We both watch as Lara saunters to the bar. “I think she’s definitely sleeping with Edward,” I whisper.
“But why wouldn’t she tell us that? We tell each other everything. I don’t get it. Why is she hiding this?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “All I know is that in the last month my family haven’t talked to me, Lara has been to stay at Spencer’s house five times. That’s more than she’s ever seen me. It’s as if she’s checking on me for Edward.”
“But surely she can see how happy you two are together.” She frowns. “He dotes on you, for fuck’s sake.”
Lara arrives back at the table with three drinks.
“Thank you.”
“Tell me all about your new business venture.” Lara smiles. “Where are you up to with it?”
“It’s not a business, it’s a charity.” I smile proudly. “So far, I have the office space I wanted, and I hired two people who I was working with at the mailroom in my old job.”
“Who?”
“Sarah and Paul.”
“Isn’t Sarah a loose cannon?” Lara frowns.
“No. She’s smart, intelligent, and I adore her. As for Paul, well, he is just Paul. He’ll be good for the place until his next trip.”
“Who else is going to work there?”
“Two young lawyers straight from university—both guys. They start in February.”
Beth bounces in her seat. “This is so exciting, Charlotte.”
“I know.”
“Don’t let Sarah bonk the solicitors,” Lara warns me. “Or Paul, for that matter.”
I laugh. “I already warned her: no sex with the staff.”
“What did she say?” Lara asks.
“She told me she was hoping for a threesome on their desk.” I smirk.
“Charlotte.” Lara gasps. “You’re going to have pubes on your desk, too.”
We all burst out laughing. “How are my father and Edward?” I ask.
“Good.” Her eyes meet mine as she catches herself, shrugging casually. “As far as I know.”
“Have you seen them?”
“I ran into Edward the other day. He asked me how you were.”
“What did you say?”
She shrugs again. “I told him you were happy.”
I watch her.
“Did you tell him to fuck off from me?” Beth asks casually, lifting her drink to her mouth. “I’m so fucking annoyed with him.” She tuts. “If he took the time to get to know Spencer, he would see how wonderful he is. He pisses me off to no end.”
“Edward just wants you to have your own place, Charlotte. It’s not unreasonable, if you ask me.”
Beth’s eyes meet mine. Always defending him.
“I’m old enough to make my own decisions, Lara. I love Spencer. I want to live with him. My family should accept that and stop judging him like they judge Penelope. Spencer’s done nothing wrong and I won’t stand for him to be treated the way that they treat him.”
Lara rolls her eyes at me, clearly unimpressed.
“Have either of you ever tried bondage?” Beth asks. “I met this new guy and he wants to tie me up.”
I bite my lip to stop myself from smiling. I can’t believe Beth. She’s fishing for information for me.
Lara smiles darkly. “Being tied up is fucking hot. Handcuffs are a personal favourite of mine.”
Beth looks at me again. I swear that was her in Edward’s room that night.
“Have you ever fucked Edward, Lara?” Beth blurts out.
Lara chokes on her drink. “What?”
“Have you ever fucked Edward?”
My eyes widen in surprise. I’ve never asked because I didn’t want to force her to lie to me.
“What on earth?” Lara splutters. “Why would you ask me that?”
“It’s a yes or no question, Lars,” Beth states.
Lara waves her hand around in the air. “Don’t be ridiculous. Oh, look, there’s Charlie.” She stands. “Back in a minute.” She takes off and nearly runs to the other side of the restaurant to get away from us.
Beth and I stare at each other.
“She’s totally fucking him,” Beth says.
I sip my drink. “Yep. I know.”
*
The car slows to a stop, and I peer in at the house through the window.
I’m here to meet Spencer’s family, and I’m nervous as all hell.
Family meetings haven’t gone that well for us so far.
Spencer opens my door and practically drags me from my seat. “I’m nervous,” I admit in a rush.
“Don’t be nervous, they’ll love you.” He takes me by the hand, leading me towards the house.
“What if they don’t?”
“Then we’ll be even.”
Oh, God.
The house is nice, neat, and of average size, sitting out in the countryside. I smile as I look around at the neighbourhood. I get a vision of Spencer, Seb, and Julian hanging around here riding their bikes as kids, and I smile.
“Hello!” Spencer calls as he opens the front door. The smells of something amazing cooking wafts through the house.
“Hey!” I hear a woman call from another room before she rushes in. “Spence.”
I clasp my hands nervously in front of me when she comes into view. She’s attractive and in good shape. She has blonde hair that sits just below her shoulders, and blue eyes that shine like Spencer’s. She immediately wraps her arms around me and pulls me close. “Hello, my dear Charlotte.”
“Hi,” I whisper nervously.
She takes my hands in hers, smiles, and looks me up and down. “So, you’re our Spencer’s girlfriend? Beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
She turns her attention to Spencer and kisses his cheek. “Hello, sweetheart.”
“Hi, Mum.” He smiles. “Where’s Dad?”
“Out in the garage.”
He calls his stepfather his dad? I didn’t know this.
Spencer takes off outside, returning only moments later with a big, burly mechanic-looking guy. Spencer presents me like a prized pig.
“And here she is. This is my Charlotte,” he says proudly.
My Charlotte.
The man wipes his hands on a tea towel before he shakes my hand. “Hello, love, nice to meet you.”
He looks like he has some kind of Italian or European heritage. He has big, brown, kind eyes. He puts his arm around Spencer, and I smile at the two of them. It’s obvious that they are very close.
“I hope you’re hungry, I’ve been cooking up a storm.” His mother smiles.
I nod nervously, unsure what to say.
Spencer rolls his eyes and wraps his arm around me. “She’s nervous.”
His mother laughs. “That makes two of us. You’re the first girl Spencer has ever brought home. I’d almost given up hope.”
“About time, Son,” his dad interrupts. “And she’s so pretty, too.”
I giggle, feeling a little more at ease.
His mum takes me by the hand and pulls me into the kitchen. “If Spencer loves you, we love you.”
*
I’m in bed staring at the television, but I’m not watching it or even listening.
My mind is in Nottingham with my father.
I miss him… desperately.
Spencer is reading beside me and things couldn’t be any better between us. We laugh, make love, fuck, and talk about the charity I’m creating. He’s become my best friend and my partner in crime.
We’re hopelessly in love.
But I have this thorn in my side that won’t go away.
It was one or the other: my family or my love. Why couldn’t I have both? I know if they just gave him a chance, they would love him.
Spencer reaches over and slides his hand up my thigh. “You okay?” he asks.
I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.
He puts his book down and wraps his arms around me. “What is it, angel?”
I shake my head because I don’t want him to know that I’m grieving the loss of my family.
“I’m just tired, baby,” I whisper as I kiss him softly. I run my fingers through his two-day stubble, and I stare into his big, beautiful eyes. He kisses me slowly, his tongue sliding through my open mouth. For a long time we lie in each other’s arms and kiss. It’s tender, unhurried and intimate and when he kisses me like this there is nobody else on earth but us.
His lips drop to my neck and he bites me with just the right amount of pressure before his hands slowly slide my panties down my legs.