Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Stepping out from behind the wall, I walk toward Raven, whose back is turned to me.
“Everything all right?”
Her eyes are wide and filled with unshed tears.
She’s fucking crying over him?
I steel my resolve, seeing things for what they are.
She’s no better than Tabitha.
She played me for a fool, and I allowed it.
No more. This ends now.
41
Raven
Come on, Asher. Pick up. Pick up.
I’ve been trying to get in touch with Asher since everything went to hell with Charles. I realized that by saying nothing, I was ruining everything.
Both men deserve better from me, and I’m determined to make amends.
I have to.
It’s eating away at me.
Asher deserves to know the truth. That he’ll only ever be my best friend, and I can only hope that’ll be enough for him one day.
Charles needs to know I feel the same way.
More even.
I’m not just falling. I’m in love with him.
Spending the day away from the office and just enjoying each other has solidified it. I’ve never been in love, but the way my chest feels tight and my belly tingles in anticipation every time he’s near tell me this is something real. Something I’d be an idiot to ignore.
But it’s not just that.
It’s the way I feel in the quiet moments with him. Like I don’t have to fill the silence. I can relax and bask in the comfort he provides. It’s the way I want to make him happy. To make him smile.
I want to give Charles Cavendish all of me. Whatever will ensure that lighthearted man never leaves. The one I got to experience the day at the arcade and here at this house that holds so many memories for him.
I likely ruined things with him, but I can fix it. I have to.
Asher will tell me how to fix this. He’s always been my voice of reason, and once he gets over his hurt, he’ll be there for me through this, too.
I need him to know how I feel about Charles. He needs to know that this isn’t just a passing thing.
I love Charles.
If Charles will hear me out and forgive me for holding back, I have every intention of holding on to him. I don’t want a fling. I want forever.
Not now, but someday.
Asher is not picking up.
“Everything all right?” Charles asks, walking into the room, voice full of steel.
I whip around to find his hands are in his pockets, and his face is void of emotion.
Shit.
This is not good.
“I’m fine. I just can’t get ahold of Asher. He’s not answering any of my calls.”
“I didn’t realize you were still at odds.”
I sigh. “We are. I know you saw a bad side to him, but he’s not like that at all. It’s my fault anyway.”
“How so?” His biting tone causes me to wince, but I forge on, hoping to turn things around.
He takes a seat on a chair facing me.
I shift on my feet uncomfortably, looking down at Charles, who still has a blank face. “I might’ve led him on unintentionally.”
Charles’s eyes narrow imperceptibly, but I don’t miss it.
“You led him on. How?”
“He was making his feelings more noticeable. I ignored it. Instead of coming clean and telling him there was no chance, I stayed quiet.”
Charles’s shoulders stiffen, and I wonder what he’s thinking. Is he misunderstanding my silence from earlier?
How could he not?
“Charles. About earlier,” I say, but he shakes his head.
“Not now, Raven.”
“When? I can’t go on feeling like this. It’s horrible.”
He huffs a humorless laugh, and I tense.
“I think we both know this was never going to work, Raven.”
My heart stops.
My body sags.
I feel like I’m going to be sick.
“Getting to know you was fun, but it wasn’t meant to last. I don’t do relationships.” He glances around the room, and his eyes manage to darken more.
What is he remembering that has those shadows clouding his handsome face?
“This place reminded me of that.” He shrugs. “The sex was great.”
I stare at him. Did he really just say that to me?
“Seriously?” I snap. “That’s all you have to say to me?” My voice pitches, and Charles doesn’t even flinch.
“Oh, come now, Raven. Surely you’d say the same. Italy. The office. Here. It was just really good sex. Now you can leave.”
“Charles, you don’t understand. I—”
“Don’t,” he snarls. “Don’t you dare try to backpedal.”
Knowing Charles, even after a short time, I’m aware that anything I say at this point would come across as forced. He wouldn’t believe me, and it would only make things worse.
I’ve well and truly messed up, but I don’t care.
I have to say the words.
“I’ve fallen in love with you.” I say the words, but it’s too late, and I know it.
He bares his teeth as the anger pours from him.
“I. Said. Don’t,” he grits.
Dread pools, and I’m petrified we can’t come back from this.
After all the nuggets of information he’s given me about his past and the hurt he’s felt by those he’s loved, I fear I’ve added my name to that list.