Chapter 3

Charli

"You know you can't leave him," Patrick said as he squeezed my knee. "I can tell you're upset. I don't know what he did, but you simply can't. It's not allowed."

I twisted the stem of the wine glass, the red liquid swirling within the globe. Thankfully, Cy wasn't home and it was just Patrick and I. "Thanks for letting me borrow your gym shorts and t-shirt."

He laughed. "Besides the fact that you kind of look like they're swallowing you whole, you look cute. I don't often get to see a beautiful woman wearing my clothes."

I looked up through my damp lashes as his words tugged my lips into a small smile. "Beautiful? Yeah, I feel gorgeous right now."

"Well, you've got the too-big clothes going for you, plus the red blotchy thing and puffy eyes. A little snot as you sniffle. Little cousin, you're dazzling."

I sighed. "Can I just stay here for a day or two and figure things out?"