She giggled and began helping herself to my carton of strawberries and a smoothie. The nerve!
“Yes, me. You know, the owner of this establishment.”
She gave me a confused look. Dear God, was she as stupid as she looked?
“I live here. It’s my place,” I clarified.
She smirked at me and began pouring herself a tall glass of my smoothie. “I thought it was Adam’s place. When you came in last night, I actually thought maybe you were his wife or something, but he explained the whole best friend thing to me.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh he did, did he?”
She nodded. “Oh yeah. I think it’s great to have a friend who’s the opposite sex. Though, I have no idea how you keep yourself from climbing all over him. He’s a hottie, a doctor, and a gentleman.”
I know, you stupid little tart, and before you came barging in, he was also going to be mine!
“But anyway, he’s still sleeping, and I have to go to work.”
My eyes dragged up and down her tiny little body. She was a stick figure. She was more suited as an afternoon treat for the hound across the street than a booty call.
“Oh, I’m going to get dressed, I just don’t want to wake him. Could you tell him to call me?”
I gave her my best Oscar award-winning smile and nodded. “Of course. He has your number.”
Because I sure do! Tramp. I’m sure your number is tucked away tighter than a stripper’s G-string. She bounced on her heels, beaming at me before grabbing her clothes from the bedroom and heading to the bathroom. When she exited, I had to try desperately not to vomit. She was wearing the clothes from the previous night, and in this instance, it was a boob tube and a skirt that was so tiny, it could have been a belt. I like short skirts, I do. I can’t wear them, but I like them. And call me old fashioned but I also believe that they should be long enough to cover a woman’s vagina!
When she finally left, I felt as though I needed to disinfect my entire apartment. It felt cheap, dirty, and I hated it. Grabbing my cleaning cloths and some pine disinfectant, I began scrubbing at every surface.
I heard Adam’s door open. His feet shuffled along the carpet as he approached the kitchen. I was now on the floor, scrubbing so hard that my hands were getting red.
“Charlene, what are you doing?” he asked sleepily.
I glanced up, and anger filled my body. He was wearing sweatpants but was totally shirtless. Damn him for being so sexy.
“Cleaning. What does it look like?” I snapped back at him.
“Whoa. Calm down Rasputin. What’s gotten into you?”
Throwing down my cloth, I sat back on my heels and glared up at him. “What’s gotten into me? I’ll tell you what’s gotten into me! First, I come home to find you in bed with some skanky harlot. This morning, I come home and find her helping herself to the contents of my fridge, and now, I’m scrubbing every surface she’s touched because I have no idea where she’s been or what horrible and disgusting germs she may have now infected my apartment with.”
Bending down, he gripped my arms and lifted me to my feet. “You’re nuts. First of all, you said you were fine with us sleeping with other people. Second of all, I’ll replace anything she ate and third, she’s a woman, not a dog, Charlene.”
I laughed at him mockingly. “Looked like a tramp to me.”
Adam scowled. “I don’t know what exactly is going on with you lately, but I don’t like it. Your attitude sucks, and your bare-faced ability to lie to me is really pissing me off, too. I’ll ask you again, what the hell happened yesterday?”
I shook my head pulled myself from his grasp. “Nothing. I’m fine. Now if you don’t mind, Jacob needs a bath, and I have a ton of stuff to do before I pack for my trip home.”
He shook his head in bewilderment. “That trip isn’t ‘til next weekend.”
I skirted around him and walked over to the sofa where Jacob was sleeping soundly. This wouldn’t go down well. “Yeah, well, I have a lot of clothes to pack.”
Jacob eyed me curiously. Wrapping my arms around him, I heaved him from the sofa. His claws dug into the plush cushions, and he protested loudly. “Come on, Jacob. There’s only room for one dirty male in this apartment, and it seems Adam wants that title.”
