many questions, and the only way for me to get answers is to go to the source.
I throw the phone in my bag and head out the door. Hailing a taxi, I head towards the answers I need before any decisions can be made. I’m terrified. As we drive across the city, I look out the window at the lit up skyscrapers. This city always gives me butterflies. It’s beautiful.
When we pull up to his apartment building, I pay the cab driver and head towards Bryce. He meets me at the front doors. I take him in. He’s disheveled and painstakingly handsome. His dark hair is tousled, and his blue eyes aren’t as bright as they typically are, but he’s still beautiful.
“Charlotte, I—”
My hand comes up to stop his words. “Don’t. I have questions that I want answered first. When did things end with you and Carly?”
“I cancelled on her after meeting you in the courthouse and was never with her from that moment on. I swear to you. I never—”
I cut him off with a wave of my hand again. “What was your relationship with Carly? And what the hell is Plunge.xxx?”
“I was going through a difficult financial time about a year ago, and my friend Adam came to me with an opportunity to make some serious cash. He was looking for a new partner for the girl he was leaving—Carly.”
“By partner you mean…?”
“Sex. It was to have sex with Carly, Carly only, and tape it to be uploaded to Plunge.xxx. It’s a paid subscription channel. We make a profit off the number of downloads. Carly already had a huge following from her time with Adam, so basically we’d make bank.”
“So you decided it would be a good idea to pass a girl around who probably has diseases to make money?” My eyes narrow in disgust.
“No, it isn’t like that. We both had checkups beforehand, and she was clean. We used a condom every time, and part of our deal was no other partners while we were in this working relationship.”
“When she called me, she didn’t seem to think this was only a working relationship. She seemed to seriously care about you. Were you ever a thing?”
He grimaces. “I tried at one point to be in a relationship with Carly, but it didn’t work out.”
“Why?” I press.
“She didn’t understand the concept of monogamy. She was gunning for a career in the adult film world which means multiple partners. She would have to fuck whoever they wanted her to fuck, and I wasn’t cool with that. It was as simple as that.”
“She ended things?”
His head rolls back on his shoulders and his hands come to grip the side of his head in frustration. “There was nothing to end. It never even got that far.”
“Did you love her?”
“Hell no. Charlotte, I have only ever loved you.”
I gasp, and my eyes go wide. “You do?”
“Yes, I do. I’m in love with you. I passed on cocaine last night because I don’t want that life anymore. I want you.”
“Did you pass on coke only because of me?” I raise my brow.
“No, I did it for me too. Like I said, I don’t want that life anymore.” He steps toward me, bringing his hands to cup my cheeks. “I love you,” he whispers while looking me in the eyes.
“One more question,” I squeak. He chuckles. “Are you done with Plunge?” I search his eyes.
“Absolutely. I already put in the call to my brother. I’m going to work for the family business.”
I smile wide until the realization of those words hits me. “But, that means you’ll be moving away?” My voice is strained.
“Yes, but I can come to the city every weekend to see you. We can make this work. Maybe I can even get my brother to start another branch here.”
I ponder his words. In the end, it doesn’t matter. Where he goes, I go. I love him, and he loves me. We’ll figure it out. It will all work out.
“I love you, Bryce. We’ll make it work.”
At that, his lips crush against mine. My mouth parts, making way for his tongue to enter and massage my own. His hands tighten in my hair making me