The door reopens and he steps out, his eyes darting over to Charlotte. “It’s not a dent,” he says.
“More like an impression,” Charlotte agrees. “A blemish.”
“I agree with Penny on this one,” I cut in. “It’s a fucking dent.”
We all laugh. It’s real and honest and freeing.
“You good, T?” I ask finally.
He ruffles Charlotte’s hair as he walks by. “Yeah, man, I’m good.”
Turns out, having Penny over for dinner saved the damn day. Terrence still broods and sometimes winces as though he’s in pain, but he doesn’t scowl like he hates the world. Every time he does, Penny gives him shit. I can tell he’s getting tired, though, so when Penny tells everyone goodbye, I let out a sigh of relief.
“I guess we’re gonna hit the sack. You need anything?” I ask him as I tug Charlotte’s hand, pulling her up off the couch.
“Nah, I’m headed to bed myself.” He bumps my fist and then disappears into the guest bedroom.
Once Charlotte and I make it into my bedroom, I close the door and then start stripping.
“Still on the rag, parasite?”
She rolls her eyes as she pulls off her shirt. “Yeah. You afraid of a little blood, Hoodlum?”
“Dirty bitch.”
Her smirk is my undoing. “Guess I’ll have to clean up in the shower. All alone.”
“I’m fucking you in the shower, woman. Be ready for me. Five minutes.”
She laughs as she closes the bathroom door. I toss my phone on the end table as I soak in how natural things feel with Charlotte. I’ve dated chicks but haven’t seriously dated anyone ever. Sure, there were a few girls who stuck around more than others, like Sidney, but none I claimed as mine or introduced to my parents.
With Charlotte, I don’t want to let her go.
Ever.
By the time I join her in the shower, she’s washed her hair and is waiting with a smile. I attack her with a desperate kiss. Her resounding moans spur me on. Gripping her ass, I lift her tiny body and am in her in the next instant.
Rather than fucking her like the madman I am, I take a moment to stare at her as water rivulets run down her face. So damn pretty. I kiss her lips softly. Then her nose. Her cheeks. Forehead. Throat. Sometimes I want to decimate her, and other times like now, I want to cradle her and cherish her. Strangest shit I’ve ever experienced.
“What is this thing between us?” I ask, my lips hovering over hers.
“Chaos,” she murmurs. I freeze at her safe word. “Unsafe and crazy and out of control. And I don’t ever want it to end.”
Charlotte
“Please, Ryan,” I beg. “Can we go home? Talk?”
I’m sick to my stomach and being around all these drunk idiots is making me even more nauseous. Ryan is in his element, playing king of everyone, though.
I should just leave.
Then what?
A shudder quakes through me. I don’t want to think about what he’d do if I just left. Sometimes I wish I could leave permanently.
My stomach roils violently. I should have eaten something before coming. Maybe I could sneak away, grab something to eat, and come back before he even notices. We took my car.
Since he’s ignoring me, choosing to bask in the attention of his loyal followers, I decide to slip away. I push through the crowd and out into the warm May evening undetected. I’ve barely made it down the steps when pain bursts at the base of my skull.
“Ahh!” I cry out.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Ryan demands. “Are you trying to embarrass me?”
“W-What? No! I’m hungry. I need food. I’ll be back in a few.”
He releases me, shoving me slightly. “You think I’m going to let my girlfriend go and pay for her own food? I’m not some monster, Charlotte.”
Liar.
You’re the biggest monster I know.
“You’re going to come with me?”
He smirks. “Nah, you can just stay here with me where you belong. Here. Eat this.” His grin is wolfish as he holds out a pill.
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
“Since fucking when?” He storms up to me, his face twisting cruelly.
“We need to talk,” I squeak out.
Time pauses. Seconds linger in the air between us, quivering, begging to move forward. When he strikes, time speeds up again. His grip on my wrist is strong as he drags me to my car. I stumble over my own feet trying to keep up.
“You’re hurting me,” I murmur, tears flooding my eyes.
“I tried to give you something for the pain,” he snarls. “But you’re too fucking good for that now. Does this mean you’re too good for me too?”
“Ryan, stop,” I plead.
He doesn’t stop. Just drags me along, growing more and more furious. He flings open the door, shoving me into the seat. Then he rounds the vehicle, dropping into the driver’s seat. He buckles in and peels out. I’ve barely got my belt buckled when he turns a corner sharply.
“Slow down,” I hiss. “If my car gets stuck in a ditch, Dad will kill me.”
“Fuck your dad.”
“Ryan, please…”
“What the fuck is your deal, Char? Why are you acting this way?”
My hands shake as I fret over what I need to tell him. A baby. We’re going to have a baby. I can’t help but feel hopeful and happy. Like maybe a baby will make him cut out all the drugs and treat me better. It has to. This baby is something we can love together.
He speeds along down the road, knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel. “Fucking answer me!” He turns his head, glowering at me. “Are you breaking up with me? You can’t do that. I won’t allow it.”
“Calm down,” I whimper. “Slow down. I’m not breaking up with you.” I chew on my bottom lip as a tear streaks down my cheek. “I’m…Ryan, I’m pregnant.”
He tenses.
Calm before the storm.
And then he