Groaning and muttering under his breath, Adam stormed to his room and slammed the door. Whatever. Jacob snarled and hissed as I carried him toward the bathroom. “Don’t be such a wuss, Jacob. It’s just a bath. Besides, we’re going to use Uncle Adam’s best shampoo.”
Take that, Doctor Perfect!
Chapter 24
Adam and I hardly spoke a word to each other all week. He’d already agreed to drive me to my mother’s for my gran’s birthday, but I quickly informed him that he didn’t have to stay. I was still seething at him over Janine. I hadn’t seen her again since that night, but I was sure that he must have had plans to hook up again. Probably while I was out of town. Hauling my case into the car, he squinted. The sun was bright, and I could feel that spring was almost leaving us and summer would be just around the corner.
“Ready?” he asked as he opened the passenger door.
I nodded. “As I’ll ever be.”
* * * *
We drove to my mother’s in total silence. I had to consciously tell myself not to keep looking at him. I didn’t know what it was about Adam driving, but I found it extremely sexy. I wanted to tell him how I felt. I wanted to break this awful tension between us, but every time I opened my mouth to speak, nothing came out. When we pulled up outside the house, my opportunity to talk to him was growing smaller every second. Shutting off the engine, he rested his hands on the steering wheel and sighed.
“Charlene, I …”
He seemed as lost for words as I was. Exhaling loudly, he shook his head gently. “I should probably get your bag out of the back.”
I nodded weakly as he got out of the car, jogged around to the back and pulled out my heavy case. I dropped my head back against the seat and bumped it a few times. This was a nightmare. How could I, or rather, how could we have let it come to this? I looked in the rearview mirror and watched as he dragged my case up to the front door. He seemed as frustrated as I was, and as he walked back to the car, his brow was furrowed, and he was stroking his bottom lip with his finger. I’d never seen him act like this. He strolled up to the car and gestured for me to get out.
“I guess I should go then. I’ll pick you up in two days?”
“You don’t wanna come in and say hi to everyone?”
He held his hands on his hips and swept his foot across the ground, biting his lip with his eyes cast down.
“I probably should. Your grandmother would never forgive me.”
I smiled and side-by-side, we walked up to the house. I could hear the sound of people bustling around inside. I distinctly heard the sound of Nadine’s voice. Great. That bitch was all I needed to complete my horrible week. Slotting my key in the lock, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the bombardment. I hadn’t spoken to my family much since I had revealed that Brad had dumped me. As the door swung open, my mother was immediately on me. She had hearing like a sonar monitor.
“Charlene! Oh, I’m so glad you could make it!”
Rushing over to me, she threw her arms around me and squeezed me tightly. I went a little rigid. This was still a foreign concept for me. My mother rarely hugged and certainly not me. I looked over my shoulder at Adam who shrugged. Releasing me, my mother stood back with her hands on my arms and beamed. I could see tears in her eyes, and I was beginning to get the feeling that something was up.
“I’m so happy to see you. I’ve missed you so much. Family is the most important thing we have in this world, you know.”
Okay, something was definitely up.
“And Adam! Oh, how wonderful of you to come. You dear, sweet, and amazing boy!”
Boy? If she knew what I did, she wouldn’t be considering him much of a ‘boy’ anymore. She grabbed him and pu
lled him to her for a warm hug and placed a peck on his cheek.
Again, he shrugged at me. I eyed my mother with suspicion as she let go of Adam and brushed herself down.
“I’ve done a big spread for lunch. Nadine, Gareth, and Gran are already in the dining room. Come through. They’ll be thrilled to see you.”
As she wiggled off toward the dining room, I turned to Adam. “I highly doubt that,” I muttered.
He gave me a half smile as we followed my mother to the other room. Adam seemed tense. I hated that we couldn’t just be ourselves anymore. This lunch was going to be a disaster. Not quite as bad as Christmas dinner had been, but bad, nonetheless.
