14. Chapter 14 #3
Charlie pulled the duvet up to cover her body, enjoying the languorous warmth. She struggled for a moment to keep her eyes open, then gave in and closed them.
Just for a moment.
She opened them to find five minutes had gone by. And Lorenz wasn’t back yet.
She stepped quickly into her black dress, glad the material didn’t crumple easily, though the soft fabric didn’t feel as elegant this morning. She smoothed her hair down as best she could, and went out into the living room.
Lorenz was standing by the open door, talking to two men—Beau and Ry. Though she’d seen them only hours earlier, they looked like entirely different people. Gone were the suits and ties. Today the two men wore identical navy blue PGHM uniforms; the fabric structured, unmistakably official.
And here she was, barefoot, in what was clearly yesterday’s dress.
Heat crept up her neck. She took a step back, intending to retreat into the bedroom before anybody noticed her, but it was too late. All three men had already turned to look.
“Charlie,” Lorenz said, his voice even, as if this were the most ordinary thing. He lifted a hand, beckoning her closer.
“Hi,” she said, her voice quieter than she intended.
“Ms. Brooks. Charlie,” Beau corrected.
His tone was not unfriendly, and there seemed to be no judgment in his eyes. Charlie relaxed slightly, but the dark embarrassment still persisted.
“We … I …” The words stalled in her throat.
What must they think of me?
Lorenz pulled her closer to him, his hand settling lightly on her back.
“I probably should have mentioned, Charlie and I know each other.” He took a deep breath.
Ry’s eyebrows lifted, curiosity crossing his features.
Charlie let out a quiet laugh. That was one way of putting it.
“We were married,” Lorenz continued.
Beau kept a straight face—he’d be a good poker player—but Ry’s mouth fell wide open.
“Married?” he stuttered. “To each other?”
“To each other,” Lorenz confirmed.
Ry blinked once, processing. Then he let out a laugh.
“What were you thinking, Charlie, marrying this guy?”
His cheerful bluntness caught Charlie off guard. For a second, she just stared. Then, unexpectedly, a laugh slipped out of her.
“I ask myself that sometimes,” she said, tilting her head slightly as she glanced up at Lorenz.
Ry leaned a shoulder against the door frame, studying Lorenz with exaggerated skepticism. “I mean, he’s tall, I’ll give him that. Probably seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Lorenz’s playful scowl was good to see. “How about you mind your own business, Ry?”
Ry let out a bark of laughter. Charlie smiled. She loved—loved how much they cared about Lorenz. Loved that he had this.
Embarrassment at the situation still made her ears burn, but it didn’t feel quite so suffocating anymore.
A smile tugged at the corner of Beau’s lips, easing his stern features. Then his expression turned serious again. “Okay, back to business. We need you, Lorenz.”
Charlie nodded quickly. Of course. If they were here, that meant someone needed help.
“It’s okay,” Charlie said quickly.
But Beau wasn’t done. “Lorenz mentioned there was an incident last night at your house, Charlie?”
She’d almost forgotten the word dripping on her driveway.
“I’m sure it’s okay,” she said quickly. She didn’t want to add to their worries.
“We will make some inquiries,” Beau said.
Lorenz’s brow furrowed. “Please stay here, Charlie. I don’t want you going back to your place until we know it’s safe.
” He looked at his watch. “Its five a.m. You can catch a bit more sleep. It’ll take you less than forty minutes to drive to school from here.
Please promise you won’t go back to your apartment? ”
Charlie thought quickly. She’d packed enough clothes to get her through the rest of the week. She didn’t have to go back. And she certainly didn’t want to go back alone.
“I promise.”
His palpable relief gave her pause.
He cares.
He was a good man—he’d always been a good man.
Don’t read more into it.
Lorenz nodded. “I need two minutes.”
Beau and Ry took a step back.
“We’ll wait downstairs.
“I look forward to seeing you again soon, Charlie.”
Then they were alone again. Lorenz squeezed Charlie’s shoulder gently, then let her go.
“I’m sorry. I wish I didn’t have to go.”
Charlie studied his face. She knew better than most how much he kept contained.
“It’s okay.” He’d often left her before, whether to go race, or off on a crazy adventure. She’d understood that side of him. It had never bothered her, because she knew he’d always come back to her.
Lorenz pulled a key from his keyring.
“Take this key. I’ll call you as soon as I’m done, okay?” He paused and lowered his voice, even though there was nobody there to overhear. “Tonight … we still need to talk, Chalie.”
Charlie sighed. Of course he’d want to talk more. Lorenz wasn’t the kind to hide things under the rug—that was more her style.
She’d thought she was healing. She’d thought she was putting the past behind her. But all she was doing was hiding from the truth. From what she’d hidden. So maybe talking would be good for them—even if it turned out to be the beginning of the end.