Rob blinked. Slowly and with intent. “No,” he said flatly.
“Oh, okay.” Nick looked around the room, patting the arm of his chair and touching a toe to the coffee table, seemingly developing a sudden interest in the furnishings.
“I’d like to follow up on something Marc mentioned,” Rob said. “About the door that’s remained locked. On Charley’s side, anyway. Let me ask what you think, Bill.” He turned to the marriage counselor on the panel of experts. “Though Charley says she is over the romance with Nick, that she has all the closure she needs, is it possible that a part of her is still holding on to something that makes her afraid of intimacy with Marc?”
“It is entirely possible,” Bill responded. “From what I’m able to determine, she indulged a crush on Nick and experienced consequences. Fairly severe consequences.” He cleared his throat. “One might even say he used her for his own purposes. If it’s true that he wasn’t a good fit for the job, he may well have seen sleeping with the boss as a way of deflecting attention. That can’t feel good for Charley.”
Finally, Charley thought, someone was seeing through Nick. Even if it wasn’t HR, it counted. Although she didn’t much like the way Bill characterized her. She shifted in her chair, uncomfortable.
“I don’t use people,” Nick muttered.
“If she associates sex with those bad feelings,” Bill went on, “then certainly that could carry through to another relationship.”
“Ahhh,” said Marc, nodding his head.
He didn’t get to agree. He knew nothing about it. Any negative feelings associated with her and Nick having sex would also be associated with the fact that Nick was as self-absorbed in bed as he was out of it. Not that she would say that on national TV.
“Right?” Rob said to Marc. “I think we may be on to something here.”
Nick looked from Bill to Marc and then to Rob, nodding his head, as well.
Oh, please.
“Charley,” Rob said, his tone now an irritatingly gentle one that scraped against the last iota of goodwill she had for him. “I think we should talk this through.”
“Do you, Rob?” she asked. “Do you really?”
“Yes.” He nodded, setting off yet another round of head bobs in the assembled group. All except Brooklyn, who looked as though she’d rather be anywhere else. “We’re trying to help you, Charley. Remove any obstacles in your relationship with your perfect match.”
“When sex carries baggage you’re not aware of,” chimed in Dr. K., “it can interfere with an experience that is meant to be like none other, even causing performance issues and possibly preventing full orgasmic achievement.”
“I’ve always been a high achiever,” Charley commented, her voice rising. “That hasn’t changed.”
Rob looked at her sadly. “Are you using humor to try to deflect from the real issue?”
Every face turned to her. Charley’s chest tightened and her muscles began to quiver. “Oh for God’s sake. Even if I am carrying baggage, which I’m not saying I am, it didn’t roll itself on into the bedroom. I just had the best sex I’ve ever had, here at this house.”
Rob froze. Bill and Dr. K. turned to look at each other. Brooklyn waved her fist in the air with a quiet, “Yay.” Addie began smiling her approval and then stopped, appearing confused. Nick muttered, “Fine,” obviously upset he hadn’t left Charley with lasting scars.
Marc’s cheeks went from normal to pink to red in the space of a few seconds. “How is that possible?” he asked tightly. “Because it sure as hell wasn’t sex with me.”
Oh. No. Do not look at Luke. Do not look at him. If you do, everyone will know who you had sex with. He’ll get fired. It took every bit of willpower she could muster, but she kept her eyes focused only on Rob while her heart thumped loudly in her ears.
“Charley?” he asked. “Care to explain?”
All she could come up with was, “Maybe I was mistaken.”
Luke couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. His career flashed before his eyes. It had been a nice ride, but it would be over as soon as Jonathan found out.
Another part of him argued for dwelling on the fact that she’d called the sex the best she’d ever had. A rush of pleasure went through him, along with a fresh batch of regret that he’d ever left Charley in the first place. Who knew where they could have been now if he’d been able to stick things out?
But that was just stupid. If anyone knew how wrong a relationship could go in a hurry, it was Luke. He’d grown up worshipping a weekend father who had done and said all the right things, but in truth, loved money and pretty faces more than he did his own kids.
You couldn’t trust people to be who they said they were. You just couldn’t.
“Luke.”
With a start, he realized that Tasha, now standing next to him, had been trying to get his attention.
“Sorry. What?” He turned to Tasha, grateful for a reason not to look at Charley, who was now unsuccessfully trying to backpedal.
“What, you ask?” Tasha repeated. “What? We have a contestant who has just admitted to sleeping with someone who is not the match our experts picked out for her. Sleeping with that someone while she is on our show. I think that’s sort of a problem, don’t you?”
Jen appeared on the other side of Luke, fear in her eyes. “Jonathan’s going to freak.”
“She said she made a mistake,” Luke tried.
“A mistake.” Tasha shook her head. “She dreamt that she had the best sex of her life? Right. She so got laid. And if it wasn’t Marc, who was it?”
Luke remained silent as Rob asked Charley basically the same thing. “How could you be mistaken about something like that?” Rob wondered. “You either did or you didn’t.”
