Page 4 of Our Lips Are Sealed
“Damn it, Becca. What did you do?”
Why did he always have to blame her when things went wrong? As if she was the sole cause of all his problems. “Don’t be an asshole,” she grumbled. “Sometimes these things happen.”
She didn’t see him coming. Tired and hurting, she didn’t think he would do it, but when her head hit the wall, her face stinging from the hit, Rebecca scolded herself for underestimating him.
“Did you get into my stuff last night?”
Sucking in the pain, she kept her eyes lowered. Charlie didn’t like her looking at him when he was angry.
“Answer me, Becca.”
“No.”
A hand fisted in her hair, forcing her to face him. Careful not to meet his gaze, she focused on his thinning hairline. The man in front of her was a far cry from the handsome devil that sauntered into the Blue 42 all those years ago.
And try as she might not to love him, Rebecca couldn’t stop. They had been through so much together. It was hard on her heart to say no whenever he came around.
But even so, the man could really piss her off at times.
“I didn’t take anything.”
“We’ll see about that.” Shoving her aside, he stormed to the kitchen, where he normally hid his stash since moving in full time. “So help me if you’re lying.”
Rebecca slumped into a ball on the floor. She hated when he acted like this. His bad mood would invariably draw out the whispers in her head, nurturing them, giving them fuel to grow louder until she couldn’t stand it. Once upon a time, those same voices would have told her how special she was, deserving so much more than this. It wasn’t until after Cecilia’s birth that they changed their tune, dimming that glowing strand of promised glory at her center.
Charlie returned, swiping a hand down his face. “I’m sorry.” He lowered himself to the floor and crouched next to her. “I was upset about the baby.”
She didn’t fight when he tried to take her in his arms. It was for the best. “I know.”
“Did they give you anything for the pain?”
“The good stuff.”
Helping her stand, Charlie guided her to their bedroom. “Take a pill and then take a nap. I’ve got to go up to the house and talk with Ben this afternoon.”
She slipped off her clothes to slide between the cool sheets. “He and Laura Jean are moving out today.”
“Off to live in that stupid fucking thing he’s built,” Charlie said, getting her a glass of water and the pills. “My brother is making a damn fool of himself over that woman. First, he claimed Selah as his own, and once that blew over, he goes out and starts fucking Laura Jean behind his wife’s back.”
Charlie sat on the bed beside her. “How in the hell does he think that looks? People around here know she was Albie’s wife, just like they know how he and Ben were best friends. Add that brat they have together, and there’s bound to be talk.”
Rebecca didn’t care. She was loving every minute of it. Hate was too small of a word to describe what she felt towards Ben. The bastard had robbed her and Charlie of their money, giving the bulk of Charlie’s inheritance to his wife Vivian, and then taking it away almost altogether.
It wasn’t any of Ben’s business how their money was spent. Life was short, and they should be able to do what they wanted.
Charlie kissed her cheek. “At least you and I know how to be discreet.”
“And it better pay off.” She swallowed two pain pills and took one more for good measure. “Soon.”
“Oh, trust me, it will.”
He got in the shower, the sound of the water lulling her into a relaxed state while the pills soothed the pain and quieted the agitated voices in her head. Eventually, her eyelids grew heavy, and she fell into a dreamless sleep.
Charlie must have slipped out at some point, leaving her to rest for hours. It wasn’t until a squealing bang went off outside, scaring her half to death, that she woke disoriented and alone in the darkened room.
A second loud pop sounded, and she screamed, tumbling out of bed. Through the bedroom window, a sparkling explosion lit up the evening sky.
Fireworks.
