Chapter 45 Faked Messages From The Past
Faked Messages From The Past
Charlie
My mom always warned me to brace for surprises. So when an unknown number flashes up, bearing screenshots of old chats between Rianna and Keaton, I barely blink. Honestly, I figured she’d try to cause trouble sooner. She didn’t swipe Keaton’s phone just to let it gather dust.
When Keaton and I were together the first time, I never went through his phone, not even when my instincts told me something was off.
Both my mind and heart urged me to reach for it whenever he flipped it face down, but I resisted.
I didn't want our relationship filled with distrust or me always checking on a friend he insisted was just that.
Despite the warning signs, I kept my distance from his phone.
Curiosity sinks its claws in. Rianna is a master manipulator, so I know better than to trust a single word she sends.
But what if there’s a sliver of truth buried in her words? Can I really risk turning a blind eye to her messages?
Keaton and I are in a great place. I feel secure in our relationship, and our bond grows deeper every day.
Our communication is the strongest it’s ever been.
Keaton now opens up and connects with his emotions, often suggesting that we sit down and talk things through.
He puts in the effort now that was missing the first time together.
While he always loved me, things changed when I caught him cheating.
Despite not connecting emotionally as now, he worshipped the ground I walked on.
Until Rianna.
She was the real test of our relationship’s strength, and we crumbled when Keaton gave in to temptation.
Part of me simmers with anger at myself for never finding closure with Rianna. I had chances, but I was never brave enough to take them.
Then my lawyer informed me that the police could not locate her after I filed my report. Rianna has gone into hiding, so until now, I wasn’t sure I would finally get the chance to speak my piece to her.
I thought seeing Rianna’s name with Keaton’s would shake me. My stomach twists, and there’s a bitter taste, but the sting is duller than before. I’m not completely healed yet, but I’m getting closer.
My phone pings again, snapping me out of my thoughts. The alerts stack up, one after another, as Rianna keeps texting. After two more, I finally take a breath and dive in.
UNKNOWN
Thought u should c he always wants me
The rest of the messages are screenshots of chat threads I’m assuming are between her and Keaton.
I exhale hard and let my gaze fall to the screen. For the first time, I’m seeing Keaton and Rianna’s conversations with my own eyes. I devour every word, searching for the spark that made him hold onto her.
I brace myself for flirty or inappropriate lines, anything that would break my trust. But I’m surprised by how lifeless and unremarkable their chat is. I look for signs of deleted messages, but everything seems to flow naturally.
My breath stutters when I reach the more recent messages. They’re laced with graphic sex talk. My throat tightens, but after reading them a third time, my heart slows. Something about their tone feels off compared to the earlier chats.
I scroll back and reread Keaton’s replies, comparing the latest screenshots with the earlier ones.
I even dig up old sexts between us. I’m annoyed I didn’t spot the differences sooner because they’re obvious if you look closely.
I remind myself to be gentle. We’re in a good place now, though we weren’t always. Missing the signs at first is okay.
Until I’m fully healed, our past will always tint our present. But I’m closer to letting go today than I was yesterday, and someday, I’ll leave it all behind.
After reading through the chats, a calm settles over me. If there were ever real, inappropriate messages, Rianna would have led with those.
I always wondered if it went further than that one night. These messages give me the reassurance I didn’t know I needed. I doubt that’s what Rianna intended, and I can’t help but savor the irony.
I sigh, set my phone down, and rise from the couch. A giant glass of whiskey sounds tempting, but I’ve never been one to drown my problems. Instead, I grab a bottle of water from the fridge.
I spend the next ten minutes compiling an email with all the screenshots and send them off to my lawyer. After it shows sent, I pull up Keaton’s contact and press the call icon.
“Hey, beautiful. Everything okay?”
“Rianna messaged me,” I blurt out.
“I’m on my way,” he replies in a trembling voice.
“You don’t have to.”
When silence answers me, I pull the phone away and chuckle softly at the ‘call ended’ message flashing on my screen.
My place is close to Inkubus, so Keaton’s knock comes quickly. I open the door to find terror etched across his face. His red, watery eyes brim with fear, and my heart aches for him.
“Charlie,” he breathes, reaching out with trembling hands to cup my cheeks.