“That’s true, isn’t it,” Charley agreed. “But let’s get back to Nick, which is why we’re here.”
“Nice,” Tasha whispered, with what sounded like grudging admiration. “She could be a politician.”
Maybe, but Luke had heard the tremor in Charley’s voice. Small, but there.
Charley turned to face Nick. “Rob, you said you think I’m not over him, but I can assure you I am. I’m looking at him and I feel nothing. Not one thing. Even physical attraction is gone.”
“Hey,” Nick protested. “You don’t have to be mean.”
“Just stating the facts. They want to know.”
“How about when you look at me?” Marc challenged.
Charley smiled at him. “Now that’s a whole different story.”
Marc pressed his lips together tight, but couldn’t suppress his smile.
He was an okay guy, Luke thought. He just wasn’t Charley’s guy. And she was lying to his face. He hoped so, anyway.
“I think we’re going to take a break now,” Rob said. “And when we come back, well, I’m not too sure what will happen when we come back, but I am sure you won’t want to miss it.”
Burt yelled cut; Rob called for makeup; the experts moved restlessly in their chairs and Tasha turned to Luke. “Was it you? The one she slept with?”
“Him?” Jen asked. “Why would it be Luke?”
Luke’s gaze was even. “I’m a producer on this show.”
“Not what I asked you.”
“Crap,” Jen said. “I’m so confused.”
“I have to talk with my couple,” Luke said, “make sure they’re good. We’ve got Marc’s ex standing by for the next segment. Let’s move on.”
Tasha grabbed his arm. “Don’t fuck this up for yourself. Or her.”
“I’m not.”
She released her hold and he made his way to Charley and Marc, who were standing and talking to each other. “Sometimes I say things without thinking. I was so upset when I saw Nick, I didn’t want him to think—” She broke off when she saw Luke and looked down at her feet.
“What didn’t you want him to think?” Marc asked.
“That he could affect me any more.” Her hair covered her cheeks. “He put me through hell.”
Luke’s hand tightened into a fist. That little prick.
Marc’s expression cleared. “I get it. So you made up something to get back at him.”
“Sure,” Charley answered. She looked up at Marc, but not at Luke.
Nick strolled over to the group, hands in his pockets. “Wanted to say good-bye, I guess. That Rob guy says that you’re next.” He pointed at Marc. “So I’m outta here.”
Marc paled.
Nick leaned toward Charley, clearly intent on kissing her on the cheek.
She drew back. “What the hell?”
“Thought we could still be friends. No hard feelings.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Friends. I don’t think so. But you go ahead and have all the hard feelings you want.”
“Whatever.” Nick strode away.
They all watched him for a minute and then Luke took over. “Marc, you ready?”
“I guess.” He scratched at the back of his neck. He wasn’t ready. Luke guessed the guy had started to figure out how the show worked.
Welcome to the world of reality TV. As if winning $150,000 would ever come without a whole lot of pain.
When they’d reassembled, Charley felt a stab of sympathy for Marc, who was dragging his palms down his pants leg and eyeing the exit sign. He had been moved to the hot seat she’d occupied, while she was able to sit farther away from the action.
She would have wondered what he was so worried about if she hadn’t still been reeling from what had happened during her segment. Nick. Of all the people to show up. The only bright side to the whole debacle was that she’d realized she truly didn’t have any feelings for him anymore. Not anger, not attraction.
She just wanted him to go away.
Rob’s oily smile and perfect hair were back in place. Burt called for action and Rob looked into the camera lens. “We learned quite a bit about Charley a few minutes ago,” he said, raising one eyebrow. “Now it’s Marc’s turn.”
He turned his body to face Charley’s match. “Marc, we understand that your last relationship was difficult for you to let go of.”
Charley stole a look at Marc. His expression was unreadable, but the tips of his ears had begun to turn pink.
“That’s not true,” Marc said.
Rob appeared flummoxed by a challenge so quickly, but recovered his composure to turn his attention to the panel. “I’d like our experts here to give their opinions on what can happen when a relationship goes on longer than intended, but then it turns out the desire to continue it is one-sided.” He slid a glance at Marc. “In other words, one person refuses to let go, even when it’s clear the other is no longer interested.”
Marriage counselor Bill Stanhope spoke up first. “In my experience, that lack of resolution could translate in one of two ways for the person who wanted to continue with the relationship. Either a quick rebound to a relationship that is less than ideal, or a feeling of failure that carries into future relationships. Neither is good.”
Or, thought Charley, the person figures out that the relationship was never going anywhere, reconciles to the breakup, and goes on having learned something.
Dr. K. was next to agree with Bill. “Once again, Rob, I would say that this lack of resolution and subsequent feeling of futility can easily translate to the most intimate part of a future relationship—the bedroom.” He shook his head sadly.
Charley saw Marc’s body stiffen and wanted to punch Dr. K.
