Page 139 of Charming Like Us

I didn’t ask for more details, but he told me he helps clean them up afterwards, so if anyone claims he’s the father of their kid—it’s probably a trash bin declaration.

For another, the one and only time he’s met up with this sorority girl was too long ago for her to be pregnant withhischild.

“Daniella!” her friend calls, trekking towards the parking lot with the other Zeta Beta Zeta girls.They’re leaving.

Daniella jogs after them, teetering in the sand.

I survey the area, lingering for a half-a-second on Jack—who should be my entire attention. He still films Charlie lounging on a chair sunken in the sand.

The fact that we’re both working should make me feel better, but it doesn’t. My job impedes us more. Between security meetings, temp training, and actually protecting Charlie, it pulls me in a hundred directions.

And in the past week, we haven’t found time together to have sex. Not sinceGreenland.And sure, sex isn’t everything in a relationship. But it’s something in ours.

I just keep hearing my failed short-term flings that I thought would last longer.

“You’re never around, Oscar.”

“You dipped out ofsevendates early.”

“What’s the point in continuing this if you’re hardly available?!”

I’m waiting for Highland to realize he deserves more time and emotional support than I can give. And then the axe will fall, and we’ll be done when we’ve just started.

I trudge closer to Charlie and hawk-eye his surroundings again. Most people stay back from my client and snap photos of him on their cells, all at a distance. I already approached a crowd of college students in UCLA tees and told them to keep a twenty-foot perimeter. They were kind enough to comply with that, and they haven’t pushed it.

Once the sorority girls disappear out of sight, I tear open the envelope.

Protocol:check Charlie’s mail, even if he trashes it.

Charlie, we met at that thing back in June and hooked up. I’m pregnant. I would love to have you in this baby’s life. I can’t imagine you not being by my side during this time. I don’t need money. I just need you. Please contact me any way you can.

She left her full name, phone number, home address, Instagram and Twitter handle, and her TikTok account.

I hope in time Charlie can find someone who won’t manipulate their way into his life. But today is not that day.

Needing to give him the letter, I have to stay an aching distance from Jack. I realize Jesse is packing up the boom, and Jack is back on his phone.

Put the phone down, Highland.

I’m a foot from Charlie.

“Gabe to Oscar,” the new temp says over comms. “I’ve got a group of male beach volleyball players approaching.”

I click my mic, noticing the same thing. Two of the guys are also holding expensive professional-looking cameras, ones often used by paparazzi. I speak in comms. “Don’t let them near him.”

When I sayhim, I mean Jack.

Coming home from Greenland, I knew the best way to physically protect Jack, when I can’t, would be to hire a temp bodyguard.

Gabe has been assigned to his detail, and it’s been going well. Considering it’s only been seven days, I’m cautiously optimistic. Jack hasn’t had a head-on collision with paparazzi. Gabe’s even intercepted any and all projectiles. The Fizz Life soda can that was meant for Jack ended up bouncing off Gabe’s iron-man chest like the aluminum was air.

“Copy,” Gabe answers.

I focus on my client.

“Trash it,” Charlie tells me before I even offer the envelope.

“Read this one,” I advise. Just in case he somehow Houdini-ed into her pants without me realizing.