Rounding the corner to the dining room, I rolled my eyes. Dressed in a long, sleeveless summer dress was Nadine. Her perfect and perky boobs and tiny figure, made her look like summertime Barbie. Gareth was sitting beside her, and as I entered the room, he got to his feet and opened his arms for a hug. Cautiously, I reciprocated. What the hell had gotten into my family?
When Adam walked in behind me, Nadine stood abruptly and practically ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. “Oh, how wonderful to see you.”
I glared at her over Gareth’s shoulder. Usually, her obvious flirtation and desire for Adam didn’t bother me; in fact, I found it rather funny. But now, I wanted to claw her eyes and hair out. Gareth patted my back gently. “So good to see you, sis.”
Sis? Since when was I his sis? If I hadn’t been suspicious that something was going on before, I was now!
Nadine released a disgruntled looking Adam and beamed at him before turning her attention to me.
“And Charlene. That’s a lovely dress.”
I almost choked on a breath. Did the hellhound just compliment me? Furrowing my brow, I pulled away from Gareth and attempted a smile. I don’t think I pulled it off all that well. “Uh, thanks. I guess.”
I glanced around the room at the enormous spread of food. We would never get through it all, but it seemed to give my mother a sense of accomplishment to have provided such a feast. I smiled at Gareth. “Where’s Gran?”
He pressed his lips together and pointed to the lounge. “In there. You should go say hi.”
I nodded and headed through the large glass panel doors to the lounge. Sitting in her usual chair, reading a crossword was my cantankerous, witty, and wonderful grandmother.
“Happy birthday, Gran!”
Looking up from her crossword, she gave me a half smile.
“And what’s so happy about it?”
I rolled my eyes, walked over, and kissed her on the cheek. She tutted. “It’s just another year of getting older, wrinklier, and closer to death. I suppose that’s the saving grace. I won’t have to be here much longer to put up with these awful family reunions.”
I shook my head. “You don’t mean that.”
She put down her magazine and stared up at me over the rim of her glasses. “Don’t I? I had plans you know. Mr. McKinney from the bingo hall was taking me for dinner. I even laid out my best pair of knickers for the occasion.”
I cringed. “Oh, Gran. Too much information.”
She sniggered. “What? You think you youngsters are the only generation that’s sexed up? Pfft. I’ve had more cock than you’ve had hot meals, my girl. And all of it a darn sight more satisfying, I’d wager.”
Eww.
“Besides, I deserve a little excitement after everything that’s happened.”
I gave her a puzzled look. “What are you talking about?”
She let out a long breath and shook her head. “Your mother is classically the biggest gossip with the biggest mouth in the world, but the moment there’s actually some important information to be heard, she clams up! I’ve been having treatment for cancer, dear.”
My jaw dropped, and I stared at her in horror. “Cancer?” It was almost a whisper. My voice was hoarse as tears filled my eyes.
“Yes, cancer. Dear God, have you all gone temporarily deaf? I seem to spend most of my life repeating myself like a bloody parrot these days!”
I shook my head in total disbelief. “When? What type? What’s the prognosis?”
She huffed again. “I was a little under the weather so I referred myself. I was diagnosed with breast cancer. They chopped off the lump, and I’ve been in remission for about three weeks now.”
I was lost for words.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Charlene. I’m fine. I’m no different than I was before. Except now, I’m more like Miss Boobs in there. I’m stuck with half a tit! At least I had my useless lump removed. She’s stuck with your brother ‘til death they do part.”
I nodded weakly. I wanted to laugh, but I couldn’t find it in me. Reaching out her hand, my gran held mine in hers. “I’m fine, Charlene. Now, go and ask your mother when we can eat because my stomach is beginning to digest itself. If I must endure a tedious afternoon with you people, I at least want a full stomach.”
That time I managed a small smile.
* * * *
Sitting around the dinner table, we were all silent. My mother entered from the kitchen and beamed at us all.
“I’m so happy and grateful to have you all here for Mum’s birthday.”
Sitting beside my gran, she held her hand over Gran’s gently. “Happy birthday, Mum.”
