Page 34 of The Devil in Blue Jeans
It dawned on her that while she would usually come out with some cruel comment meant to hurt him, she couldn’t find those harsh words now. “It’s time to move on, Marcel. Please don’t call again,” she said, opening her eyes to her friends. Both were looking back at her warmly and lovingly. “I’ve created a new life for myself. One that makes me happy. If my mother tries to talk to you again, tell her what I’ve said.”
He paused. Longer this time. Then he said softly, “You don’t want me to explain why I did what I did? You don’t need a reason?”
Nothing he said would change anything. “No, Marcel, I don’t.”
His voice cracked. “If that’s what you want, I’ll leave you alone then.”
She felt her breaking heart shudder as the pain of what-could-have-been swept through her entire being. “Goodbye, Marcel.”
“Goodbye, Charly.”
She ended the call, opened his contact information and blocked his number. “Blocked. Done and done!”
Aubrey and Willow leaped off the couch and gave Charly a tight hug, like they’d been waiting for weeks for her to make that decision. And maybe they had.
“This is a good thing,” said Willow, squeezing Charly hard. “Now you can put that asshole behind you.”
“Definitely,” chorused Aubrey.
And yet, a small part of her heart was fractured at the thought of not caring if Marcel contacted her again or knowing what he was doing with his life. She had once planned an entire future with him. Although the larger part of her heart would never take him back, there was a tiny bit that cherished the dream she thought they’d share together.
It hurt to let that dream die.
“Let’s go,” Charly said, stepping out of their arms.
“Where?” Aubrey inquired.
She sauntered toward the stairs, each one creaking beneath her bare feet. “You need to help me pack. I have to wake up at a stupid time tomorrow morning to head out with the cowboys. When we got back at the ranch, Jaxon suggested I stay in his guest room tonight to make sure I’m not late in the morning.”
Aubrey snorted. “Sure.”
Willow giggled.
“It isn’t like that,” Charly argued as she entered her bedroom. The vintage four-poster bed was the focal point in the room, its aged wooden frame exuding character and warmth. A soft, pastel-colored rug cushioned the hardwood floor beneath it. She got out her carry-on suitcase from the small closet, and placed it on the bed. “What happened between us was a one-time deal. I have no intention of getting involved with a guy with major commitment issues. Besides, I’m sleeping outside with a bunch of cowboys on the roundup—not exactly romantic.”
“I disagree,” Aubrey remarked, waggling her eyebrows. “I’m sure there are romance books about a lady with a bunch of cowboys, and they’re probably very steamy.”
Charly tossed a pillow at Aubrey who caught it and laughed. “Then you should go if it sounds so tempting.”
Willow just shook her head at them and leaned against the dresser, grinning.
“Anyways,” Charly drawled, changing the subject, giving Aubrey alook. “I found out something today,” she announced to Willow and Aubrey as she put some jeans in her bag.
“Oh?” Aubrey said, dropping onto the bed.
“Gunner, Jaxon’s friend, is a country singer,” Charly informed them.
Willow’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“YouTube him,” Charly suggested, pulling out a couple long T-shirts that she used as pajamas, as well as a pair of tight shorts since she didn’t want to give the cowboys any ideas when she slept out with them. “See what you can find out about him.”
Willow grabbed her phone from her back pocket and began typing and soon the sound of an alluring masculine voice filled the room.
“Is that him?” Charly asked.
Willow nodded as she read through an article on her phone. “It says here that his last album didn’t do so well on the charts, but his one before went platinum.”
Charly asked, “So, he’s famous then?”
