Now I’m really getting heated. “I would be very careful what you say next, Ben.”
“She’s type A.”
“I know.”
“I’m talking anal.”
“I know.”
“Everything has to be perfect all the time.”
“I’m aware.”
“And she’s a homebody.”
“That’s fine,”
“Until she wants to go out. Then she goes straight for the tequila and gets a bit wild.”
Ha. No kidding.
“Is there a point to this?” I ask.
“I’m just saying, she’s not really your type,” he says.
“Oh really? And tell me, son. What is my type exactly? You know, since you seem to have the high ground here.” I’m on a roll, but the next word out of Ben’s mouth flattens me to the ground.
“Mom.”
The tennis match has turned into dodgeball, and that one was a headshot. The next thing I say is even more painful because I have to admit it to myself as well.
“Mom’s gone,” I say in a low voice. My throat is tight, but I do my best to hide that. “Now get out of my cabin.”
“Yeah,” he nods, his mouth twisted into a tight and angry smile. “Well, fuck you too.” He turns to leave, but I stop him.
“You don’t know what it’s like being alone for so long after a love like that.”
Ben stops, and I can see the tension in his shoulders. “And what do you think she’d think of all of this? Of you fucking around with a woman who is closer to my age than yours? Of you getting her pregnant? What do you think Mom would say about that?”
“Charlotte is more like her than you think,” I say, and Ben’s eyes widen. Then the smirk reappears, and he walks out.
I don’t know if it was the right thing to say. Hell, I never actually thought about it before. But now that I am finally alone, I can take in a breath and let it out. It takes my knees out with it, and I plop down onto the bed in a heap.
Even after all that, my head hasn’t cleared. If anything, I am even more confused now. I am angry. Angry that things came out the way they did. Angry that all of us were lying. Charlotte is the one who was the most dishonest. She lied to all of us about multiple things. The biggest one being something that will change my life forever if it’s true.
Chapter 36
Charlotte
I don’t knowwhat to do.
It’s like everything is moving in slow motion, and it’s all happening so fast. Holly blew up at Ben, and then she took off. Gavin marched away, and Ben followed him. And all of it is my fault.
Despite feeling like I’m being ripped in every direction, Holly is the one I am most worried about. So I go after her.
“Holly,” I call out, rapping my knuckles against the locked door of the bridal suite. “Holly, please open the door. I just want to talk. Please.”
“I just want to be alone,” she calls back, clearly still crying.
