The Man I Thought I Trusted - E. L. Todd Page 0,45
happen.”
“I don’t know… I really don’t want to hurt Kat.” She bowed her head and pushed her rolls around with her chopsticks.
“I think it’s time for all of us to move on. And you and Charlie would be great together, so I think you guys should give it a go.”
“Really?” she asked in surprise.
“Yeah. Charlie talked to her recently and told her that he wanted to ask you out.”
“Shut up! He did not.”
“Yep. She wasn’t thrilled about it, but he said it seemed like she understood.”
“Oh my god. She must hate me.”
“No. She and I aren’t on good terms…but you guys are fine.”
“Wait, what happened with you?” my sister asked.
I’d never told her about it because I had no explanation. I couldn’t just tell her that I knew Charlie had been hung up on her this long. It would make him look like a weirdo. “I told her that she needed to move on with her life and not stand in the way of you and Charlie wanting to get together. She didn’t like that, so we haven’t really been talking. I think she just needs some time.”
“Whoa… I don’t know what to say.”
“It was for her own good. Because she still has feelings for him, and he doesn’t feel the same way at all. I think it was a kick in the chest but what she needed to hear.”
She set her chopsticks on her plate and stared down at her food like she didn’t know what to do.
“Damage is done, Denise. You guys should just do what you want to do. You two would be perfect together, and everyone deserves to be happy.”
“Maybe I should talk to her about it—”
“No, just leave her alone. I know you guys are friends, but you’re only friends with her because of me, so I don’t think it really counts. I don’t think it’s the same thing as if I were to date Charlie…that would be weird.”
“I guess I just feel bad because I know how she feels about him.”
“Yeah. But they’re never getting back together, so it really shouldn’t matter.” It would be a lot easier to talk Denise into this if I just told her the truth, but that wasn’t an option. If Charlie wanted to tell her someday, that was his story to tell, not mine. “Go for it. Be happy. There’s not a better guy out there.”
“Not even Dax?” she teased.
“He’s a perfect man—for me. But I don’t think there’s a better guy out there for you besides Charlie. I think he’s exactly what you’re looking for.”
17
Dax
I approached the door and lightly tapped my knuckles against the wood.
“It’s open.” Carson’s loud voice projected across the room and penetrated the barrier.
I stepped inside and saw the two of them working in the kitchen, making dinner. “Hey, sweetheart.”
Charlie had his back to me as he stirred the contents on the stove. “Hey, pumpkin.”
Carson turned around and rolled her eyes. A platter was in her hand, so she set it down before she came to me, that beautiful smile on her face.
Charlie quickly abandoned what he was doing and ran across the room to get to me quicker. He moved into my chest and gave me a bear hug, gripping me tightly like we were long-lost brothers who’d finally been reunited.
I chuckled and patted him on the back. “What’s this for?”
He pulled away and gave me a dead serious look. “For getting her out of my apartment.”
I chuckled. “You’re welcome.”
“Uh, what?” Carson said from behind him. “What the hell, Charlie?”
“You know how long it’s been since I had sex on the couch?” He looked at her as he passed by her. “With you gone, there’s going to be so much kitchen sex, couch sex…even closet sex, if you can believe it.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and walked up to me. “He’s going to miss me. Don’t let him tell you any differently.”
I glanced at him behind her.
He shook his head and got back to work on the stove.
I shifted my gaze back to her. “I’m sure he will, sweetheart.”
She moved into my chest and wrapped her arms around me, rising on her tiptoes to kiss me.
My hands snaked down her back until I gripped both cheeks in my large hands. My palms were always on her ass, but she liked it, so I continued to do it.
She melted at my touch, like she loved those big fingertips digging into her jeans. “You want to join us for dinner?”