Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“Be careful,” I warn. Once she’s safely out of the tub, she rushes to the shower and turns on the hot spray. I follow behind her, pulling her back to my front while we wait for the water to heat up.
We take turns washing each other. My soapy hands all over her skin is hot as fuck, but I hold back. I don’t want her to think that she’s only here so I can fuck her. I want this with her. The more time we spend together not arguing only cements that fact.
I rinse off and step out, while she rinses the conditioner from her hair. I wanted to help her, but I needed to step away to get myself and my cock under control. When she turns off the water and steps out of the open shower, I hold a towel up for her, and she steps in close, allowing me to wrap it around her before handing her another for her hair.
“I’m going to get dressed and head downstairs and see what our options are for lunch.”
“Let’s just order pizza,” she suggests.
“Pizza I can do. What do you want on it?”
“I’m not picky. Just no anchovies.”
“Meat lovers?”
“That works for me.”
I bend to kiss her. “Take your time.”
“We’re staying in, right?”
“That was the plan.”
“Okay, just making sure. I brought comfy clothes and going-out clothes, and I’m not going to mess with my hair if we’re just lounging.”
“A day of lounging with you is perfect.” I kiss her quickly and leave her in the bathroom to do her thing. I slide into a pair of underwear, some gym shorts, and a T-shirt before making my way downstairs. I call in an order for a large pizza with breadsticks and kick back on the couch.
Just as I get comfortable, there’s a knock at the door. Not sure who it could be, I make my way to the door and pull it open. Lincoln stands there with a six-pack of beer and a pizza in his hands.
“Hey, man.” He steps past me as I close the door behind him.
“What are you doing here?”
“A man’s gotta eat. I thought I would buy lunch as a thank you for letting me stay here when everything went down.”
“I just ordered pizza.”
He shrugs. “Not like it will go bad.”
Before I get a chance to tell him about Charlotte, she steps off the bottom step. She’s wearing a tiny pair of shorts that mold to her skin, a tank top that shows her bra strap, and her still-damp hair is pulled up into some kind of twist on top of her head.
“Charlotte— Hi.” Lincoln waves.
“Hey, Linc.” She’s polite and even smiles at him.
“I, uh—” Lincoln is caught off guard, and if it were not for the fact that I don’t want Charlotte to feel uncomfortable, I’d let him sweat a little longer.
“Linc, this is my girlfriend, Charlotte,” I introduce them as if they’re strangers.
Charlotte’s eyes widen, as do Lincoln’s. I reach for Charlotte, and she comes to me easily. I wrap my arms around her, needing her close.
“I… I didn’t know,” Lincoln stammers.
“It’s new. We’ve been spending a lot of time together, and we just made it official this weekend.” I leave out that work is what brought us together. I know that’s still an uncertainty for Charlotte. Besides, we haven’t really discussed labels, so I’m pushing my luck here.
“Wow, congrats, you guys. I’m sorry that I just barged in here like this. I’ll just—” He points to the door. “I’ll just go.”
He takes two steps before Charlotte speaks up. “Linc.” He freezes and turns to face her. “You should stay and eat. I can go back upstairs if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“No.” She’s not hiding upstairs. I want her comfortable in my home. She has just as much right to be here as my best friend. Even more so if I’m being honest.
“It’s okay, Spence.”
“No. He’s right. This is your space as his girl as much as it is his.”
This is why this man is my best friend. He’s made mistakes, but he’s a good man. “He’s right,” I tell Charlotte.
“Look, Charlotte, I’m sorry. I know the way I handled things was wrong, but I really do feel as though it was what was best for Audrey. I’m married to my job, something I need to work on, and she deserved more than I was giving her.”
Charlotte nods. “Audrey tells me that there will be a day when the two of you are friends again.”
“I hope so.” Lincoln bows his head.
I’m floored when Charlotte replies, “Spencer is important to both of us,” she tells him, and there’s this feeling in my chest. It’s one I’ve never felt before, almost like my heart is bursting open.
“Please stay.”
“Are you sure, Charlotte?” Lincoln asks.
“Positive.” She turns to me and offers me a small smile, and I will always remember this moment as the one where I fell in love with Charlotte Krause.