Page 75 of Luci’s Lullaby

I swallow hard, trying to piece my pride back together. “No.” My lids fall as I fight the overwhelming urge to cry. “But it doesn’t mean you don’t want to, Alden.”

“I’m here, Charlee.” He points at our feet. “Here, not there with her. Doesn’t that count for something?”

“Not if you want to be there.”

“If I told you what I wanted, you’d never speak to me again.” His gaze drops, making my heart sink.

“Don’t let that stop you.” I heave as my chest constricts.

The redhead pops her head out of the door. “Alden, come on back, baby.” His chin hits his chest.

“There ya go, baby. Get right back in there and do what you need to do.” My body trembles.

He pushes me against my car, leans in, and growls into my ear, “You’ll be the first person to know when I’m ready to fuck again. Do you understand me, Charlee Rae?”

I shudder when his nose sweeps my earlobe. I struggle to find my voice. “I don’t want to know, Alden.”

“Yes, you damn well do.” His words wash over me, but all too soon I’m left feeling cold. I open my eyes in time enough to watch him enter his door and close it.

“The fuck was that, asshole?” I growl, jerking my door open. I climb in and drive to work.

The day drags by with everything that can go, going wrong. My head is so jacked up I can’t think straight. It finally gets to the point that they take me off the register because I charged a lady a hundred dollars for an apple.

Damn apple.

“Charlee?” the store manager calls my name.

I cut my eyes at him. “Yes?”

“Why don’t you leave early today, I think you need a break.” His words waver.

I frown. “Do I look like I need a break?”

“Yes, take it.” He walks away, making me feel even worse.

I trudge to the parking lot, fighting the urge to go by his place. “I need to know if she stayed,” I tell myself.

I start my car and before I can stop myself, I drive by his house. I creep up on it, hitting the gas as I get to it. No way is he going to catch me here. “Crap! I didn’t look for her car.” I stretch, staring in my rearview mirror.

I whip my car around, so I can check for it and promise myself I’ll go straight home as soon as I do. “Last time don’t even glance over at his place.”

I scan the lot as I drive up, but I never listen, so I cut my eyes just as I get by the front door. Alden’s standing in it with his arms crossed. I whip my head around in the nick of time as a truck backs out on me and I hit my brakes. “Dang it!”

I wiggle my leg, praying this guy gets out of my way before Alden gets to me. Knock, knock. I cringe with each tap on my window. Throwing my hand up, I hide my face.

“I can see you.” I side-eye him as he bends to stare at me through the glass. “I see you.”

“So.” I glower at him, whipping my head back around.

He taps again. “Park the car.”

“No. I came to get my containers. That’s all.”

He straightens with his hands in his shorts. “Come get them.”

“Is she still here?” I scowl.

He folds his arms. “Nope. But you would know that had you stayed.”