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“Let’s go back to your place,” she tells me.
Lex swiftly turns around, the blood pouring from his hand as his evil laugh echoes through the alleyway. “And so, it starts. You going to call Julian over so you can all hug it out?”
Charlie releases me and walks toward him. She lifts his hand to examine it, just a few minor scrapes and nothing serious and drops it immediately.
“I’m staying with Adriana tonight. Don’t follow me. Don’t call me,” she says in an eerily calm voice. “I don’t want to see or speak to you till you’ve calmed down, you imbecile.”
“Charlotte, you can’t fucking stay there. You’re my fucking wife,” he almost spits.
I’m too exhausted to say any more, Charlie looking just as defeated as I feel. She links her arm in mine, and we start to walk off until she stops a few moments later, turning around to face Lex one more time.
“I’ve never felt so disrespected in my life as I do right now. You practically called me a whore, Lex, and you know what the worst part is? I still fucking love you.”
She turns back around, and I’m stunned by her words. What on earth have I done? This is entirely my fault. At what point did I think it will work itself out? The sorrow and shame accompany me as I walk hand in hand with my best friend down the dark alleyway. I know I have to warn Julian, terrified Lex will get to him, and God knows how psychotic my brother can be. With my free hand, I pull out my cell. Charlie understands what I’m doing, and she lets go of my arm. It’s simple but straight to the point.
Me: Cat’s out of the bag.
My cell immediately vibrates as Julian’s name flashes on the screen. I pick it up, defeated and tired.
“I’m coming to get you.”
“I’m fine. It’s just been a long night.”
“You can’t be alone right now,” he tells me.
I look over to Charlie, her smile reassures me. “I’m not. Charlie is staying with me tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? I really need some time with my best friend.”
I know he is smiling. I can tell by the softness in his voice. “I understand. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
He hangs up, and I place the cell back in my purse with a huge grin on my face despite the showdown happening only moments ago.
“That’s Julian for you. A levelheaded, understanding man.” Charlie softly laughs.
I nod, and just when we turn the corner, the loud echo of a glass smashing on the wall startles us.
No doubt my brother, the polar opposite of levelheaded, has something to do with it.
Charlie sits on my sofa, sinking into the cushions as the weight of tonight’s events finally hit her.
With her shoulders slumping, she throws her cell across the coffee table. It slides against the wood and stops as it hits a magazine. The momentary silence is welcoming until the cell dances across the table, the screen flashing as I see Lex’s name appear again.
Tonight, I learned something new about my brother. Aside from being a possessive asshole, I saw an ugly side to him I’ve never seen before—his ability to hurt those he loves the most. His temper exceeded my expectations, and the last person I thought he’d lash out on was his own wife.
I place the cup of coffee beside the cell within Charlie’s reach. She mouths a “thank you” as we both try to sober up. I’ve been waiting a while for this conversation, but now that it’s going to happen, I have no idea what to say. What can I say? This is the man Charlie once saw herself spending the rest of her life with.
“Your brother is a dick,” she says angrily.
“Your husband is a dick,” I reiterate.
She lets out a long sigh and turns to face me, pulling her legs up against her chest cradling the steaming cup. “God, Adriana, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Did you not see what happened back there? I was trying to protect you. I’m not going to fuck up your marriage by making you hide a secret from your husband.”
“But, Adriana, this is huge. I mean… argh… so many questions, no idea where to start,” she mumbles, then back to staring at the coffee table lost in thought.
There are so many questions—some that need answering and some that don’t.
“Charlie… this is awkward,” I tell her, breaking the silence between us. “I’m not stupid, you know. You guys were going to get married.”
