Derekdidknow her father. All too well. He knew all about her messed-up family.
She, Derek, and Eric had always been close. So much so, they’d called themselves The Three Musketeers.
For reasons she’d never understood, however, Charlie had always felt a special bond with Derek. He was the only one she'd ever confided in. The guy knew her better than anyone.
Another text came through...
Plenty of food here. Mom said you can take some to your dad. Please, darlin'. I really want to see you.
The term of endearment left her bottom lip quivering and a knot growing in her throat. No matter how hard she fought them, more tears spilled over her lids and down onto her cheeks.
Why did he want her there so badly when it was obvious he was with someone else? God, she was such an idiot.
She'd spent the last six months romanticizing a relationship that didn't even exist. Apparently, she'd wanted it to be real so badly her heart had somehow convinced her mind that it was.
Charlie had left the house tonight certain their friendship was going to change into something else. Something more.You should have known better.
Of course, a guy like Derek wouldn't want her as anything more than a friend. He was a freaking Navy SEAL now and could probably get any woman he wanted. Why would he waste his time on someone like her?
She was a nobody. Just a girl who lived down the street with barely two nickels to rub together. She couldn't even afford to go to college.
More tears escaped as Charlie realized she had nothing to offer someone like Derek. Deep down, she’d always known it. Apparently, so did he.
Hating herself for being so stupid, Charlie swiped at the moisture on her face. Emotional anger and stubborn, teenage pride replaced the heartache as she grabbed her phone and sent one final message.
Already out of town. Tell your mom thanks, anyway. Enjoy your night.She reluctantly addedHope to see you soon.
––––––––
After hitting ‘send', Charlie turned off her phone and drove. As she got onto the highway with no real destination in mind, she started to cry even harder.
Through her hard, pathetically loud sobs, she mourned not only the loss of a dream but also of her closest friend. Because after tonight, there’d be no going back.
Her aching heart shattered even more when she realized she couldn't just be friends with Derek anymore. And there was no way she would sit back, waiting in the wings, while he smiled and swooned over another woman.
She may be a pathetic loser, but she wasn't a masochist.
Lost in her soul-crushing grief, time passed quickly. It had begun to get dark, the evening sky making it even harder to see the road through the tears still falling from her eyes.
Not paying attention to how fast she was going, Charlie took a curve too quickly and started to lose control of the car.
The back end fishtailed, and she screamed as she worked the steering wheel with everything she had. Eventually, the car came to a sliding stop at the edge of the road.
After catching her breath and thanking her lucky stars, Charlie shook out her tingling fingers and pushed down on the gas. The car didn't move.
She tried it again and again. Each time, the engine would rev but she remained where she was.
Great.
Slamming it into park, she got out and walked around the front to see what the problem was. It didn't take long to figure it out.
Her right front tire had stopped in the grassy area near a shallow ditch. There was a muddy, bare patch in the grass now from where the tire had spun in the mud.
“You've got to be kidding me,” she groaned, wanting to scream at the unfairness of it all. “Perfect ending to a perfect night,” she muttered to herself as she started back to the driver's side of the car.
Avoiding the mud as best she could, Charlie made it back onto the gravel. Goosebumps covered her exposed skin as she started to reach for her door.
Just then, a set of bright, white headlights blinded her as another car approached.
