Page 59 of You Shouldn't Have Come Here

I leaned down and kissed her again. Wet, soapy hands wrapped around my neck but I didn’t mind. Grace kissed me back like she was hungry.

The sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted us.Damn it.Grace and I immediately pulled away from one another. Char stood in the entryway, holding a wire basket with less than a dozen eggs in it. Grace turned toward the sink and submerged her hands in the dishwater.

“Hey Char, thought you left,” I said nonchalantly.

She looked angry—actually, more hurt than anything. Her eyes were shiny and red, which could have been from drinking beers all afternoon, but I hadn’t noticed them like that when she was leaving earlier.

“Yeah, I was but decided I may as well gather the eggs before I left.” She tossed the basket onto the floor. A couple eggs fell out and splattered against the tile.

“Jesus, Charlotte.” I threw my hands up.

Without another word, Charlotte stomped out the back door. Grace glanced over her shoulder and raised her brows.

“I’ll be right back,” I said, letting out a sigh.

I caught up with Charlotte just as she was getting into her car. My hand blocked her from closing the door, and I grabbed it, pulling it open. Tears streamed down her face while she scrambled with her keys.

“What is your problem?”

Char looked up with narrowed eyes and leapt out of her seat at me. “Me? Me? What’s wrong withyou?” She shoved a finger into my chest.

“Nothing.” I took a step back, putting my hands up.

“What are you doing with Grace?” She seethed.

“It’s none of your business.” I shook my head and stared off at the setting sun. That’s how I felt. Half here, half gone. I’d felt that way for a long time.

“It is my business.” Her voice cracked. More tears escaped her eyes.

“Char, are you drunk? I can take you home.”

“No, I’m not fucking drunk, Calvin!” She kicked at the gravel and peered up at me. “Can’t you see it?”

A blank look came over me. “See what?”

“Grace. There’s something not right about her.” Char’s eyes widened as she spoke. “Why is she here? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“She’s on vacation. How many times do I have to say that?”

“A million because it doesn’t make any sense.” She took a small step toward me and put her hand on my forearm. “Please, tell me you see that.”

I sighed. “I don’t.”

Char pulled her hand away and folded her arms in front of her chest. “Is that it then? Are you with her now?”

“If I say yes, are you going to stop all of this?” I gestured to her with my hands. I was tired of Charlotte. She was walking a fine line.

“What about us?”

“There is no us.”

Her bottom lip trembled. “But... we slept together.”

“One time. I’m sorry, Charlotte, but that’s all it was for me—one time.” She just didn’t understand no matter how much I told her. She even broke up with Wyatt, thinking there was a chance with me. I regretted sleeping with her right after I finished. It was a moment of weakness, and my one moment of weakness had left her permanently weak. I knew I had to be mean to get Charlotte to understand that she and I were never going to be anything other than friends. I let out a deep breath and stared directly into her eyes.

“Charlotte, I want every night with Grace, but with you, one night was enough.”

In her weakened state, she immediately broke. Her face crumpled and tears poured out of her eyes like a faucet in her brain just turned on. When an animal was suffering, the most humane thing you could do was put it out of its misery. I hoped this was enough for Charlotte.

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