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Anger fills me at his words. How dare he say something like that. Even if it’s somehow true, Christopher clearly loves those men.
The need to defend them surprises me. I hardly know Kaleb and Michael . . . well, I know more than I should.
Footsteps lead away, but I can’t tell who by that alone.
“I really wanna kill that motherfucker,” Kaleb whispers.
“I know.”
“Next year?” Kaleb asks hopefully.
“After that comment? You bet, little brother.”
A knock sounds on the bedroom door. “Charlie?”
“Mhh,” I sound out, unable to answer.
Michael chuckles in response. “Daniel will be home soon. You okay?”
“Uh-huh.” I try to answer loud enough so that they won’t come in.
“Good girl. He won’t be long.”
Good girl.The words bounce around my head over and over.
Kaleb laughs. “He’ll be even quicker when he hears about this. Now who’s going to deal with Samantha before Dad comes back and coddles her?”
The sound of their talking dims as they move away. My thoughts turn to Sam and what punishment she may have just earned herself. But honestly, I can’t find it in myself to care, not when I was seconds away from having half of Daniel’s family see me at my most vulnerable.
I sigh in relief again and pray that Daniel returns quickly.
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
Charlie
My relief at seeing Daniel doesn’t last long.
He had kissed my wrists and ankles as he untied me, his actions sweet and his touch gentle, but talk soon turned to the man who had come to the house; Deputy Cooper. Although I think I prefer Kaleb’s name for him, Deputy Fuckface.
I giggle, causing Daniel to turn his head away from the road in front of us.
“Deputy Fuckface,” I explain with another giggle.
He chuckles with me, his fingers grazing my cheeks that heat at having his whole attention. His hand joins mine, resting on my thigh.
“Remember,” he prompts, squeezing my hand.
I nod, eager not to disappoint him. I like being his good girl.
“I’ll tell them what you and Michael agreed on. We’ve been dating since this summer, when I first met you.” I recite the story I now have engraved into my brain. Hours of it being repeated will do that to you. “Love at first sight,” I add, the words that are my own. The best lies are mixed with the truth, or so my grandmother says. “I didn’t know about their plan to squat at the camp. I just caught a ride down here, where I planned to spend the weekend with you. When we were leaving our dorm, they mentioned the camp.”
Daniel smiles his approval, and my heart skips a beat.
“You met me at Duke’s gas station Friday morning, then my friends and I went our separate ways.” I press on, trying not to think about the fact that I have only known Daniel for three days. “I was at the cabin in the afternoon but only for about an hour, and that was only to tell them they needed to leave.” This weekend has been both the worst and the best days of my life. How fucked up is that?
“And,” he encouraged.
I blink at him, trying to remember anything I had forgotten. “Both you and Michael collected me before we went back to Duke’s to pay after I learned my friends ditched the tab. You didn’t call the police about them squatting because they were my friends, and they had agreed to leave in the morning. Due to their drinking, you agreed it was the safest option.”
