I chuckled, twisting so I could fasten it across my body. Then I let my head fall back against the cool leather of the seat. “Now what?” I whispered, not sure what I was really asking.
“What do you want to do?” Matt asked.
“Forget about her… my past, but that’s not going to happen is it? I’m going to be all over the news. The boy who cried rape.”
“Don’t do that.”
I opened my eyes, staring at Matt. The man looked like he could crush you with one hand, but he had the hugest heart and right now, he stared at me with a softness that made emotion burn in my throat.
“Can I give you some advice?” He didn’t wait for my reply. “Get help. Talk. Open up. Don’t belittle what you went through, don’tbelieve anyone who makes you feel like it was your fault, and most of all, Charlie, don’t push away the people who love you because you’re scared you’ll fall apart in front of them.”
I glanced back at Fern, who was still holding my hand. She smiled and nodded as if she could read my mind.
“Do you think that therapist could fit me in today?”
He winked. “Thomas booked him out for the day, so he’d be free, just in case.”
“Cocky bugger thinks he knows everything.”
Matt chuckled. “That’s because he does.”
Fern
Charlie insisted he drop me off first, asking me to wait at his house where I’d been staying since we got back from the lighthouse two days ago.
I’d kept my promise and been his friend, taking care of him, even sharing the same bed, but never once expecting anything more.
It hurt that I’d lost him. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was it for me, but he didn’t feel the same and I only had myself to blame. So right now, I was just happy he wanted me in his life at all.
I took off my glasses, placing them on the dining table, where I’d been working on my laptop. My neck ached and my stomach rumbled, and as glanced up at the clock on the wall, I realized it had been six hours since I’d gotten home from the police station.
Grabbing my phone, I panicked when I found it was switched off, remembering I’d done it when Charlie went togive his statement. When I turned it back on, notification after notification pinged until I had to silence it.
Unlocking it, I forwarded the work ones to my assistant to wade through, then I spotted one that made me grin from ear to ear.
Thomas: She’s been charged. No bail. Speak soon.
There were messages from Fox and Archer who’d heard the news but were worried because they couldn’t get in touch with Charlie. I searched frantically through my other notifications, looking for something that told me where he was and that was when I found one from Matt.
Charlie wants to go do something, but I don’t know how long it will take. I won’t leave him. I just didn’t want you to worry.
That was two hours ago. I tried to call Matt and then Charlie, but both went straight to voicemail. Hating that I didn’t know what was going on, I made a start on dinner, but there was still no sign of Charlie when it was ready, so I ate alone, leaving him some on the side before I showered, put on my favorite PJs and curled up in front of the fire with a movie I wasn’t really watching.
The door slamming made me jump, my head heavy from sleep. The house was dark, and the fire had died down, its glowing embers the only light in the room.
“Hello?” I shouted, fear bubbling in my stomach. I knew I was safe here, but after James, I was more nervous than I’d ever been.
No one replied, but light lit the hall and I heard someone in the kitchen. Standing, I followed the noise, finding Charlie in the kitchen, downing a large whiskey.
“Hey,” I whispered. He turned, holding his hand up in the air as his face pulled as he swallowed his drink. When he’d finished, he shook his head, letting out a sigh.
“Sorry, I needed that. It’s been a day.”
“I heard. Are you okay?”
His eyes flared. “What did you hear?”
“Jennifer was charged and isn’t getting bail.”
