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Before I realize what I’m doing, I stand and approach the couch, sitting down on Charlie’s other side. I reach out, my hand pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Her lips part as she stares at me, like she doesn’t understand my actions. I hardly understand them. “While I appreciate that you’re worried about me, I’m okay now.”
Because of you.
Her gaze searches my face, and when she seems satisfied I’m being truthful, she nods.
“Now,” I say, changing the subject, “tell us about Matt so I know whether I need to break his face again.”
“Fine. But no face breaking, boss,” she says sternly. “No matter what I tell you.”
I don’t say anything.
“Promise me,” she insists, giving me a gentle shove for emphasis.
I sigh. “All right, whatever. I promise.”
She directs a skeptical look my way before continuing. “Matt and I were pretty much inseparable from a pretty young age. We met at a neighborhood park one day, and from then on, I’d wait for him there because Matt’s dad wasn’t a nice person, and he needed a friend.” She pauses, her eyes glassy, and I picture littleempath Charlie protecting that psychopath. “I was smitten with him by the time I was twelve.”
Matt’s father was intent on doing business with my stepfather, so they came around our house a lot. When Matt and I were teenagers, our dad’s went in together to buy the Macy’s building in Seattle.”
“The one that closed a few years ago?” I ask.
She nods. “They were supposed to purchase it through my stepdad’s company and keep Macy's up and running. Matt’s dad was supposed to become a partner. But at the last minute, the deal fell through, and it was sold to another interested party. They lost a $586-million sale.”
I give a low whistle. “That deal would have pretty much guaranteed their family wouldn’t go bankrupt.”
Charlie frowns. “What do you mean? The Johnsons are old money.”
“Were,” I correct. “I looked into it, and Matt’s here on a hockey scholarship because his family is broke.”
Charlie raises her eyebrows. “Wow, I had no idea. Yeah, then I guess that was smart of his dad. I bet he was pissed at losing all that money.”
Trey strokes Charlie’s thigh, and I see her shiver. “So what happened?” he asks quietly. “I assume he didn’t break up with you over his father’s business loss.”
“Well, after that day, Matt started acting strange. He was stand-offish and intentionally caused fights. Then, one night just before our senior year started, I walked into my room and found Matt fucking some girl on my bed.” Tears trickle down Charlie’s cheeks.
She takes a deep breath and sniffs. “I don’t miss him one bit, and I have no regrets, but the feeling of betrayal is always sharp when I think about that night.”
I see Trey’s hands tighten on Charlie’s legs. He’s pissed. I’m pissed. My anger runs hot, but then she looks at me, her eyes red and shining with hurt and betrayal, and the need to comfort her wins. I cup her face, my thumbs wiping away the tears. I dip my head down so we’re eye to eye, her panicked breath fanning over my face.
I lean forward, pressing a chaste kiss to her mouth. I taste the salty sharpness of her grief on my tongue. She responds tentatively to my touch, and I close my eyes, reveling in the feeling of her soft lips moving slowly against mine.
Reluctantly, I pull away. “If he ever hurts you again, I—” I lock eyes with Trey’s fierce, determined gaze—“wewill kill him.”
And I mean it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHARLIE
Trey’s touch is soothing on my legs, and I can still feel Lincoln’s lips on mine even after he leans back, his eyes still locked on me.
I’m suddenly aware of how close they are, and I take a long pull from my drink. I wince, feeling the alcohol burn down my throat.
“Is there any Diet Pepsi in this?” I croak.
Trey laughs, and the sound does stupid things to my insides. I take another drink, finishing it off in one gulp.
“Whoa, slow down, Bennett.” Trey’s fingers skim feather-light touches over my jeans. “We’re not trying to get you drunk.”
