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“No, Lex, it’s not like that. Please don’t get me wrong. Oh shit! Let me pull my feet out of my mouth.” This is going downhill very fast. “I just need you physically.”
“Like I said.” He stands, wiping his hands on his jeans.
“Lex, you know it’s not like that—”
He cuts me off, handing me the helmet. “Let’s head back before sunrise.”
“But I thought you wanted to watch it?”
Lex turns to face me, his face void of any loving warmth. His eyes are narrowed, rigid, cold, and hard. In that moment, I know I have hurt him, although it wasn’t my intention. I’ve become the enemy, the woman shredding his heart to pieces.
I have won the game I set out to play.
But revenge isn’t gratifying, at all.
Not when I’m about to lose the man I love.
CHARLIE
Nine Years Ago
“Why are you making such a big deal about this? I’m not going to fuck him.”
In frustration, I kicked a rock that sat alongside the path next to the back door. Alex stood outside with me, trying to control his temper. It was a Friday afternoon, and Adriana was upstairs trying on her prom dress for Samantha. I didn’t know they were coming over together, and boy was I fuming when they did. I mean, it wasn’t Samantha’s fault she was married to this great guy, and I wouldn’t want to let him out of my sight if he were mine.
I had excused myself to grab a drink from the kitchen when really I was going outside to get some fresh air and calm the fuck down. Somehow, he had slipped out and followed me.
“Charlotte, please, t
he jerk goes around town telling everyone he’s going to fuck you on prom night. Like you don’t care?”
“I do care, but I’d rather he spread that rumor than the one being spread about a high school girl fucking her best friend’s married brother. It’s too late now, anyway. I said yes.”
“No, it’s not too late. Call and tell him you won’t go.” He motioned for me to take out my phone.
I was just about to tell him where to shove this relationship of ours when Samantha walked outside.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, looking from Alex to me.
“Uh, yeah, Alex just has an attitude with me because I covered for Adriana for prom night. She and Elijah will be staying in a hotel.”
Samantha laughed, shaking her head.
“Oh geez, Alex, like you didn’t screw around in high school. C’mon, let’s go home. You owe me something, remember?” She leaned in and kissed his lips.
I turned away, unable to watch as my heart started to break into a million pieces. It was these moments when the hurt was so deep that it made me question everything about us, about our so-called love. I had a choice. I could break down and cry right in front of them, walk away and act like it didn’t bother me, or perform a very sweet act of revenge.
I was eighteen, so, of course, it was revenge. It was always going to be revenge, and it’s a dish best served cold
“Oh, and Alex, don’t worry. Adriana will be fine. Carter and I are staying in the room next to hers.” I smiled, then with every bit of dignity I could muster, I walked away with my head held high.
***
Ouch. What the fuck did she think she was doing? Holding it again close to my head, I felt the sting. Damn, did she just burn my scalp? The smell of smoke lingered in the air. I winced as I rubbed the spot where it burned.
“Adriana, you’re burning my head,” I cried.
“Sorry, Char. It’s the bleach in your hair. I’m not a hairdresser, you know. Although I’d be so awesome like in Steel Magnolias.” She continued using the curling iron, talking to herself in a southern accent.
