feel around for the tissue package I have in there somewhere, not daring to take my eyes off the road.
“For fuck’s sake, where is it?”
A blaring horn makes me straighten in my seat, and the last thing I see is blinding lights fast approaching.
TROY
Charlie didn’t answer the phone. That was hours ago. I’ve parked my ass on the couch and have been pounding one beer after another. Where the hell is she? I would have called Ben if it wasn’t so late. Most likely, she went to Littleton.
I still can’t believe her reaction. I get she’s protective of Ben. I’m protective of Jane too. But she didn’t give me the chance to explain. She went total psycho in the blink of an eye. I’d already known she was short-tempered—our beginning is proof of that—but hell, I hadn’t expected her to do a one-eighty on me like that.
I’m about to call it a night when my phone rings. My heart skips a beat. Despite the fact that I’m mad at Charlie, the yearning hasn’t gone away. I dive for the phone, afraid the call will go to voice mail.
“Charlie, babe, ar—”
“Troy, it’s Blake.”
My blood runs cold. What the hell?
“Where’s Charlie?” I jump from the couch, more on edge than before.
“There’s been an acci—”
“Where is she?” I’m already veering for the door.
“At Saint James.”
“How is she? Is she conscious?”
“She’s in surgery. Broke her leg.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. Thanks for calling me.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Ben.” The line goes silent.
“Asshole.”
I slide behind the wheel and gun the engine. The damn beeping sound reminds me to put my seat belt on.
“Yeah, I hear ya, motherfucker.”
I click the belt in place right before I take a sharp curve, burning rubber. My heart is pumping like a factory, and my hands are already sweaty from holding the steering wheel too tight. I should be mindful of the speed limit, especially since I’ve been drinking tonight, but my need to get to Charlie as fast as I can trumps everything.
A traffic jam makes me lose my mind. No, no, no. I can’t get stuck here. I know if Charlie’s in surgery, it’ll be hours before she’s out, but that doesn’t make me less frantic.
Finally, the line of cars begins to move. I decide to take the next exit and get to the hospital via another route. The highway is usually fast, but apparently not tonight.
Another twenty maddening minutes later, I park my car in the first spot I find and then run like a madman through the parking lot. When I burst through the sliding doors of the hospital, I must be quite the sight since I’m still in full skull makeup.
“I’m looking for Charlie Fontaine,” I tell the receptionist. “She was brought in earlier an—”
“Troy?” Ben calls out.
I turn toward the sound of his voice.
He walks over and, without hesitation, gives me a hug. “I’m glad you came.”
“Thanks for letting me know. Do you know what happened?”
He steps back and wipes the tears from his cheeks. “No. We got the call and rushed here. Mom and Dad talked to the doctors away from me.”
We return to the waiting area, and I find Blake, Fred, and a curly haired brunette I haven’t met yet. Blake glowers at me but keeps his piehole shut. Fred gives me a sympathetic nod, and the girl simply stares at me blankly. I could be a ghost for all she cares. A middle-aged blonde woman with red-rimmed eyes that are filled with anguish walks over. Charlie’s mother, I guess.
“You must be Charlie’s boyfriend,” she says. “Do you know why she was driving to Littleton so late in the night?”
Her tone is accusatory, and I don’t blame her for it. But I can’t tell her why without coming across as the biggest asshole in the world. If I had followed her into the house, I wouldn’t have let her get behind the wheel.
“She was worried about Ben,” I say without elaborating why.
“Why would she be worried about him?”
“Mom, please. It’s not Troy’s fault Charlie got hurt.” Ben jumps to my defense.
Does he already know about the video?
“Is everything okay here?” a male voice asks behind me.
I turn around and lose my ground for the second time tonight. Staring at me is none other than Bill, my mom’s boyfriend.
“Dad, this is Charlie’s boyfriend,” Ben introduces us.
Anger surges within me with the confirmation that Charlie’s father has been unfaithful. I can’t fucking believe it. There’s no trace of recognition in his