My gran nodded and immediately reached for a plate. That woman could really eat. Everyone followed her example and began plating from the mountain of food laid out on the table.
Nadine sat back and smirked at me from across the table. “So, Charlene, have you been seeing anyone lately? I saw Brad the other day. He seemed absolutely distraught. He said he was single again and seemed devastated over what happened between you.”
Adam shifted in his seat and scowled down at his plate.
I cleared my throat. “I’m fine. I’ve had a few dates, but nothing to shout about. And I’m sure Brad will be fine. He usually lands on his feet.”
Gran snorted a laugh. “And I’m sure it won’t be long ‘til some other corporate climbing bimbo lands on his cock.”
My mother choked and coughed as she took a bite of her sandwich. “Mother!”
Gran rolled her eyes. “Oh, please.”
Turning my attention back to Nadine, I grinned wickedly at her. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be just fine.”
She gave me a sympathetic look. “I’m sure you will. Though you must be terribly lonely. After all, it’s just you and that cat in your big apartment.”
I rolled my eyes. “Actually, Adam’s been staying with me.”
Nadine’s eyes darted to him, and she seemed a little … jealous.
“I see.”
My gran nudged my elbow. “I knew it wouldn’t take long for you two to hop on the good foot and do a bad thing.”
I held my hand over my eyes as Adam coughed beside me and sat back in his seat.
“No, Gran. His place was being fumigated.”
She nodded. “And I’m sure you’ve done a terrific job in helping him pitch his tent at your place.”
Oh, this was painful. “Gran!” I snapped. “Please stop.”
It was bad enough that the atmosphere between Adam and I was so tense, I didn’t need my family to make the air between us even thicker.
Inspecting it first, Gran took a large bite of her sausage roll. “You could do a lot worse, Charlene. I mean, he’s smart, successful, caring, and he saved my life. If it weren’t for all his long hours, tireless campaigning for my treatment, and dedication to my case, I wouldn’t be sitting here. That boss of his would have tossed me on the pile. That hospital will lose a great doctor. America is very lucky.”
I stared at her with my mouth wide open.
“What?” she said, staring back at me.
Turning to Adam, I shook my head. “You knew? All this time, all these months, you knew? And you said nothing to me? How could you keep this from me? And America? When did you plan on telling me all of this? After everything we’ve
been through. I just …”
Tears welled in my eyes and feeling the burn of embarrassment in my cheeks, I pushed away from the table and stormed out of the room. I headed for the front door, pulled it open, and rushed outside. I needed air. I could hear Adam yelling after me.
“Charlene! Charlie, wait!”
Turning on my heel, I glared at him with fury. “How could you not tell me? You know how important she is to me! It all makes sense now—the phone call, your stress over work, and your boss. All this time you were telling me that everything was fine. You were lying to me! You have never lied to me in twenty years!”
He held his hands up defensively. “I couldn’t tell you! It’s patient confidentiality. I could have lost my job!”
I marched up to him and shoved him hard on the chest. “You really have such little faith in me? You really think I would have let it cost you your career? Well, now I know exactly where I stand. Don’t I? You’re hiding things from me all the time. My gran, Janine, what else are you hiding? Fucked Dana or Ness? Maybe you have a secret child somewhere. And America? You’re leaving?”
Gripping his hands on my arms, he glared at me. “I have not slept with Ness or Dana, and I don’t have a secret child. I was offered a position working in L.A., but I didn’t tell you because I hadn’t decided whether I would take it or not. I was kind of holding all my hopes on something else. But you made it clear that you and me, we were just for fun.”
He was getting worked up, and I could hear the frustration in his voice. “I don’t know what you want me to do. You made the rules and then got pissy when I actually met someone.”
I huffed at him, tearing myself from his grasp. “I did not get pissy. I was irritated. You could have at least given me a heads up. Or maybe had to common courtesy to wait ‘til I was out of town!”
Diary of a Dieter Page 21
