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We head out the gate, walking close to each other and looking like a happy couple. I slip my hand in hers, and she lets me hold it. I bring it up to my lips and kiss her knuckles softly. “I was hurt when you didn’t remember me,” I say it while smiling.
She looks straight ahead. “Sorry, I’ve been through a lot in the last few years.”
We return to the dive bar and sit in the same booth as before. The waitress is different, and this one doesn’t card. Classic rock plays over hidden speakers, playing the same songs my dad used to listen to. It will make it hard, so I give her a five and suggest we pick out some tunes. Afterward, she orders a plant burger while I get beans and toast.
“Like I said, I’m sorry I came down so hard on you for something your father supposedly did.”
She lifts her chin but doesn’t look at me as she takes a small bite of her food. “I don’t know what Howland did or didn’t do. And I can’t ask him. We’re not that close anymore.”
“Really?” I ask. That’s a surprise. I pictured her as a daddy’s girl. “Why?”
Her gaze lands firmly on mine. “I don’t want to get into it.”
Something is off. I looked up the sister, Astrid. Turns out it’s her half sister who was only discovered last year. Maybe that’s why Charlotte and her dad aren’t getting along. When you’re an only child, your parents have to put up with your bullshit, but when there’s a spare, not so much.
“I have a sister,” I tell her to get the conversation going again.
“What’s her name?”
“Fawn.” I smile but don’t say anything else. Charlotte will never know how hard it was to say that to anyone, especially her. “So, should we toast to a truce?”
She smiles at her glass of water and lifts it. I tap it with the edge of my beer bottle.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you for a long time,” I tell her in a whisper. “I want to do it again.”
She meets my gaze, but her expression tells me nothing. “If I hear anything about what happened with my father, I’ll let you know, but I can’t ask him directly.”
I nod. “Thanks. I hope you don’t think that’s the only reason I’m with you now.”
She swallows and places her fork down. “No, but I’m not sure if I can trust you yet.”
Smart woman. I wouldn’t trust me either, but I better not tell her that. I smile and rev up the charm, giving her a hungry look like I want her worse than air. I reach across the table, and she lets me hold her hand.
“Charlotte, anything you need, you ask me. If the person who’s sending you those messages bothers you, you tell me. I’ll take care of them.”
Her shoulders slump, and her fingers intertwine with mine. “Thank you, Hudson.”
She’s mine to hurt, and no one else’s. I’ll beat the shit out of the fool who tries. No one is taking away my chance. The heaviness of our thoughts descends over us as the last song we selected ends. Guns and Roses start to play, another favorite of my dad’s. I swallow down my anger as I constantly do and hide it behind a cocky grin.
“Lighter topic,” I announce. “So, what are you wearing to the Alpha Halloween party?”
“I guess I am going then,” she replies.
“You have to go.”
A tiny frown appears on her pretty face. “I know Wren and Prisha expect me to. I don’t know what I’m wearing. I haven’t really thought about it.”
I wave at the waitress for the bill. “Are you going for scary or slutty?”
“Slutty?” she asks, as if it’s something I made up.
“You know. If you’re a sexy woman, you can’t be a scary zombie. You have to be a sexy zombie in a short skirt.”
She laughs. “October is a cold month. I’d like to wear some clothes when I go outside.”
I take out my phone and get an Uber. I’m sure after the last time, she doesn’t want to walk in the dark. “We can do matching costumes. It’ll be funny.”
“What are you thinking of going as?”
