Teaching Aleck (The Last Hangman MC #2)(25)
“I still have nightmares about killing Michael, it’s getting better, but it’s still there. Some days, I feel like closing myself off and slipping into my scarred, damaged self, and not talk to anyone, not even to Ant, but he doesn’t let me, he forces me to talk about it and it does help. It’s never pretty, I always end up in tears because I’m facing the emotions, bringing them to the surface, but you need to let someone in. Someone other than my father or Ant. Charline is much stronger than you give her credit for. She’s not a little girl anymore either. She’s a grown woman who still has feelings for you and probably always will, you were her first love. You’ll always be important to her, and even if you open up and tell her your full story, all you did and all that happened, as a friend, she’ll listen to you. It might be confusing and hard, but she will be there for you no matter what. She just wants her friend back in her life. Think about all of it.” She squeezes my hand and I’m speechless. I have no idea what to think of all of this. Should I really open up to Charline and tell her absolutely everything that’s happened to me? A part of me wants to open up and tell her everything, but I don’t want to scare her away.
“I will think about it. Thanks, Sweetheart.” I kiss her forehead.
“Stop kissing my woman Aleck,” Ant says from behind me causing me and Ayd to laugh.
“She started it.” I get up and hold my hands up.
“What’s with you and Gabe never owning to the fact that you can’t keep your lips to yourselves. Pussies!” She makes grabbing hands for the cake. “Gimme. Gimme. Gimme.”
Ant and I both laugh. “Alright, calm down. You’re acting like you haven’t had food in days.” He gives her a container and she squeals seeing her mom’s famous red velvet donuts.
“Just a couple of hours, and you didn’t!” She squeals.
“Seriously? Did you really think I’d give you hospital food?” He raises his eyebrow at her.
“Well, you did mention the cafeteria.” She shrugs and moans taking a bite of donut. “Heaven!”
“Stop moaning like that, Sweet Cheeks.” Ant glares at her and we both laugh.
“I’m gonna let you two get some rest.” I man hug him and pat his back and he reciprocate.
“Thanks, Brother.”
Ayd is too busy eating her donut, she waves at me and blows me a kiss. “See you later, Sweetheart. Call me if you need anything.” I smile and walk out the door, to the elevator.
Just as I’m about to step in to the elevator, Charline and some guy step out of it.
“Aleck. It’s been a while.” She smiles seeing me and wraps me in a tight hug. I don’t stop myself from hugging her back, which the guy doesn’t seem to appreciate at all. I can’t help but smirk at him and kiss the top of Charline’s head.
“It has, Line. How have you been?” I smile looking down at her. She’s even more beautiful than the last time I saw her, a couple of months ago.
“I’ve been good, just busy getting ready to start in a new school in August. And you?” She smiles at me and my heart stops.
“I’ve been good, very busy.” I try to smile, but having that f*cking guy next to me isn’t making me happy. I know I wanted her to be in a relationship with a nice guy that could give her all the things I couldn’t, but f*ck this. “Can I talk to you in private for a minute?” It’s now or never.
“Uh, sure. I’ll be quick.” She smiles at the guy.
“Don’t be too long, I have to get to work after we see your friend,” he says in a rather dry tone.
“I said I’d be quick.” She rolls her eyes, clearly not happy with his attitude and if we hadn’t been in public, I’d have kicked his ass for being a dick to her. We walk to a small waiting room and I turn to her.
“What are you doing with a guy like him?” Probably not the thing to say seeing the look on her face.
“What do you mean? I thought you wanted me with a guy who had a normal job and could give me what I deserved?” She’s pissed…and very hot! Fuck me!
“I know what I said, and I changed my mind. That guy looks like a f*cking *, and I didn’t like the way he talked to you.” I frown.
“I didn’t either, but you don’t get to say who I can and can’t date. And you don’t get to change your mind about me as soon as you see me with someone else. This is what you wanted.” She pokes me in the chest.
“I’m not telling you what to do, just offering my opinion.” I shrug.
“I don’t need your opinion, Aleck, you had your chance and you turned your back on it, more than once. Don’t come complaining now that I’m in a relationship. You only want me because I’m in one. Which if you ask me, is f*cked up and stupid.”
“That’s not true, ask Ayden, we were just talking about it. There’s more to my story than what I told you at Christmas. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you everything. I’m not a saint, Line, my past is messed up. I can’t help myself, I know I’m not the right guy for you, but I’m selfish and I want you. Even if it kills me, I want you,” I finish softly.
“I…” She sighs. “I should go, Aleck. I’ll keep in mind what you said, but I need some time to think about all of this. I haven’t seen you in months and now you’re dropping all of this on me. When that’s all I wanted to hear, for years.”