Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
We didn’t just have sex one more time. We made love for hours until we were sated, worn out, and we fell asleep.
It was dark out when there was pounding on Roe’s bedroom door.
“Roe!” Noble called out from the other side.
“Yeah?” Roe asked as he sat up, rubbing his face.
“Is Charlotte in there with you?”
Roe glanced down at me, completely naked and curled up against him. He tucked some of my wild hair behind my ear. “Yes.”
Noble sighed on the other side of the door. “Send her out. Bram’s here.”
I shot up and we both jumped out of bed. We got dressed very quickly.
“Might be best if you stay in here,” I said.
Roe grabbed a shirt from his closet and put it on. “I’m not a coward, Lottie.”
We walked together into Roe’s living room, where Noble and Bram stood waiting. Noble had his hands laced behind his neck, looking stressed, while Bram had his arms folded over his chest, looking angry.
The moment Bram saw me, his arms dropped to his sides. “You have not returned my calls or texts for hours. Hours, Charlotte!”
I almost flinched. Instead, my body locked up. “I’m sorry. I haven’t checked my phone.” If I was being honest, I wasn’t sure where it was.
Bram’s eyes flicked to Roe standing at my side, then back to me again. “And why haven’t you checked your phone? What were you doing that was so distracting?”
“We fell asleep,” I forced myself to say.
The anger coming off of him was palpable. “You expect me to believe you came over here and took a nap for five fucking hours?”
I fisted my hands at my sides so they wouldn’t shake. “Please change your tone.” I tried to put strength in my voice, but it came out weak.
Roe’s hand went to the small of my back. “You’re scaring her.”
Bram glared at him. “I recommend you don’t fucking speak. Out of respect for your father, I haven’t snapped your neck yet.”
Roe didn’t listen. “All she can see is that you’re angry.”
“I am angry!” Bram yelled.
I knew he wouldn’t hit me, but I was still scared.
I was fighting it with all my might and failing.
The best thing I could do was grab ahold of the anger and frustration at how pathetic it was—how pathetic I was.
“Why?!” I exploded. “Why are you angry? Because I was having sex with my boyfriend? I’m an adult, Bram.
What the hell were you doing at my age?”
“It’s different,” he shot back.
“You’re right. It is different. I love him and he’s good to me. He helped pull me out of hell and brought me to you. All of which is more than you could say when you fucked my mother!”
It went quiet.
Noble, who hadn’t said anything since Roe and I came into the living room, exhaled through pursed lips as he stared wide-eyed at the floor.
Bram put his hands on his hips and closed his eyes. “I am angry.” His tone came out calmer. “Because I thought something happened to you when you didn’t answer your phone.” His eyes opened, meeting mine. “It scared me.”
“You’re scaring me right now,” I admitted, also in a calmer tone. “Logically, I know you won’t hit me, but it’s the only experience I have with an angry parent.”
His demeanor shifted. Instead of being puffed up, he deflated and sighed. “I’m sorry. I should have handled this better.”
My body began to relax and the fear eased. “I’m sorry, too. I think I left my phone in the car. I was with Roe. I was safe. I didn’t think I’d have to check in as much,” I explained. “And I’m sorry for what I said just now. It was either be angry or scared and I just didn’t want to be scared.”
He stepped closer and put his hand on top of my head. “It’s okay, kid. I’m glad you were safe.”
I sighed and moved closer until I could wrap my arms around his middle.
His hand on top of my head moved to the back of it and his other arm wrapped across my back.
As we hugged each other, Noble said, “I’m so glad I had a son.”
“You will be saying goodbye to that son if he hurts my daughter,” Bram grumbled.
I pulled away from Bram, shaking my head.
“With that attitude, you better be prepared for him to marry her,” Noble said to him.
Bram did not look like he liked that.
Noble rolled his eyes before staring at me for a moment, then looking back at Bram. “It serves you right that you ended up with a kid just like you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Bram asked him.
Noble shook his head as he walked toward the kitchen. “I’m getting a beer. Want one?”
Bram followed him.
I looked up at Roe. “Are we alike? Bram and me?”
He rubbed the back of his head. “After what just happened? Yeah.”
I frowned. I didn’t see it. I was about to ask him to explain, but the front door opened and Wyatt walked in.
“Honey, I’m finally home,” he said tiredly, his face downcast. After closing the front door, he finally noticed us. Or should I say, me.
His face lit up. “Well, hello there, joint thief.” He came right over to me and pulled me to him before kissing the hell out of me.
