His smirk is evil. “You don’t want this stuff leaking, trust me.”
“You’re not particularly trustworthy, I’m afraid to say. No offense.”
He scowls, jaw clenching, and stands up. “What is this, huh? You think you are a smartass? Clearly, being on your own has messed with your head and I need to fuck some sense back into you. Let’s go.” He reaches for me, but I dodge, vaulting over the armrest. “Charlie. Let’s go. Don’t make a scene.”
Oh, a scene is the least of his problems. “Or what?”
His nostrils flare, annoyance rolling off him. “If you don’t come with me, I will leak that video and ruin you. Be a good little thing and do as I say.”
“Why? So you can keep blackmailing me like you blackmail Axel?”
He clicks his tongue, crossing his arms as he notices some people are staring our way. “I was willing to take you back, you know. If only you’d been good and obedient as you should. But after what you just pulled, you need to be taught a lesson. You’ll take my cock without a word of complaint, or everyone will know what a little slut you are.”
“Hey, asshole,” Ben roars just as I raise my hand to bitchslap that piece of shit.
Andy spins on his heel, eating a very loud and nasty slap to both his cheeks. One from me and one from Ben.
“Rot in jail, because, trust me, you will,” Ben adds, stepping to the side so the two police officers can talk to my ex.
There isn’t really much talking involved. They give him a quick rundown of what he’s being arrested for, citing the video evidence we supplied and the confession he just made that the entire café more or less heard.
“What the fuck?” he aims at me, rage and fury contorting his face. “What the fuck did you do, Charlie? I’ll end you, you hear me? I’m the best thing that happened to your sorry life and this is how you thank me?”
I grin triumphantly, satisfaction coursing through me. “Dream on, asshole. You are going to jail. Kiss your career goodbye , because when you get out, no one will want anything to do with your blackmailing criminal ass.”
He trashes and shit-talks as the police drag him out in handcuffs, the people around recording the whole thing with their phones. Even if he gets off with just a huge fine, the moment this is uploaded online, it’s over for him.
“God, he’s really delusional,” Trish says, hugging me from the side.
I hug her back. “He’ll get what he deserves.”
Ben’s arms drape over my shoulders from behind, his solid warmth like a balm to my agitated psyche. Even though I put that asshole in his place, dealing with him has left me aggravated. “You did good, Charlie. I’m so proud of you.”
I turn around as I shake off Trish and embrace my brother’s best friend. “Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without your help.
“Anytime, babe.”
My brother and friends leave my apartment after dinner. It’s just me and Ben. He’s staying over, or that was the plan, except I’m not so sure anymore because I can’t even look at him without nerves swamping my stomach.
It’s like I’ve reverted to my teenage self, blushing and squirming every time I’m in Ben’s proximity.
“Charlie.” He pats the space on the couch next to where he’s sitting. “What’s wrong?”
I pinch my forearm, frowning. “Nothing?”
He raises an eyebrow. “It’s not nothing. You’ve been pacing for the past ten minutes. Still worried about Andy? I heard from a police officer friend. The evidence is solid and there are some serious allegations already coming in. They’ll probably hold him in jail for at least two years.”
And it’s partly because of this perfect as shit man who’s currently worried about me.
I wave his concern off. “It’s not Andy. That asshole is done for, jail or not.”
“Then what is it?” He stands up and comes over to me, gathering me in his arms.
I melt in his embrace, his big frame enveloping mine. It feels so warm and safe, like my own little heaven.
“If you aren’t feeling like it, we can marathon the RS games some other time? It doesn’t have to be tonight. We could watch a movie instead. We still have half of your Halloween playlist left,” he suggests, his voice vibrating into me through where we are touching.
My heart skips a beat. Mr. Perfect strikes again.
