Eric sighed. “Hang in there, D. You’ll figure this out. You always do.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am. Oh, and don’t forget what I said earlier. The past is the past. Can’t change it. So, focus on the future.”
“Thanks, man. Love ya.”
“Love you, too. Keep me posted.”
Derek ended the call and went to check on Charlie. He was about to knock on the door when he heard a soft whimpering sound coming from the other side.
Damn. She was crying.
He started to turn away, to leave and give her some privacy, but something stopped him.
He felt a pull tugging on his heart, telling him he should be in there with her. Comforting her.
Praying he was making the right choice, Derek slowly turned the knob and entered the room. When he saw her sitting on the edge of the bed, head bowed and shoulders shaking, that pull became a giant fist wrapping its meaty fingers around his heart.
“Ah, sweetheart. Come here.” Derek went to her. He sat on the bed and pulled her into his arms.
“I’m s-so sorry,” she sobbed. “I m-messed everything up.”
“Shh, no, you didn’t. You made a youthful assumption that any other teenage girl would’ve made if put in that exact same situation. And what about me?”
Charlie sniffled and turned her chin upward to face him. “W-what about you?”
“I knew where things were headed with us. Why didn’t I tell you how I felt sooner? And I was a dumbass for not telling you the friend I was bringing home was a girl. I should’ve explained that situation better.” He took a breath then sighed. “We both made mistakes back then, Charlie. So, stop tryin’ to shoulder all the blame. This isn’t all on you.”
“You didn’t owe me an explanation, Derek. I should’ve at least given you the opportunity to explain instead of driving off like a whiney little brat. And I never should’ve gone to dinner with some man I didn’t even know.”
Derek had to ask. “Why did you go with him?”
Charlie pushed herself out of his embrace and sat up straight. “I’ve asked myself that a million times over the past few years. I think it was just a combination of everything. I was upset, and he was charming. God”—she shook her head.—“he used to be so damn charming.”
She paused, clearly struggling to share this part with him.
“As soon as our vows were spoken, I began to see less and less of that side of him,” she began again. “Before long, I realized it was all just a façade. He was a fake. An actor. And damn, could he put on a performance when he needed to.” Charlie swiped at her tears and went on. “That man can work a crowd like no other. He has this uncanny way of luring people in and getting them to give him what he wants.”
“And what is it you want?”
She looked back over at him, her chin trembling as she spoke. “To not have to wake up every day wondering if that’s the day he’ll finally kill me. I want to be free to say and do whatever I want. To be free of him.”
Her eyes lowered, and he saw her throat working as she swallowed several times. A moment later, with almost a whisper, she looked back up at him and said, “I want to love and know what it feels like to truly be loved.”
“I can help you with that,” he offered wholeheartedly.
Her eyes flickered between both of his. “Which part?”
Going out on a limb, he heard himself say, “All of it.”
Before he even knew what he was doing, Derek cupped her cheek and scooted a bit closer. His gaze moved from her eyes to her lips, and back. “No pressure here, darlin’. I know there’s a lot of shit we have to work through, but I’m here. And I’ll be by your side every single step of the way.”
“As a friend?” she whispered back nervously.
“As whatever you want me to be.” Her breath hitched from his words, and he felt it only fair to lay it all out for her. “There’s one more thing you need to know.”
“What’s that?”
