Bump and Run (Wide Open #6)

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Charlie

I hadn’t wanted to leave Jones or the little honeymoon cocoon we had created for one another. Especially after we had showered and Jones got on his knees for me, sucking me down until I coated his throat with my release, tears streaming down his face. We dried off and got dressed in silence, but when it was time for me to leave, Jones had clung to me, his hazel orbs wide and full of fear. He didn’t have to tell me he was scared. It was written all over his face.

Damn, this tie was strangling me. I felt like I was suffocating. What if I died right here and never saw Jones again? How long would he mourn me before he moved on? I wanted to grow old with him. See his curls turn gray and lines deepen in his skin. I wanted to hold his hand as we sat together outside, our feet hanging into his pool. I tugged at the collar of my shirt, trying to catch my breath. Even dragging both hands through my hair didn’t relax me. I shouldn’t have to do this shit anymore. I was an adult with my own money, and yet, my father was still trying to control me.

“Stop fidgeting,” Beverly hissed. “Your father is watching us. He’s going to figure it out.”

That was the problem, wasn’t it? My father. It was always about my fucking father .

“Yeah, well, this is not what I wanted to do tonight. I wanted to be balls-deep inside the man I love, not here pretending that you and I were together.”

“Darling...”

Beverly looped her arm through mine and steered me toward the back door. Once we were outside, I inhaled as much of the night air as I could. It was warm tonight, a little more than stifling.

“Charlie, you need to get a grip. If you want this to be believable between our parents, you can’t continue to scowl at everything that moves.”

I gritted my teeth. My father wasn’t stupid. He knew I was with Jones. He had already shown up at our house, pushing his shitty agenda on me.

“I’m well aware of the part I’m supposed to play, but my father isn’t stupid. He knows I’m back together with Jones. No offense, but I’m looking forward to breaking up with you tonight.”

“Maybe not tonight.” Beverly moved to stare out into the dark, the sound of the waves from the beach filling my ears. “We could pretend just a little longer.”

My brows shot up. “We’re not. I married him this morning. Jones is my husband now.”

She turned to look at me, her dark eyes sad.

“What happened?”

“Someone got to Chase. And what do you mean, you married him?”

“Don’t change the subject. Someone, or my father?”

Beverly sighed. “I don’t have proof that it’s your father, but yeah, I think so. Chase said we had to take a break, he needed space to think things over, and that was two weeks ago. I haven’t heard from him since. He won’t take my calls or answer my texts. I’ve almost driven out to the farm a hundred times since he ghosted me. Did you really get married?”

“Yeah, Bev, I did. I’ve been in love with Jones for years. So I can’t marry you.” That was the first thing I had said to her when I returned to Boston after I left Jones. The day our parents shoved us into this relationship. Maybe if I had never met Jones, things would be different. “I’m sorry about Chase.”

She forced a smile. “Me, too, Charlie.” She patted my arm. “I’m happy for you. Jones seems sweet. You deserve a little happiness in your life.

“So do you,” I reminded her. I glanced up into the clear, night sky. “I’d give up everything for Jones. And it’s time my father realized it.”

Beverly didn’t say anything as she stared out across the beach. Then she folded her arms across her chest, her lips curving up into a smile. “I’m so proud of you.”

“What?” I stared down at her.

She had her blond hair pulled up into a high ponytail, not a single piece out of place. Tonight, she wore very little makeup, and the diamonds in her ears sparkled under the moonlight. I knew that Chase had given them to her. That they had belonged to his grandmother. Beverly was beautiful, but I had never seen my future when I looked at her.

Beverly patted my chest. “For sticking up for what you believe in. You and your Jones are going to be happy while I’m stuck marrying some other rich, elitist asshole whom my parents think will be good for me.” She giggled. “Not that that was ever you, Charlie. You were never like that. I hope that we can continue to be friends.”

“I think we could arrange that,” I told her.

She squared her shoulders. “So, are you ready to do this? We have to put on the best performance of our lives.”

“I’ve never been more ready.” I couldn’t wait to be free so that I could officially claim Jones in front of the world.

***

I was strategically placed across from my father at the dinner table. Beverly was to my left and her parents were to my right. Alice sat next to my father, on his right, and I didn’t miss the way she kept looking at my father. What was he planning? Was he going to try to make a wedding date decision tonight or something else? So far, the conversation had been light, but now that dinner was over and dessert was about to be served, I could feel the tension in the air.

“Charles.” Dad took a sip of his brandy. “I’ve booked the Davenport for this time next year. It will make a lovely wedding venue for you and Beverly. Invitations are already being prepared.”

I met Beverly’s eyes as I looked up. She was the one who was supposed to go first. She was going to yell at me, throw back the ring, and tell me we were over. That she was in love with someone else and now I was free to be with the man I loved. She started to push her chair back, and I squared my shoulders .

I shook my head. “Dad, we talked about this.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Beverly climbed to her feet, and the ring smacked me in the chest as she threw it at me. “I’m in love with someone else.”

Her parents looked horrified, but not my father. He looked calm, cool, and collected. He opened his mouth just as the doorbell chimed throughout the house. Alice climbed to her feet and disappeared only for Jones to come rushing back into the room seconds later. Along with Ollie and Kit. That wasn’t something we had discussed.

