Afterthoughts: A Charity McAdams Novella (The Charity McAdams Novellas) Read Online Free PDF

missed you. ”
    I am mesmerized for a moment by his soothing tone and soft gaze. But a flashback of me sitting in my room crying over an unworn wedding gown is all it takes to snap myself back to reality.
    “You are out of your mind,” I say as I pull myself from his grip. I hoist my purse up higher on my shoulder and push past him and out the doors.
     
    ***
     
    To his credit, Peter catches up to my frantic pace, his rolley suitcase and all. “Is everything ok? Who was that guy?”
    I shake my head, there’ s a lump in my throat and I feel tears building up behind my lashes. “It-uh-it’s not important. I’m fine. Let’s just go.”
    He doesn’t say anything further and follows a few steps behind me.
    We wait at the curb until it’ s safe to cross. There are men in orange reflector jackets out directing traffic and people. I am surprised how busy it seems this time of night, on a Saturday no less.
    Brandon catches up to us a few moments later. “Cherry! Wait up! Please, hear me out. L et this guy take my town car. I have a driver who will take him wherever he wants to go.”
    “Listen, man, I think she’s made it pretty clear she isn’t interested. I think you should maybe back off,” Peter says, he steps between Brandon and me with a hand raised to keep a distance.
    I fee l like I’ m in shock and nothing is making sense anymore.
    “Charity, I’m in town for the next week , if you agree to let me ride with you back to town I p romise I will leave you alone, f orever, if that’s what you want.”
    Brandon has never been p articularly fond of the word “ no ” and it seems that his new life as a high profile celebrity has only made t hat worse. When he sets his sights on something he’ s not going to stop until he gets it. I can’t say it is one of his more attractive qualities, but it is what it is.
    “One night and then you leave me alone?” I repeat.
    “I swear,” he agrees.
    “Fine, let’s go.”
    It takes a few mi nutes to convince Peter that I’ m fine and that Brandon is not some sort of crazy axe murderer. I wait until he get s situated in the town car that had originally been sent for Brandon. He gives me his cell ph one number just in case I need anything. It i s a very sweet gesture but I assure him that everything will be ok.
    I think…
    Brandon follows me to my car , silent for the first time all night.
    Once buckled in the car, I glance at the clock, 8:45, maybe by 11:00 I will be home in bed, where I clearly s hould have stayed this morning.

Chapter Six
    “Alright, you have my attention, start talking,” I prompt as I merge onto the freeway.
    Not even in my weirdest dreams would I have imagined something like t his happening, but now that it’ s in front of me I have to admit I am curious to see what he has to say. It’ s been three years and considering everything that has happened it might as well have been a lifetime since I saw him last. I can still r emember the day though, that final conversation.
    “I know you must hate me Cherry. And I don’t blame you for that. I also know that simply saying that I’m sorry would n ot even begin to cover what I did to you.”
    “I don’t hate you Brandon. I tried to hate you, believe me. I just never could.” I don’ t meet his eyes when I say this, although I can feel his gaze on me. I feel tears brewing too close to the surface and I absolutely refuse to breakdown in front of him.
    “Well you should. I replay the whole thing in my head all the time and even I hate me for it.”
    “Then why did you do it?” My voice is more frantic now and I take a deep breath to steady myself. “Just tell me why.”
    “Truthfully? ” He begins. “ I was scared. I mean, we were so young and I guess I sorta felt trapped.”
    “Trapped?!” My head snaps to face him. “What is that supposed to mean? No one was holding a gun to your head when you proposed!”
    Amazing how so many year s can go by and you think you’ ve healed and