You're to Blame(52)

“I don’t run,” she says as I stand to pull on a pair of shorts. She burrows under my blanket. “You can go without me. I’ll be here when you’re done.” Her eyes close, and she pretends to fall back to sleep. Her breathing is heavy like something is on her chest.

“As much as I’d love to see all your naked glory when I get back, I’d really like to show you something.” My voice is low and honest. Charlotte’s eyes open, tender and sweet.

She rises from the bed, the blanket tucked under her arms to hold it in place. Her slim arm grazes mine as I pull on a t-shirt. She stills and smirks.

“You’ll regret kicking me out of your bed to go for a run.” Like a damn ballerina, she glides out of my bedroom, dropping the puffy comforter to the floor. Her backside is on full display for me to appreciate. Her hips sway from side to side until she’s out of sight. She’s confident, unlike the girl I first encountered at the bar. I hope it’s me bringing her out of her shell.

Keep it together. Share a little something with her other than your dick.

I pocket my keys and head towards the front door to slip on my running shoes. She grabs her clothes off the couch and dresses. Sauntering to me with her shoes dangling from her fingers, she snatches her purse from my floor. I like the way her things look in my space. It’s something I think I could get used to.

In the truck, Charlotte grows silent. She was playful minutes ago, but maybe in the morning light, outside my apartment’s protective cover, it’s all raining down on her. The guilt. The worry. It’s enough to paralyze someone.

“It’s okay.” I cover her hand with mine. No, it’s not. I can’t have her regretting this.

Charlotte takes a loud, deep breath and faces me. Her fingers brush mine, and instead of backing away as I half expect from her mood change, she keeps them in place. All is not lost.

“Before we go for a run, can you take me to the hospital?” A blush colors her cheeks a gorgeous pink. She’s embarrassed for asking. The alpha in me wants to say no, but she looks at me with those big, electric eyes, and I know I’d do just about anything she asks, even when my heart is protesting.

I’ve been worried about how she feels about our night together. I haven’t even taken account of what I’ve done. He’s my fraternity brother, my friend, and I slept with his girl. At the red light, I cover my face with both hands, rubbing the tension burning behind my retinas.

Instead of making it harder on Charlotte, I straighten my back and clear my face of any emotion.

“Sure thing.” I take the next turn and head straight for the hospital. When I pull into a spot close to the door, I roll down my window to get a cool breeze on my face.

Charlotte sits with both legs in front of her and her hands rested on her thighs. She doesn’t move. There’s no true sign of life other than her chest expanding with every breath she takes. Her eyes cast towards the front entrance. My heart breaks when her bottom lip trembles.

“I’ll be right back,” she whispers, escaping from my truck.

Twenty minutes. One third of an hour. One thousand, two hundred seconds. It’s not a long time, but it’s vast enough to cause panic in my head. I don’t regret her. Not for one single second will I regret feeling her body beneath mine. The way she felt wrapped around me is my new favorite memory.

It’s no competition though, and deep down, I understand that simple fact. Jacob has already won. I’ll be the mistake she made that one night.

The passenger door creeks open, pulling me from my pity party.

“You ready to go?” she asks, combing her hair down with her fingertips.

Dumbfounded, I rest my forearms on the steering wheel.

“Are you okay?” I ask, desperate to know.

Her red rimmed eyes and blotchy cheeks break what is supposed to be my impenetrable heart. I’ve never worried about anyone else, but in this moment, all I want to do is take away every ounce of hurt Charlotte’s experiencing.

“Will you take me for that run?” Her voice is needy, yet somehow devoid of something I know should be there. I just can’t quite put my finger on it.

“Yeah.” I pull out of the parking lot and drive the short distance to Charlotte’s apartment.

The air is crisp, just how I like it for my morning runs. I step out of the truck and meet Charlotte on the sidewalk. She places a hand on my chest.

“I should go in alone.” She nods to the apartment. “Rachel is probably furious with me for not calling.”

“I’ll be right out here.” I smile. “Stretching.”

And it’s exactly what I do. I pull and strain until my muscles can’t handle the work any longer.

Ten minutes later, Rachel bounces down the walkway. A satisfied, amused smile forms when she witnesses me leaning against the hood of my truck. She’s a ball buster, and she’s not going to let me slide this morning.

“You keep her out all night to the point I worry and then you make her go for a run?” Rachel suggests, waving a finger in my face. “You don’t woo a girl by pissing off her best friend, then make her waste all her energy, unless you’re beneath some sheets.”

“Who said anything about wooing her?” I bark back, pushing off the metal grill.

“Did you really think my best friend wouldn’t tell me about you fucking her into submission?” She pats my chest and walks to a grey jeep resting in the shade, a cocky pep in her step.