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It’s a loaded question because of course I do.
Despite how we may have felt about our parents as children, it’s undeniable that money was their top priority—and Martin Conners was one of the wealthiest property investors in the business. I was dragged to countless parties and meetings so our dads could rub elbows. But Charlotte Bennett wasn’t more than a rich man’s quirky daughter untilthatnight—the night I took her virginity. But that admission is locked down. I might want to ravage every inch of Charlie’s body, but that doesn’t mean I’ll divulge an unforgivable secret.
I swipe my finger along my bottom lip absently as I consider my answer.
“Yes, I remember you,” I say finally. Trey raises his eyebrows, probably wondering if I’m smitten enough to spill my damn guts. I’m not. “You were the little girl playing dress-up at her daddy’s parties.”
The comment comes out more condescending than I mean it to, but what can I say? Old habits die hard.
Charlie narrows her eyes at me. “I wasnotplaying dress up,” she says defensively. “Matt and I were together, and I felt like I needed to support him. He didn’t want to hang out with the other kids—he was more interested in the adult talk.” She lowers her eyes. “We were supposed to get married someday,” she says quietly, as if she’s ashamed.
Matt.
I feel my body tense. Just his name on her full lips fills me with undeniable rage.
Trey sits down on the couch next to Charlie, his hands reaching out to rest on her knees. She angles herself toward him.
“We’ve seen you around campus with that asshole since the night of the party,” he bites out. “Care to tell us the story?”
Charlie looks up, shaking her head. “You two are such stalkers,” she says with a faint smile. “I’m shocked you guys haven’t frightened him off with all the big dick energy you throw around.”
Surprisingly, the idea of us keeping tabs on her doesn’t seem to phase her a bit.
“Don’t think I didn’t try,” I say darkly.
Charlie looks over at me in confusion. “What?”
“The Monday after our party, I went to Chancellor Edwards, but the douche is on the hockey team, and he’s apparently very good….”
“Verygood,” Charlie confirms.
“So she won’t kick him out unless he actually violates school policies or breaks a law.” My mouth twists in disgust. “Apparently, an Evans telling her Matt’s a first-class prick isn’t enough.”
I haven’t told anyone else about the rape rumor yet. I’m still looking into whether it’s legit, and conveniently, the girl who accused Matt has already transferred schools.
“Wow.” Charlie laughs and the sound seems to lighten the whole room. “You did that for me?”
I stare at her. “I think you know the answer to that.”
“So are you going to tell us what happened, or do we need to beat it out of him?” I ask, cracking my knuckles. Honestly, I have no idea why this girl isn’t terrified of me.
Charlie bites her bottom lip. “It’s personal and humiliating.”
Trey inches closer, his thumbs moving softly over her knees. She closes her eyes and sighs. His gesture clearly relaxes Charlie, but her response comes across as so sensual, I have to rein in my dirty thoughts before my dick gets any ideas.
She still hesitates, looking over at me. “We didn’t come here to talk about me, Link.” My name on her lips twists something inside me, but I ignore the feeling. “And as much as it bothers me that you knew me from Brighton and never mentioned it, that’s my petty issue, and it pales in comparison to your mom leaving. I know what it’s like to lose your family.”
“Look, Sunshine,” I say, running my hands through my hair. “It was two years ago.”
“But that doesn’t make it less real or less painful,” she interrupts.
“No, that’s true.” I drop my eyes because talking about it fills me with so much resentment, and I’m tired of offloading my damage on her. “My dad cheated on my mom,” I say quickly. “And after we caught them, she left.” I squeeze my hands into fists, still refusing to look at Charlie. “I kept thinking that she’d get over it—that she loved me enough to come back. But she didn’t. And one day, I walked downstairs and found their divorce papers taped to the fridge like it was a damn grocery list.”
I open my hands, flexing my fingers as I force the tension out of my body, and finally look up at Charlie.
Her empathetic frown tugs at my heart uncomfortably, and I force a cavalier smile. “But we all deal with these things differently, right? I know you vent through your writing. I can tell by the short stories you’ve shared in class. I can tell by the way you scribble in your notebook while you glare at me.” She flushes, and I smirk. “Well, it turns out that I vent by shutting people out and being a rude asshole.
Because of your mom.
