Page 36 of Reckless Chances
“Sure. If I don’t have anything else going on,” Freddie replied.
“Is Serena going to be okay with that?” Charlie asked.
Freddie zipped up his jacket and brushed the chalky dust from his hands. “She doesn’t worry about stuff like that. And, she’s the only woman in the world I’m interested in touching anyway. Later guys.” Freddie turned and held his hand up in a wave as he headed out the door.
The second it was closed behind him Jason turned to face Charlie. “We’ve got to talk.”
“Can it wait?”
“Nope,” Jason said. “It can’t.”
“Fine.” Charlie blew air out between his lips, wondering what kind of stupid bachelor party emergency his brother needed to discuss. He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows. “So...” he made a ‘let’s get on with it motion with his hand and returned to his crossed arm stance.
Clearing his throat, Jason looked at the ground and then met his brother’s impatient gaze.
“What?” Charlie asked. The look on his brother’s face told him this was serious, and not stripper related.
“The girl that you’re seeing. Emma, that owns the flower shop...” he voiced trailed out.
“Yeah,” Charlie raised his eyebrows. “What about her?”
“You’re telling me you don’t know?” He squeezed his lips into a line.
“Know what? Spit it out?” Charlie was losing his patience and put his fists on his hips.
“How could you not know?”
“Goddammit, Jason,” Charlie shouted. “What the fuck are you talking about? Enough with this cryptic shit. I’ve got way too much going on to play your games. What?”
Jason reared back like Charlie was going to hit him, even though he was the hothead. “That’s Adam’s ex-fiancée.”
“Adam. As in your best friend Adam?” This time it was Charlie’s turn. He took a step back and all of a sudden it made sense.
“Our best friend Adam,” Jason emphasized the ‘our’. “The Adam whose wedding you’re crashing with his psycho ex-girlfriend.”
“Are you sure?” The world started to spin, and Charlie leaned against the bar to steady himself. “I haven’t met any of Adam’s girlfriends since grade twelve so, how was I supposed to know? Charlie asked. But now, he knew exactly where he’d seem Emma before. Not in person, no there was no way he would ever forget meeting someone as gorgeous as her, but in Adam’s social media photos. He hadn’t paid too much attention back then but knew that Adam had been with a pretty blond woman and then he wasn’t.
“You can’t bring her to the wedding, and you have to break it off with her now.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Charlie held up his hands. “I can’t bring her to the wedding, but you can’t tell me that I have to break up with her. It’s over with them.”
“Dude. She’s one of your best friend’s ex-girlfriends and you just don’t do that.” Jason shook his head like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “And that bitch is psycho.”
Charlie’s face burned. “Don’t you dare speak about Emma like that.”
Jason opened his arms. “I’m just trying to help you. Charlie. She’s a terrible person. I don’t even know where to start. You need to get as afar away from her as possible. She will ruin your life.”
Charlie turned away from his brother. The rage that was simmering inside him was about to boil over and he didn’t want to be close enough to punch him in the face. “I said, don’t speak about her like that,” Charlie spoke through clenched teeth.
“I’m sorry Charlie.” Jason’s voice was softer now, placating. “You can call Adam if you want to get the whole story. He’ll tell you the truth.”
Charlie turned and thrust his hands into his pants pockets. “And what is the truth? There are two sides to every story Jason. Maybe I’ll just ask her for her side—”
“She’s a compulsive liar,” Jason interrupted. “You won’t get the truth from her. She’ll manipulate you to get her way.”
“I don’t believe this,” Charlie said.
“And she’ll steal from you,” Jason added. “Adam could’ve pressed charges, but he decided just to move on with his life.”
