Page 109 of Truck Me
He pulls me into his arms before I can even register what he’s doing. “Are you okay? You took off before I could wrap my head around what was going on.”
I push against his chest, forcing him to release me. “First of all, don’t call me that. I am no longer your honey. And second, why are you here?”
“I told you, honey. I made a mistake. I want my girl back. I assume that’s what you wanted too since you’re wearing my ring.”
“Huh?” I shake my head, not sure I heard him correctly. “Ring?”
“My ring, Char.” He takes my hand and holds it close to his heart. “The one I put on your finger tonight when I asked you to marry me.”
I shake my head and focus on my fingers that are spread out over his chest. When my eyes zero in on my ring finger, my eyes widen in surprise. “I am not marrying you, Brad.”
I jerk my hand back, pull the ring off, and toss it at him. It hits him in the chest and then bounces to the floor. He scrambles to catch it before it disappears under the small table at the entrance.
“Char!” He yells out in anger. “This ring is worth more than this house.”
He picks up the ring and inspects it like I might have broken it or something. I roll my eyes and shake my head. Typical. Of course he’d be more worried about the ring than he is about the fact that I just rejected his proposal. How did I not see who he really was for seven years?
“Brad, you need to leave. Right now.”
His eyes snap to mine, his frustration and anger evident in this stony stare. “You don’t mean that.”
I huff out a laugh. “Yeah, I do.”
“No, you don’t.” He raises his voice and takes a step closer to me. “We shared seven years together. Seven. Years. That has to mean something to you. Surely you’re not willing to throw all that away for some backwoods redneck. You’re better than that, Char.”
“Oh, as opposed to how you threw it all away for one of my clients?”
“That’s not the same thing, and you know it.”
“It’s exactly the same thing, you asshole.” I yell so loud my chest vibrates.
“What’s going on down here?” The confused sound of my dad’s voice has me spinning around. I’d been so absorbed in my frustration with Brad that I forgot I had an audience.
Dad is standing right behind me, confused and angry. Seeing him like this causes me to deflate.
“It’s okay, Dad. Sorry we woke you.”
He looks down at me and frowns. His brows are furrowed and from the way he’s studying my face, I’d say he doesn’t know who I am. His eyes dart around my face, from my nose, mouth, and hair, as if he’s looking for any hint of recognition.
“Brad, I think it’s best if you leave like Charlotte asked.” Mom steps up between us and rests her hand on Brad’s arm. She slowly guides him toward the door. “It’s quite late for us, and I need to get Jim back to bed. You understand, I’m sure.”
Brad glances over his shoulder and meets my stunned stare. “This isn’t over.”
I let out a deep breath and reply in a calm, steady voice. “Yes, it is. Go back to Chicago. There’s nothing left between us.”
Maintaining her polite decorum, Mom shuffles Brad out the door. As soon as she closes the door behind him and flips the lock, I relax.
“Thanks, Mom.” I sag against the wall and drop my hands to my knees.
“Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” Dad’s frustrated voice has me standing up straight.
“Jim, let’s get you back to bed.” Mom reaches for his arm like she’s going to walk him upstairs, but he pulls away.
He takes a few steps back, his eyes darting between us before they land on Mom. He stares at her for a moment before his expression softens.
“Lois?” He says her name like a question, as if he’s not quite sure who she is.
“Yes, Jim. It’s me, Lois.” Mom’s voice is calm and full of love. She holds her hand out to him. He stares at it for a moment before he steps toward her and wraps his hand in hers. Then he looks at me and frowns.