“What?”

My friends scoffed, but Harlow just looked around at us as she took in what was happening. She didn’t know Charlie well enough to defend her. She didn’t know what I knew.

“Don’t act like you don’t know what we’re talking about,” Graham hissed. “What’d Charlie ever do to you?”

Of all of us, I was surprised that Graham didn’t share my feelings.

Before I could respond, Harlow asked, “Did you try to sleep with her?”

Graham’s face fell, and mine twisted in disgust.

“Deacon, you didn’t . . .” Graham trailed off. “What’d you do?”

“What did I do?” I said with a laugh, and shook my head as I sat back in the booth. “Nothing. And, no, I didn’t try to sleep with Charlie.” Graham kicked at my leg twice, but I continued. “I wouldn’t touch her even if she was in my bed and begging.”

The silence that followed my statement felt thick, and I knew before I turned my head that she had come back.

Sure enough, when I looked to my right, Charlie was standing there holding our drinks. She wasn’t looking at me, or anyone, just staring at a spot on the table as crimson stained her cheeks.

My stomach dropped and guilt tore through me, but only for a moment before I was able to lock on to my disgust again. She had hurt one of people I loved most in this world. It was about time she hurt too.

She licked nervously at her bottom lip, and had to attempt to speak twice before there was any sound behind the words. “Mama already had your drinks waiting,” she explained, but stood still for a few more seconds before she hurried to place the drinks on the table.

“You’re an asshole,” Knox growled when Charlie left.

Graham was running a hand over his face, and shaking his head slowly. “Get out,” he demanded.

“I’m not gonna apologize.”

“No shit,” he bit back immediately, but he still looked disappointed in my response. “But someone has to for you, and someone needs to make sure she’s okay.”

“Why?”

Graham’s frustration was palpable. “Because it’s fucking Charlie, that’s why. Now move.”

I let him out of the booth, and started to sit back down as he stalked off, but stopped. “Forget it. I’m not hungry.” I pulled out my wallet and tossed a ten on the table. “Tell Graham I walked home. See you two later.”

I didn’t expect a response from them, and didn’t wait for one. I just turned and walked out, ignoring my best friend on my way out as he spoke quietly to the girl I never wanted to see again.

Chapter Three

Charlie

May 30, 2016

JAGGER SIGHED FOR the fifth time in as many minutes, and turned his green-eyed stare to me from the driver’s seat of my car. He didn’t say anything, just gave me “the look.” The one I had seen so often growing up with him. The one that meant he was about to switch from my big brother to my parent.

When he didn’t say anything, I closed my book and set it down, then relaxed against the side of the warehouse. “Well?”

A dejected laugh fell from his mouth, and he lifted his hands before letting them fall to his lap in defeat. “I don’t know what you want me to say. I don’t know what’s wrong with your car—I know nothing about cars.”

My shoulders sagged a little.

“Take it to the mechanic, or better yet—”

“Here we go,” I murmured.

“—go buy a new car.”

“Jag . . .”

“You can’t have a car that doesn’t work half the time, Charlie. Especially not now that you’re back here and will be driving Keith more. What if you go somewhere with him, and then get stuck?”

“I’ll call you?”

His face went void of any emotion. “Charlie. Look, I know I didn’t let you touch your money until you turned eighteen, but you’ve had access to it for four years now—that’s plenty of time to get your own car. A reliable car.”

“It just seems like a waste when I have a car already!”

“Again,” he began with a laugh, “a car that only works half the time! This car wasn’t exactly new when Grandma left it to you, and then it sat there for years until you were old enough for it.” When I started to defend myself and the car again, he cut me off. “You know I wouldn’t tell you to spend the money on something like this if I didn’t think it was necessary, but it’s necessary. It’s been necessary. You have the money—” He cut off quickly, and his eyebrows drew together. “You do still have your money, right?”

“I’m not Mom,” I bit out, and Jagger’s face softened.

“I didn’t mean it like that. You know I didn’t.”

I released a weighted breath, my head shook as I tried to push away the initial hurt and anger at his question. “Yeah, I do. Other than school and that apartment in Walla Walla, I’ve only started a college account for Keith.”

He nodded in acknowledgement. What I’d said wasn’t news to him. “Then go buy a car. Something Keith can grow into, and you can have for a long time. All right?”

I lifted a shoulder and started to say I’d think about it, but stopped abruptly at Jagger’s next demand.

“Until then, take this thing to the mechanic the next time it starts.”

That was something I definitely would not be doing. “I’m sure it’ll be fine without that.” Before he could respond, I grabbed my book and stood, then took a step toward the front door of the warehouse. “I need to go if I’m walking to work.”

Jagger looked like he was going to argue about the mechanic, but decided against it. “Take my car today. Keys are on the hook inside.”

“Thanks, Jag,” I said quickly, and slipped back into the warehouse to grab my purse and his keys before he could find something else to argue with me about—like how I should stop looking for my own place.

It felt like I didn’t take a full breath until I was in his car and pulling out of the alleyway. I’d made it through another parental-type lecture from Jagger; now if only I could make it through this shift without Mama’s favorite person coming in to pin me with his cold stare.

Deacon