Page 39 of What He Always Knew

Before she left, it had been like she was dreading the trip. I knew she would stay with me, if she could, if she hadn’t promised him she would go with him wherever it was he asked her to go. But when she came back, I knew it was as a different woman. Her eyes were lighter, her smile wide, her laugh spritely and easy.

Something had happened. Cameron had made a move. And I knew I wouldn’t have a chance to make mine until the conference.

So, I’d waited, three long days, just trying to bide my time until today. I’d somehow managed to talk her into having lunch with me yesterday, to go over the conference, and that little nibble of cheese was all I had.

And he stole it away.

Seeing him at Westchester, in a place that belonged to me and Charlie, it was like watching a concert where the lead band had stolen all my songs and claimed them as their own.

That wasourplace. Cameron already got to have Charlie every night at home, and now he had crossed over into my territory, into the one place where I had her without him. But as much as it ticked me off, it also reassured me that though he was trying, he still didn’t know Charlie like I did.

She’d only told me once what her favorite flower was — sixteen years ago, on her fourteenth birthday, when I’d given her a notebook with daisies on it.

I’d never forgotten, and he had.

It didn’t seem like a big deal at first glance. It was just flowers, just one small detail. But that’s the way I loved Charlie — completely, with every fiber of my being. I loved her with every memory in my heart, with every song in my soul, and maybe Cameron had loved her that same way once before.

But where his love had faded, mine hadn’t — not even when I’d never really had her as my own.

Thatwas what I held onto as I tried and failed to sleep, knowing I would see her today, knowing I would finally get her alone.

Blake handed me my bag after I shrugged on a light coat, and she sighed when I opened the front door.

“I wish you didn’t have to go,” she said, running a hand through her long, messy hair before tucking her arms around her middle. “Not that I’m not ecstatic they chose you to attend in your first semester, but selfishly, I’ll miss you.”

My throat thickened. “I’ll miss you, too. But I’ll be back Sunday.”

“Seems so far away.”

“You’ll blink and I’ll be here again,” I assured her, leaning in for a hug. She snuck up on her toes and pressed a kiss to my lips before I could stop her, but I broke it quickly.

“I should get going.”

“Hey,” she said, pulling my arm to stop me before I could make it through the door. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve seemed so… distant, lately.”

I swallowed. “I’m good. Just have a lot on my mind with the conference and all.”

She nodded. “Yeah, I get that. It’s a lot of pressure as a new teacher, I’m sure.” Then, her lips curved into a seductive smile, and she trailed her fingertips over my bicep. “Are you sure you don’t want me to help relieve a little of that pressure?”

My stomach rolled, Charlie’s face when I told her about me and Blake sleeping together just once flashing in front of my eyes. That pain she’d worn would haunt me forever, and I vowed to never be the one to put it there, again.

“I really have to get going, Blake.”

“It won’t take long. You know how quick we can be when we want to be.”

She licked her lips, and I peeled her off me, clearing my throat.

“Save that energy for when I get back, okay?” I said, praying I could just buy some time. I’d fake sick when I got back if I had to, but I knew one thing was for sure — I wouldn’t touch Blake again.

I wouldn’t betray Charlie.

“Have a good weekend,” I offered as I wiggled past her, jogging down the porch steps.

“You, too,” she said on a sigh.

I felt her eyes on me the entire walk to my car.

Once I was out of our neighborhood, I turned the radio off and ran through the words I would say to Charlie.