“It’s okay, dragon boy. I’m okay.”
“And us?”
I smile gently, brushing my index finger over his bottom lip. “We’re okay.”
He searches my face for a few minutes before he blows out a heavy breath and drops his shoulders. “Okay. Right. Then let’s head in and talk this through. Let’s get everything out. Does that work?”
“Sounds good. Can I ask questions if I have them?”
“Of course.”
His fingers wrap around mine as I lace our hands together. He’s still trembling. Wanting to reassure him, I lift our joined hands and press a kiss to the back of his.
He offers a weary, grateful smile as we settle onto the couch.
“There wasn’t any reason to rush over here,” I tell him softly.
“I needed to be here for you. I couldn’t tell over the phone where your head was at. Whether this triggered you or not. I needed to look you in the eye as we talked about it. I wanted you to see my honesty in any question you ask.”
Seeing and hearing his fear closes another hole in my heart. “Why are you so scared, dragon boy?”
His laugh is shaky. “I’m more than simply scared, baby.
I’m fucking terrified.” He brings my hand to his chest so I can feel his heart racing under my palm.
“You’re my person, Charlie. My endgame. You’re the only one I ever want to love in my life.
I never want to do anything to hurt you.
This fucking terrifies me because we’re at a great place and I don’t want this to set us back any.
But if it does, just know I’m still going to fight like hell for you, Charlie, because you’re the love of my life. ”
I push against his chest until he falls against the cushions on the back of the couch. His eyes flash with heat when I toss one leg over his waist and climb into his lap.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he whispers, awe lighting up his voice.
“So are you,” I reply, laughing when crimson fills his cheeks.
Once I’m in a comfortable spot, I sigh and brush a kiss over his lips. “This didn’t set us back, I promise.”
“Do you want to talk about whatever she sent you?”
“She sent screenshots of old conversations between you.”
Keaton doesn’t tense up or look worried. Instead, he surprises the hell out of me when he snorts. “What did she plan to accomplish with that?”
My finger runs over the outline of the butterfly tattoo on his neck. “You’re not worried about what they say?”
The butterflies seem to flutter with every movement of his throat, each word or swallow making them dance. I can’t look away.
“No.”
“Really?”
Keaton grabs my chin and lifts my face, so I’m staring into his eyes instead of his tattoos. He moves his hand until his fingers curl around my jaw. The pad of his thumb drags along my bottom lip.
“I’m really not. This may be hard to believe, but it wasn’t like that with us. I never flirted,” he grimaces and amends his statement. “Not that I was ever aware of. I didn’t talk about me and you. It was just boring shit I’d have with any of my friends.”
“And if I told you she sent screenshots of you all sexting?”
He shrugs. “Then I’d say they’re fake as fuck.”
“So confident,” I murmur.
“Because it’s the truth. I never sent her anything like that. I promised you I would always be honest, and I will. Even if it hurts us. Transparency in everything, baby.”
“They were fake. The sexual ones, anyway. I couldn’t tell the difference straight away,” I admit.
“Don’t beat yourself up too much, Charlie. You have a reason for your hesitation.”
“Do you want to see them?”
“Do you want me to? It’s not something I need, but I trust your judgement.”
My mind spins with questions. Do I really want him to read words that put him back in that place with her, even if it’s all fake? Or is it better to just let it go?
“I think we don’t give her any more of our time. You’re right. We are in a good place. I’d rather us continue moving forward. My lawyer has copies of the messages along with the number she messaged from. That’s enough. If we give her any more, then she’s winning.”
“Sounds good to me, butterfly.”
Smiling, I lean in and brush my lips over his. The kiss begins soft and gentle, then deepens as our tongues entwine, heat rising between us.
I keep my eyes locked on his, afraid of what memories might surface if I close them.
Keaton’s hand slips under my shirt, his warm palm sending a shiver up my spine.
Goosebumps rise as he holds my neck, anchoring me.
When his thick bulge presses against me, and a moan escapes my lips, we break apart.
Keaton rests his forehead against mine as that bright fire still burns in the depths of his eyes. “I love you.”
I hum, savoring this closeness.
With every moment like this, it gets easier to stay present and not drift into old fears. It won’t always be a struggle, and as much as moving forward scares me, I’m starting to look forward to it.