeling as if acid had crawled into my chest and was slowly eroding my insides.
“Charli, look—”
“Please, not now,” I whispered, keeping my gaze trained on his black sneakers with a red edging. If I looked at him, then I would break down, and I was humiliated enough as it was.
“Then when?” he demanded. “We need to talk.”
I just shook my head, rubbing my arms, feeling too cold. But I knew he was right.
This was all my fault. My mess.
“I’m sorry,” the apology tripped out. “For what she said. She’s so scared of being poor again that prenups became her fallbacks. She has enough money to last her a lifetime, and still, it’s not enough.” I pressed my fingers to my burning eyes. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. It’s not true—it’s not me.”
“Then why are you apologizing?”
