Love, Honor, and Betray by Roby, Lawson (ebook reader ink txt) 📕

and stop acting like some self-absorbed child?”

“Not tonight, Curtis, okay? As a matter of fact, I don’t want to discuss any of this Curtina business again. That is, unlessyou’ve finally made up your mind to move her out of here.”

“You’re sick.”

“No, you’re the sick one. And pretty naïve if you think I’m ever going to change my mind about this.”

Curtis walked away from her. Had to, before he said or did something he would regret.

“Did you hear me, Curtis?” Charlotte asked, strolling behind him as he entered the walk-in closet. “Because I’m not playingwith you.”

Curtis turned abruptly, facing her. “And I’m not playing with you. Curtina stays, and this is the last time I’m going to repeat that.”

“So what you’re basically saying is to hell with what I want or how I feel. Am I right?”

“Exactly.” Curtis brushed past her, wearing just his underwear and carrying a plush robe over his arm, and headed toward thebathroom. If Charlotte knew what was good for her, she’d leave him alone and go on about her business.

“Then, to hell with you, too, and to hell with that pathetic little brat you’re so obsessed with.”

Curtis glanced over his shoulder at her and then slammed the door in her face. He couldn’t remember ever being so unnervedor outraged, not since that day a few years ago, when he’d learned about Charlotte sleeping with Aaron. He’d been beside himself,and right now, it was best for him to calm down, take a hot shower, and then go tuck Curtina in as planned. After that, hewould retire in one of their guest bedrooms. He would settle into the one farthest away from his crazy wife.

He would do this before things turned even uglier. If he didn’t, someone would be sorry, and the potential outcome would bedisastrous.

Chapter 13

Zero. That was the number of times Charlotte and Curtis had spoken to each other this morning before he’d gotten dressed andleft the house with Curtina—taking her over to Benedict Arnold’s house. Aunt Emma was currently babysitting that brat everyday now, and Charlotte couldn’t understand why she would agree to do something like this. For God’s sake, Aunt Emma was herown flesh and blood.

Then, Matthew had left before them, and Agnes had run out to the grocery store, so Charlotte was all alone. However, as shestood looking across their backyard at some of the snow that still hadn’t melted, she made a decision. She was going on oneof the biggest shopping sprees she’d ever been on. Curtis owed her that and then some, and today she was going to treat herselflike never before. She would do what always cheered her up and made her happy. She would make Alicia’s former shopping obsessionseem like mere child’s play.

After getting dressed and into the car, she called Janine. She was headed to Oakbrook Center, which was about an hour-and-fifteen-minutedrive, so she figured this was a good time to chat for a few minutes. Especially since this was usually the hour Janine didn’thave a class to teach, and Charlotte hoped there weren’t any students in her office, trying to get help.

“Can you talk?” Charlotte asked.

“Yes,” Janine said. “How are you?”

“Not too good, but I’m going to be fabulous by this afternoon.”

“And why is that?”

“I’m going shopping.”

Janine laughed. “Uh-oh. That sounds pretty scary.”

“Maybe for Curtis, but not for me.”

“So things still aren’t better with you guys?”

“Nope. They’re worse.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s not your fault Curtis is being a jerk.”

“What about a marriage counselor?”

“Girl, please. I’m not even going to think about wasting my time with some overrated psychology major.”

Janine didn’t say anything, so Charlotte knew she wasn’t happy about her response.

“I’m not going to any counselor because there’s only one thing that can fix things between Curtis and me: giving Curtina toone of Tabitha’s relatives. But anyway, what I mainly wanted to call you about is a spa day. I thought it would be good forthe two of us to get something scheduled.”

“Sounds good to me. Remember I was just telling you how Carl really wants me to get out more, so just let me know when you’reready.”

“I’ll check tomorrow for openings, but just so you know, I’m going to schedule the entire works. Hot stone massages, fullfacials, pedicures, and manicures. Oh, and the entire day is all on me.”

“You know you don’t have to do that.”

“I know. But I want to,” Charlotte said, thinking how Curtis would really be the one footing the bill anyhow. Then, she droveonto I-90 East. “Okay, well, I know your break is almost up, so I won’t hold you.”

“Yeah, I’d better get going, but Charlotte, please think about what I said. You know…about the counseling. I’m begging you.”

“I’ll talk to you later, J.”

“Take care.”

Charlotte ended the call. She knew Janine only wanted the best for her, and she loved her for that. But the whole idea ofdisclosing her personal business to a stranger wasn’t an option. It wasn’t going to happen.

Charlotte drove a few more miles until her phone rang. It was her mother.

“Hey, Mom, how are you?”

“I’m good. And you?”

“Okay, I guess.”

“I called the house, but when I didn’t get an answer, I decided to call your cell.”

“Yeah, I decided to spend the day at the mall.”

“Are you there now?”

“No, not yet.”

“Oh, okay. Well, since I hadn’t heard from you since you left here yesterday morning, I just wanted to check on you.”

“I’m fine, Mom.”

“Are you sure? Because you didn’t seem fine when you were here. You seemed not yourself, and you know your father is veryworried.”

“Why? What did he say?”

“You really wanna know?”

“I do.”

“He’s worried that you might be messing around on Curtis.”

Charlotte raised her eyebrows. She’d known her father had looked at her a bit suspiciously, but she hadn’t thought he wasthinking anything like this. It was true that she had messed around, but still…

She tried sounding appalled. “What?! Messing around? Did he really say that?”

“You know your father. He’s never gotten over that affair I had on him years ago and never will. He’s also never