Lethal Wedding (Wedlocked Trilogy Book 2) - Charlotte Byrd Page 0,43

other problems.”

I want to ask her more about him and their relationship, but something holds me back.

“Listen, it has been a long day and I have to get back home.”

“To Montauk?”

“Yep," I say.

“But that’s like a three-hour drive.”

“That’s where my mom lives.”

“I’m really sorry about what she has going on,” she says, pausing slightly in the middle as if saying the word cancer is just too difficult for her.

“Thank you, I really have hope that everything will be fine.”

“You were so brave to just come out and tell us all about her situation.”

“Yeah, I guess. Or maybe I’m just a realist. I don’t know. I mean, I’m not gonna sit around a table and pretend that my life is anything like yours, so I figured why not just tell you the truth? Especially since you asked.”

Chelsea moves closer to me, pressing her lips onto mine. I try to pull away, but I don’t. It feels good to kiss her and I haven’t felt good in a long time.

Chelsea buries her hands in my hair again, tugging slightly and sending shivers down my spine. I run my fingers down her neck and over her collarbone. Then I follow my lips down the exact same path, all the way down to her breasts.

She leans her body against the couch, arching her back. When I kiss her, she digs her fingers into my back. Our mouths become one as our tongues intertwine.

Suddenly, she pushes me away.

“What’s wrong?” I ask as she sits up and throws her head between her legs.

Her body makes a loud heaving sound and she throws up.

“Are you okay?” I ask, pulling her hair out of her face.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbles and throws up again.

“It’s okay," I repeat myself over and over again. “It’s fine. I just want you to feel better.”

I run over to the kitchen and pour her a glass of water. After helping her to the bedroom, I tuck her into bed. I pull the trashcan over just in case.

“Thank you so much,” she mumbles as I turn off the lights.

After cleaning up the couch and the floor, I throw away the paper towels and leave her apartment.

27

Aurora

The following morning I wake up early and decide to surprise Franklin with some coffee and bagels. I did not spend the night with him, but instead went back to my apartment as soon as Chelsea and Henry left. But Henry texted me and told me about the money that he gave Henry. I know that it’s not much to Franklin, but I am still shocked by his generosity. It means so much to Henry.

I am so taken aback by his kindness I start to wonder if I’m wrong about him. Perhaps, he’s not as terrible a person as I had made him out to be.

The truth is that I don’t actually know very much about Franklin. I thought all of this time that we have spent together would enlighten me about who he really is, but it hasn’t. And every little bit just adds to the mystery.

The doorman waves me through and the elevator attendant makes small talk about the weather as we ride up.

I walk in and put the breakfast on the kitchen table. Instead of leaving it in the brown paper bag, I lay everything out on serving dishes, the bagels, the different types of cream cheese, and the fruit.

I don’t actually know what kind of bagels or fruit or even breakfast Franklin likes, but I figure today is as good a day as any to find out.

After everything is set up, I walk down the hallway to his bedroom and quietly open the door. That’s when I see them.

Franklin is spread-eagled on the bed completely nude and a svelte brunette is laying under the sheet, right next to him, facing away from me.

For a moment, I’m tempted to not make a scene. I consider simply sneaking out of the room, tiptoeing back out of the door and not ever talking about this again.

But then, I spot the hundred-thousand dollar watch that’s on the dresser. Before I realize what I’m doing, I grab it and slam it to the floor.

They jump up, startled.

“What, what are you doing there?” Franklin roars. “What are you doing with my watch?”

“Who is that?” I demand to know.

The girl waves shyly to me and then quickly starts to get dressed and gather her things. She finds her dress on the banister and her underwear on the couch all the way across the