could have taken to dry up and get warm. I could have gone inside and stood under a hot shower, I could have cranked up the heating, yet here I am, sitting out in the cool early morning with a bunch of dudes who have all declared their mutual dislike for me.
What the fuck is wrong with me? Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment. I can’t deny the way Colton has me all pent up after every time he tries to humiliate me. Every time his harsh words hit my chest, I’m left in a puddle of desire. Every time his sharp glare turns my way, I need to touch him. Whenever he looks down at me, I’m desperate to show him what he’s missing. There’s got to be something wrong with me because that shit isn’t normal.
That dream though … that felt so damn real. I wonder what the real thing is like?
Charlie knocks his knee against mine, distracting me from my torturous thoughts and making me realize that I’ve been subconsciously staring at the guy sitting across from me. “You okay?”
I raise a brow and look up at him. “You actually care?”
“Of course I do,” he murmurs, keeping our conversation private. “I may be a flirt and enjoy watching you get your ass handed to you, but I’m not a complete dick. I have a heart buried inside here somewhere.”
“Could have fooled me,” I laugh.
“Ah huh,” he grins. “So my plan is working.”
I roll my eyes and nudge him with my shoulder. “You’re such an idiot,” I tell him before pausing a moment. “Why are you so nice to me? These other guys are pricks and go out of their way to make life hell, but you … I don’t know. You’re different.”
Charlie considers my question for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. “What can I say? I like to be unpredictable.” I give him a blank stare, not pleased with his bullshit response. He lets out a sigh and starts over. “I don’t get off on hurting beautiful women like they do. It’s as simple as that. I’m all about love, not war and right now, the bullshit between you and the boys is creeping dangerously close to war.”
“I think it’s already there.”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s not,” he says, glancing up and looking at Colton who hasn’t taken his eyes off us since I first sat down. “Things are … changing.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know,” he murmurs, deep in thought. “Colton isn’t hurting you for the sake of being a dick. There’s something there and it’s thrown him off his game, and when Colton is off, the whole of Bellevue Springs is off.”
“What kind of bullshit explanation is that? I’m more confused now than before you said anything.” Charlie grins wide and his smile blows me away so I move along before I do something stupid. “What about the other two? Why do they need to be pricks? Are they that far up Colton’s ass that they need to impress him with their douchey skills?”
Charlie barks out a sharp laugh that has Jude and Spencer looking our way, but they're a little too far away to hear what’s being said. “No,” he says. “That’s just them. Jude is just a fucking prick. I would have warned you to stay away from him but he tried his usual bullshit on you before I got the chance. Unfortunately, I think you learned that lesson the hard way and Spencer … Spence is just your usual brand of arrogance. He likes getting the upper hand and the fact that you shut him down so epicly during the party is a big part of why you’re still sitting here and not being burned at a stake. I don’t know how but what you said has somehow earned his respect.”
“Bullshit. Really?”
Charlie shrugs his shoulders again. “It seems that way. Had it been me, it would have just pissed me off, but Spencer finds respect in people who demand it.”
“And how am I meant to earn Colton’s?”
“Baby, you got that the second you showed up.”
My eyes narrow as my brows pinch in confusion. Surely this guy is talking shit because there’s no way I have Colton Carrington’s respect. It’s just not possible but the way Charlie is looking at me with honesty in his eyes, he’s telling his truth.
“Come on,” he says when I don’t respond. “Enough of this heavy bullshit. Let’s go inside. I’ll make you a coffee