other than you and me. It’s your last chance; kiss me, and I will let you go.”
I bite my lip before I take that last breath. One last kiss and we will both be free. Simple, right?
“Nathan, Charlie, you have a guest arriving,” Nona’s voice breaks through the cloud I’m floating on. My face flushes with heat as I glance her way to see she is looking behind us to the parking lot. I feel my stomach turn, like a rot deep inside me. I don’t need to look to know who it’s going to be, and if he had been just a fraction later, he would have been just in time to see a kiss… or maybe he was just in time to stop a mistake.
I rise from my chair beside Nate. His hand slips from my thigh, and the long sigh drenches me with guilt as I go to another man. Paul doesn’t smile as he approaches; he studies me as I move toward him. Then his eyes dart to where I was sitting, or more to the point, whom I was sitting by so closely. I can see the deep bunching of his muscles in his hand; the tell. I just might feel that hand tonight, but I have plenty of time to take the fear from him. I know my monster, and that’s the key. I was too young to understand my daddy, but not anymore.
I reach him, smiling, taking his tight hands in mine. I peck his beautiful lips that at first don’t respond, but when they do, he is loving and thorough. I know it isn’t for me; it’s a claim, but the tightness in his hands begins to soften, so it’s a sweet price to pay.
“Come have some lunch,” I say, smiling all nice. See, nice covers a lot of truths.
“I already had something at the hospital, but I missed you. I have Jacob covering for me for a little while, and then I have to go back.”
He isn’t lying. He really does miss me, but I know he also made the surprise visit to check up on me, and more than likely, check up on Nate, too. “I miss you, too. Come sit with me for a bit then.” I pull him toward our table amongst the five others. Folks are watching intrigued, and I put on my nice face. “Everyone, this is Paul Parker. Paul, this is everyone.”
Paul nods as a mob of “Hello, Paul” comes before he takes my chair beside Nate.
“Charlotte.” He holds his hand out for me. I take it, and he pulls me onto his lap. This doesn’t mean anything but possession to Paul, but to Nate and I, it means so much more. Nate has no idea what I let Paul do to me; Nate would never forgive me after all he has done for me. But when he looks at me, I can see the pain and hatred.
Before anyone knows what’s happening, Nate bursts from his chair, which lands on its back, and he’s storming toward the tree line. I watch him leave with inner turmoil, and despite everything I have learned for self-preservation, I turn to Paul and will his permission with my silent plea. He shrugs and I kiss his cheek. He isn’t okay with it; he is more like indifferent—which is so much worse.
I could have let Nate go, let him think the worst; after all, it is the truth. But Nate had gone to jail for me. He had lost more than just years for me, and if I was to face a dreadful punishment for making sure he didn’t do something stupid himself, then that is the price I will pay. To be honest… I would pay the ultimate price for his happiness.
Once again, Nona comes to our rescue and calls for a game of ball before dessert. Hopefully it will keep Paul and everyone entertained for a little while.
I don’t run even though my legs beg my brain otherwise. I already have drawn enough attention and enough punishment; running would just offer more than I could possible defend.
It doesn’t take me long to find him; the sounds of his groans pull me to him. In the shadow, I find him leaning against one of the trunks on his haunches. He hears me before he sees me, but doesn’t rise; he just looks up at me, tears in his eyes that break my heart and anything else of substance I have left in me.
“Why?” he croaks.
“It’s not like you think.”
“Liar! I
I bite my lip before I take that last breath. One last kiss and we will both be free. Simple, right?
“Nathan, Charlie, you have a guest arriving,” Nona’s voice breaks through the cloud I’m floating on. My face flushes with heat as I glance her way to see she is looking behind us to the parking lot. I feel my stomach turn, like a rot deep inside me. I don’t need to look to know who it’s going to be, and if he had been just a fraction later, he would have been just in time to see a kiss… or maybe he was just in time to stop a mistake.
I rise from my chair beside Nate. His hand slips from my thigh, and the long sigh drenches me with guilt as I go to another man. Paul doesn’t smile as he approaches; he studies me as I move toward him. Then his eyes dart to where I was sitting, or more to the point, whom I was sitting by so closely. I can see the deep bunching of his muscles in his hand; the tell. I just might feel that hand tonight, but I have plenty of time to take the fear from him. I know my monster, and that’s the key. I was too young to understand my daddy, but not anymore.
I reach him, smiling, taking his tight hands in mine. I peck his beautiful lips that at first don’t respond, but when they do, he is loving and thorough. I know it isn’t for me; it’s a claim, but the tightness in his hands begins to soften, so it’s a sweet price to pay.
“Come have some lunch,” I say, smiling all nice. See, nice covers a lot of truths.
“I already had something at the hospital, but I missed you. I have Jacob covering for me for a little while, and then I have to go back.”
He isn’t lying. He really does miss me, but I know he also made the surprise visit to check up on me, and more than likely, check up on Nate, too. “I miss you, too. Come sit with me for a bit then.” I pull him toward our table amongst the five others. Folks are watching intrigued, and I put on my nice face. “Everyone, this is Paul Parker. Paul, this is everyone.”
Paul nods as a mob of “Hello, Paul” comes before he takes my chair beside Nate.
“Charlotte.” He holds his hand out for me. I take it, and he pulls me onto his lap. This doesn’t mean anything but possession to Paul, but to Nate and I, it means so much more. Nate has no idea what I let Paul do to me; Nate would never forgive me after all he has done for me. But when he looks at me, I can see the pain and hatred.
Before anyone knows what’s happening, Nate bursts from his chair, which lands on its back, and he’s storming toward the tree line. I watch him leave with inner turmoil, and despite everything I have learned for self-preservation, I turn to Paul and will his permission with my silent plea. He shrugs and I kiss his cheek. He isn’t okay with it; he is more like indifferent—which is so much worse.
I could have let Nate go, let him think the worst; after all, it is the truth. But Nate had gone to jail for me. He had lost more than just years for me, and if I was to face a dreadful punishment for making sure he didn’t do something stupid himself, then that is the price I will pay. To be honest… I would pay the ultimate price for his happiness.
Once again, Nona comes to our rescue and calls for a game of ball before dessert. Hopefully it will keep Paul and everyone entertained for a little while.
I don’t run even though my legs beg my brain otherwise. I already have drawn enough attention and enough punishment; running would just offer more than I could possible defend.
It doesn’t take me long to find him; the sounds of his groans pull me to him. In the shadow, I find him leaning against one of the trunks on his haunches. He hears me before he sees me, but doesn’t rise; he just looks up at me, tears in his eyes that break my heart and anything else of substance I have left in me.
“Why?” he croaks.
“It’s not like you think.”
“Liar! I
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