"We can have that," she whispers and cups my face with her soft hands. "We can start over. I'm back, Troy. I'm back and I'm not leaving you."
"Stop. I can't," I grit out and quickly get up to head upstairs. When I'm safe in my room I look outside my window and hang my head. I can't deny how happy I am to have her here. And I can't deny the hurt and regret I feel. I'm not mad at her for making the choice she did. I get it. She'll do anything and everything for her brother. They only have each other left and they depend on one another. Maybe that's why it was easy for me to let her go. Part of me doesn't want to stand in the way between her and Will, and the other part doesn't give a shit.
Fuck.
Being close to her and almost feeling her lips on mine makes my chest tight. If I have one taste of her, I know I'll be fucked.
It's still early and I'm not going to be holed up in my room the whole night. Taking out my phone, I text Carter and tell him to meet me at MacGregor's for beer and pool.
"Troy," Will calls out from the pool table in the corner of the bar. He gives me a manly one-arm hug and I shake hands with Sal and Carter, two of our other friends. I look at Carter and he gives me a questioning look. Fuck. I'm out with Will while his sister's relaxing at my house and I don't have the balls to tell him, because for one, I need my balls.
Heading my way over to Carter, I look at Will and see him taking shots with Sal. "Charlotte's at my house," I mutter.
We met Carter and Sal at a fitness convention after a few months of living in Rochester. The two brothers helped us get clients from their gym set up with meal plans, and we've been working together ever since. I trust Carter more than Sal. One drunken night I told him all about Charlotte and how much I missed her. His wife, Jane, told me to chase her and do anything to get her back. I couldn't. I didn't have the strength to get hurt again.
"Oh, shit," he says. "Here? In Rochester? At your house?" I nod. "You need a shot, my man."
"That I do." Carter hands me a shot and I take it. "I'm fucked, man."
"Yeah," he slaps my shoulder. "Yeah, dude, you really are. On another note, Avery's getting cuter and misses her Godfather." He shows me a picture of my princess and I smile. Even though I don't want kids and can't image being called Dad, Avery is the closest to a daughter I'll have.
"How's Jane?"
"Good," he smiles. "You know she asked about you the other day. Do you think you can give us a good deal with your workouts? She's feeling depressed and can't get rid of the last ten pounds. I tell her she's beautiful the way she is, but she doesn't listen to me."
"No problem. Have her email me." I don't tell Carter I'll do it for free. He doesn't like anything given to him so I'll make a deal with Jane. She'll make me her famous chili once a week and I'll help her out. To me, that's a fair deal.
"Ladies, if you're done chatting, we have a game to play," Will calls out.
"So listen here," Sal tells us. "I had this fine-ass honey last night. My damn, she did things to me I didn't even know we could do. Three rounds my friends." Sal puts up three fingers with a smirk on his face. "And she's coming over tonight with another fine-ass honey. I'm in heaven." He kisses his fingers and raises his hand in the air. "I've been taking this herb that'll help me last all night."
"A pill?" Will laughs.
"No," Sal counters. "Not a pill, it's a powder, you fucker. You mix it with hot tea and it's supposed to help your endurance."
Carter's settled and has a great family, while Sal is Rochester's biggest manwhore, and I make a mental note to keep Charlotte out of his hands. He has no shame and will sleep with anyone with a pussy.
I nod and order a few rounds of shots. I'm going to need vodka to get through tonight.
"How's everything with Andrea," Will asks.
"Broke up with her this morning."
"Damn, so she's free," Sal shouts, raising his arms in the air, sporting the biggest grin on his face. "I know we're best friends, but man . . . please let me tap that."
"If you want chlamydia, be my guest."
"What?" The guys start shouting out questions and I explain what happened and hear them groaning and holding their balls.
"Damn, that's a shame," Sal shakes his head.
"Fucking whore," Will states. "You guys were always together. When the hell did she have time to cheat on you?"
"I didn't go with her to the city during her last few shoots," I shrug. "It doesn't matter. I don't give a shit and I've moved on. No point wondering about it."
"Good man," Carter tells me. "Plus you have other things to worry about."
I quickly turn my face to his and have to calm myself down before I knock him out.
"What things," Will asks.
"Nothing. Carter doesn't know what he's talking about."
"Oh. Okay. Whatever. Let's drink and play."
After a few hours at the bar, I head out and get in my car needing to get home. When I walk in, I lock the door and head upstairs to my room. The smell of Charlotte hits my nose and I instantly think of her and immediately force her out.
She's not mine and will never be mine.
Chapter 8
Charlotte
The next morning, Troy and I have breakfast outside as he fills me in more about his business. I love listening to him talk and see his light shine when he talks about his clients.
"I'm so proud of you, Troy." Reaching out to touch his hand I see a brief smile on his face and then he retreats to the Troy I don't like.
"Call Will."
"I need a job as soon as possible," I blurt out. "I'm avoiding Will because he gave up his life for me and made sure I got a good education and landed a good job," I lower my voice. "Telling him I left Michigan, and my job, won't make him happy. Sure, I left with good reasons, but he won't see it that way. I can't disappoint him."
"I may be able to help you out with that," Troy says and guides me inside his house. "My friend is looking for a spa manager and you majored in business with communications, right?" I nod, surprised he still remembered my major. "I'll call him now and get you in to see him."
"I know I can handle the spa world. It shouldn't be too hard. I was a manager back in Michigan and I'm a faster learner too."
"Will told me about your job so this should be a simple move for you."
"You kept up with what was going on with me?"
I see him shrug and he doesn't answer. "I think you're going to rock the shit out of this position and he's going to love having you."
"Okay," I blush. "Thank you." Our faces are so close together. I want to feel his lips on mine. Not wanting to think, I lean in and kiss the corner of his mouth. Better than nothing. "Thank you again." Slipping out of his embrace, I head upstairs and decide to take a nap, and well, relieve myself.
When I wake up from my nap it's almost three in the afternoon. Slipping out of bed I make sure everything is packed in my suitcase and look around the bedroom. Part of me wants to beg Troy to let me stay with him. Part of me wants to show him how great we'd be together and I can help him around the house. If I live with him, it'll give us a better chance to reconcile our differences and move on from the past. I hate knowing Troy doesn't want me in his house. It doesn't make sense. When we were younger he'd do anything for me. Now, it's a complete twist.
A knock on the bedroom door grabs my attention. Troy walks in and hot damn. He's wearing faded fitted jeans and a blue polo. The outfit suits him and hugs every delectable muscle. How can a simple outfit be this sexy?
As I study him with my eyes, I realize how much he's changed. Before, he was sweet, tender, and never made me feel little. Now, it's a different story. His body changed since I last saw him. His bulging muscles aren't overly big, but enough that I want to lick his arms and fall asleep on him. I wonder how easily he'd be able to pick me up and fuck me against the wall.
Shit. I can't think this! The man just broke up with his girlfriend and I just broke up with Shawn. I need to give this time. I need to make sure Will won't kill me for leaving Michigan and focus on work. I will not be a rebound. If he wants me, he'll have to tell me. Even though I want him, that doesn't mean I'll go for it. Part of me is scared he'll reject me.
From looking at him, I see the intensity in his body and eyes. The way he's looking at me with lust and desire, that doubt quickly goes away. I want to peel back his layers, and get to the center of who Troy Harding is and what he loves most. I used to know him, but things change. People change.
"Jason's at the spa now. He said it's cool if we stop in so you can meet him and fill out paperwork. We can get lunch after your meeting, and you need to see Will. I can't let you hide from him."