Page 137 of With a Cherry On Top

He hesitates, then leaves without another word, the door clicking behind him. In the silence, I don’t know what to say.

Charlotte shifts beside me, adjusting the strap of her top, and the sound of it—a quiet snap against her shoulder—somehow makes the moment even heavier.

She clears her throat. “I should probably go.”

“No, Charlotte, I—” I reach for her, gently coaxing her closer. “I have so much to apologize for, I don’t even know where to start.”

She waves me off, but the gesture is stiff, detached. She’s not even looking at me, chin tilted down. “Don’t worry about it.”

I do though.

“I shouldn’t have called you Cherry,” I insist. “That’s your alias. I had no right to use it without your permission.”

Her lips twitch. “I get why you did it.”

“I’m also sorry I said I didn’t want this to be public.”

That earns me a real reaction—a humorless laugh as she finally looking up at me. “You might be sorry forsayingit, but it’s not like it isn’t true.”

“It’snot—” I start, but she’s right. I’m actively trying to keep this a secret from everyone. “I’m not ashamed of you, Charlotte. Shit—you’re so far out of my league I’d need a spaceship to get to your level. You know that, right? That this has nothing to do with you?”

She nods then. “Yes, Chef. I know.”

Shame makes me feel small and insignificant again. “He’s right, isn’t he?” I turn to the door. “I’m a coward.”

She doesn’t answer right away, but eventually, she cups my cheek. “It’s fine, Aaron. We’re just...hooking up—we don’t need announcements in the paper for that.”

Just hooking up.

It’s bullshit. We both know it is. She might not know how to ask for it, I might not know how to give it to her, but we both want more than that.Ido. I want to get out of this mess with her,want to reassure her that I’ll come clean with everyone and will face whatever consequences I deserve, because I’mnota coward.

Because she’s worth being fearless for.

I don’t say it though. I let the lie settle between us as she moves toward the door, grabbing her purse. “I need to finish Sadie’s dress.”

I nod. I don’t want her to go, but I don’t have any right to ask her to stay. So I let her leave, standing there in my too-quiet house, alone.

Like a fucking coward.

CHAPTER 27

Cha-Cha-Cha(rlotte)

Charlotte’s front door opens before I even knock. She’s barefoot, wearing one of those oversized T-shirts that hits mid-thigh and turns my brain to mush. Her hair’s a mess, eyes rimmed with fatigue. She looks like she hasn’t slept, but perfect nonetheless.

I spent all night thinking about what I wanted to say. Rehearsed it a dozen times. But now that she’s standing in front of me, none of it feels like enough. Still, I have to try, so I say, “Hey, gorgeous. About last night?—”

She grabs my wrist and tugs me inside. “Forget about last night. Bedroom.”

“Wait, no, I—” I close the door behind me and stop walking, resisting the pull just enough to make her glance back. I see it—the fear in her eyes. The need to bury it all under something fast and physical, to outrun the feelings clawing their way up.

“I want to dothat. Always,” I assure her. “But I also want to talk. Can we?”

Frustration flashes across her face like a storm cloud. When she pivots and heads for the kitchen, I follow, watching as she pulls a water from the fridge.

“Want some?”

“No, thank you.” She brings the glass to her lips. “Look, about yesterday?—”