“Charlie loves me!” Jones exclaimed. “And I love him.”

My throat tightened. “What are you doing, Bashful?”

“Taking what’s mine.” He stepped up onto his toes and brushed his lips over mine. I could feel the anger radiating from my father when I gripped the back of Jones’s neck to deepen the kiss.

“That’s enough!” Dad slammed his fists against the table, and I felt Jones jump. I wrapped an arm around him and tugged him against my chest. “Charles, we discussed this. You were either going to marry Beverly, or let me—”

“He married me instead.” Jones raised his chin as he glared at my father, whose eyes had suddenly grown wide. “Yeah, that’s right. Charlie and I got married this morning. He’s my husband.” He beamed happily at me, and my heart thumped against my chest.

Kit snarled as he got right in my father’s face. “You think you’re going to out me? You don’t have the right, old man.”

Ollie’s fingers dug into the back of Kit’s shirt. “Kitten, we said no violence. ”

“ You said no violence. Give me five minutes with this prick, and I’ll rearrange his fucking face,” Kit promised between clenched teeth.

“Young man.” Dad narrowed his eyes. “You will not come into my house and threaten me.”

Ollie straightened his shoulders. “You threatened us first.” He glanced over at me and gave a quick nod. “You destroyed Jones’s life when you forced Charlie to leave, and now you’re trying to do it again. You’re trying to hurt all of us.”

“Remi, what is Oliver talking about it?” Alice looked between her husband and her son.

Dad’s lip twisted into an angry snarl. “I did what I had to do. I couldn’t have Jones screwing up everything that I had worked for. The career that I was so close to achieving. Yet despite that, here we are. Our sons have gotten married, and now that’s something I’m going to have to deal with it. And Charles’s mother, K—”

“Don’t you say her name,” I warned. “You don’t deserve to even think about my mother. And if you threaten the man I love one more time, I’m going to sic Kit on you.”

Alice took a step back. “Why didn’t you come to the wedding, Charlie?”

“Because I wasn’t invited,” I answered and saw my father flinch. “He was too worried that I would tell you all his dirty secrets. Starting with forcing me to leave so he wouldn’t ruin Jones or you. I love your son. I only want to be with him, and that’s how it’s going to be. This arrangement with Beverly was just that. An arrangement.” I couldn’t be sure if Dad cheated on Alice or not, but that wasn’t my secret to divulge .

Alice moved closer to where I stood with her son, and I let Jones untangle himself from me so he could go to her. He wrapped an arm around his mother and pushed their heads together, murmuring in hushed tones. I glanced over at my father, who looked livid.

“Are you happy now?” he hissed. “Happy that you’ve ruined everything?”

I barked out a laugh. “I ruined everything? Oh, you’re really a piece of work, aren’t you? Do you have any idea what I’ve been through since I left Jones that night? Or what it did to him? Don’t answer that, because the answer is that you don’t fucking care. You cared about one thing and that was yourself. You’re a selfish, horrible person, and I can’t even believe we’re related.”

“You will stop this nonsense at once, Charles,” Dad demanded. “You’re married now, not the way we planned, but that’s fine. You and Jones can—”

“Stop it!” Jones cried and the room went silent. “Stop trying to control everything and everyone around you. Just because you have all this money doesn’t mean you can do this. You’re such a horrible person. I can’t believe Charlie came from you.” His chin quivered as he tried to hold back tears.

I clenched my jaw. “Do you see what you’ve done?” My nostrils flared. “You’ve upset my husband. I can’t have that. Not ever. Jones deserves nothing but happiness, and you’re trying to take that away from him.”

“Remi,” Alice whispered.

Dad took a step toward her, but Jones blocked his way. “Don’t you dare. ”

“I hope you’re proud of yourself.” Dad grunted. “Waltzing in here, declaring that you’ve gotten married, and destroying everything that I’ve been working on. All I wanted was you to have a good life, Charlies.”

I didn’t answer him. Instead, I wrapped my arms around Jones and pulled him against me. “It’s okay, Bashful.”

“Has anything you’ve ever told me true? Did you even love me?” Alice asked, and when my father didn’t answer, I felt Jones tremble against me. “You can’t even look at me now. Wow... I guess that explains everything.”

Dad shook his head. “I tried, okay? I tried to love you and give you a home that made you happy. Give you things that made you smile. I never expected Jones and Charles to...” He waved a hand in the air. “End up like this.”

“You’re an asshole,” Kit announced. “And if you ever threaten me or my boyfriend again, I will feed you to the sharks.” He grabbed Ollie’s hand. “Let’s go. I can’t even look at this asshole’s face anymore.”

Jones untangled himself from my grip. “Charlie? Can we go home now?”

“Yeah, Bashful, we can do that,” I murmured.

He glanced over at his mother. “Mama, do you want to come with us?”

“Oh, sweetie, I don’t want to interrupt your honeymoon.” Alice smiled at him, her hazel eyes full of tears. “And we’re going to talk about you getting married without me, but not today.” She met my gaze. “Take care of my son, Charlie.”

I nodded. “That’s my plan, ma’am. For the rest of my life,” I assured her.