“Ah, shit,” Noble said, sounding stressed.
Wyatt broke away and stared over my head toward the kitchen.
“Charlotte,” Bram said, his tone laced with stress and confusion.
I slowly turned, bracing for him to erupt. Both he and Noble were standing just outside the kitchen in the dining room, staring right at us. “Yes?” I asked innocently.
“Just how many boyfriends do you have?” He kept his voice calm.
“Three,” I answered.
Noble cursed under his breath as he went back into the kitchen. The sound of cabinets opening and closing could be heard.
“Is the third Reid?” Bram asked.
“Yes, but don’t tell him,” I said. “I’m torturing him.”
Wyatt snorted.
“You’re torturing him?” Bram repeated.
“Yes.”
Bram glanced toward the ceiling for a moment as if praying to the Almighty for strength or patience. “Why?”
I thought about it and figured a simple answer was best. “Because he pissed me off.”
He appeared to like that reason. “At least there’s that.” He then stared down at his beer, pondering with a frown. “How does this work?”
“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to,” Noble said as he returned. He took Bram’s beer bottle and replaced it with a tumbler of amber-colored spirit. “Just drink.”
“Okay, then,” Wyatt said, drawing my and Roe’s attention. “It’s Saturday night. What are we doing?”
“What time is it?” Roe asked.
“Almost seven,” Wyatt answered.
I went over to the coffee table and picked up my keys. “I want to go out. While you two decide what we are going to do, I’m going home to get changed. Pick me up when you’ve decided.” I headed for the door. “Bram, I’m heading home.”
“I’m right behind you,” Bram said.
“I gotta get back to work,” I heard Noble say as I left.
Walking to my car, I exhaled heavily as I processed what had just happened. The more I went over it in my head, the lighter I felt. It was like things were the way they were supposed to be.
As I pulled into the driveway at home, Roe and Wyatt texted me that there was a live band playing at Noble’s tonight.
That sounded like fun. Adding some girls to the mix would make it even better—for me, anyway.
I wanted to party with people I could be my honest self with.
I wanted to laugh and feel free without a care.
Well, laugh as much as I could. It would still hurt, but I didn’t care.
I texted them to give me two hours and asked if I could invite Mac and Lemon.
I got the go-ahead and reached out to Lemon with a text before climbing out of the car. She responded right away that she’d love to and I texted her my address.
Vivian was on the couch watching TV. She looked up as I walked inside. “Hi, honey. Did your dad find you?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry if I caused any worry.”
“I get it,” she said with a soft smile. “You were with your boyfriend. Just make sure you respond next time. The poor man was pacing back and forth before he decided to head over there.”
“I will,” I promised. “Is Mac home?”
“She’s on her way home now. I think she had a fight with Miles,” Vivian said, referring to Mac’s new boyfriend of a few weeks.
Just as she said that, the front door opened and Bram walked in. “Hey,” he greeted us.
“Hey. I ordered pizza for dinner. It should be here soon,” Vivian greeted back.
Bram looked from me to Vivian as he sat next to her on the couch. “What’s going on?”
“We’re waiting,” Vivian said.
“For what?” Bram asked right before the front door opened.
Mac came in and scanned the room. As soon as her eyes landed on me, she sighed. “Good, you’re home. I need to eat ice cream and talk about how stupid men are.”
“We can do that,” I said, and I meant it. I’d message everyone right now and cancel if that was what she needed. “Or, to get your mind off things, we can go dancing at Noble’s tonight with Roe, Wyatt, and Lemon.”
She thought about it for a whole three seconds. “You know what, fuck Miles. I’m not going to waste my time crying over him. I’m going to make myself look hot, go dancing, and have fun. He isn’t worth my fucking time.”
Vivian sighed. “I know you’re upset, baby, but try to watch your language, please.”
Mac scrunched her nose. “Sorry.”
“Will you be drinking?” Bram asked as he stared at me.
“More than likely,” I said honestly.
He exchanged a look with Vivian. “Most of the club will be there.” He said that to her like it was a bad thing.
She gave him a smile. “I suppose I could go out tonight. A margarita does sound good.”
“I’m heading up to get ready,” Mac said, dashing up the stairs.
“Make sure you come down and grab some pizza when it gets here!” Vivian yelled up to her.
“I will!” Mac yelled back down.
I let Bram know that my friend Lemon would be coming over before heading to my room to get myself ready.