“Well, I think that’s all horseshit,” Ask-Me-Anything-Addie contributed.
Rob blinked. “What was that, Addie?”
“So the guy loved the gal more than she did him.” Addie rolled her eyes. “It happens. Doesn’t mean he won’t pick himself up and move on. I mean, he’s here, so he clearly did.”
Marc let out a huge, noisy breath. “Yes. Thank you.”
“Brooklyn?” Rob asked. “Your thoughts.”
The psychic drew her brows together, concentrating. “You know, I don’t see this past relationship having a negative impact on his life. I can’t yet tell what impact it does have, but I don’t read it as a necessarily bad thing.”
Rob Smiley turned to the camera lens. “It appears as though we have divided opinions on this one. The only way to fully understand the truth is to reunite this former couple and ask both of them.” He raised his left hand. “Mila, would you please join us?”
Marc laid his hand on his forehead as a young woman entered the room. She was tall and graceful, with long dark hair and a shy smile. She wore an outfit Charley lusted after on sight–black skinny pants, a silk black-and-white striped top with cap sleeves, and a statement gold watch and earrings. The overall effect was classic.
She sat in the chair between Charley and Marc but kept her eyes straight ahead, not looking at either of them.
“Mila is Marc’s former girlfriend,” Rob explained. “As we understand it, their breakup was far from mutual. Would you agree with at least that statement, Marc?”
He nodded. His jaw was clenched so tight, Charley became concerned he might break a tooth. Sympathy for him stabbed at her. He must have really loved this woman.
“And why was that?” Rob asked.
It took Marc a moment to unlock his jaw and answer. “She thought I cheated on her. I didn’t. I wouldn’t do that.”
Charley believed him. He was an accountant. Anyone who spent that much time with numbers didn’t go outside the lines. Yeah, bullshit, everyone goes outside the lines, but she believed him anyway.
“Could that be the reason you refused to end the relationship when she told you it was over?”
Hold on. A possible dark side. She leaned forward, listening intently.
Mila brushed her hair back over her right shoulder and stared down at the floor.
The redness at the tips of Marc’s ears moved to his face. “I did not want our relationship to end because of a lie. A lie her best friend told her.” He turned to Mila, who still refused to look at him. “I kept asking to see you because I hoped you would understand what had really happened. Yes, I called. And texted you. And came over to your place. It was that important.”
Dr. K. and Bill murmured to each other, which ended with Dr. K. shaking his head. Brooklyn’s eyes went from Marc to Mila and back again. Addie tipped her chin to one side, studying Marc.
Rob turned to the experts. “I see opinions forming. Or maybe questions. I’m not sure which. Bill, tell us what you’re thinking.”
“Unwanted attention is never a good thing,” the marriage counselor said. “Clearly, she was ready to end things. Marc couldn’t accept that.”
Clearly? Charley thought there could be a whole lot here that wasn’t clear.
“Wait a minute,” Brooklyn said. “I think he’s telling the truth.”
Mila’s head popped up.
“Based on facts or what you ‘see’?” asked Dr. K. He raised his fingers to put the last word in air quotes.
Pompous ass, thought Charlie.
“Hey,” Addie warned him. “Play nice.”
“Now, now.” Rob’s voice pitched higher as his smile flickered and disappeared. “Each expert is on the panel for a reason.” He made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a snort. “We actually have another guest to help sort this situation out so that Marc can leave it behind for good and move into his ideal relationship.” He gestured toward the door. “Sam, will you now join us, please?”
As the camera moved to record the entrance of yet another woman, a stagehand brought in a chair that he slid next to Marc.
This woman had short blonde hair, long legs barely covered by a too-short dress and the worst resting bitch face Charley had ever seen.
Mila put a hand to her throat. “Sam. You didn’t tell me you’d be here.”
Marc scowled. “Of course she didn’t.”
“Samantha is Mila’s best friend,” Rob said. “The one who told Mila that Marc made a pass at her. That he wanted to sleep with her and wouldn’t stop trying to ge
t her into bed.”
Charley’s jaw dropped. Marc going after this woman? She didn’t see it. At all.
Samantha spoke up. “For a while I tried to brush it off, but I couldn’t not tell my best friend what her boyfriend was trying to do. And then, afterward, when he was practically stalking her to get her to come back to him…it was pretty clear what he was really like. Mila finally saw what I’d been telling her.” She crossed her legs, grasping her knee. “You weren’t good for Mila,” she said to Marc. “You tried to keep her from her friends.”
Uh-oh, Charley thought. Not looking good for Marc.
“Only one friend,” Marc responded, his voice tight. “You. Because you didn’t want anyone else to have her attention. She had to be available when you snapped your fingers. You’re the one who isn’t good for her.”
Samantha rolled her eyes and shook her head. “That’s pretty low. Mila knows better. Ask her.”
Marc turned to Mila, who had begun fidgeting with the watch on her wrist, turning it first one way and then the other. Charley saw his gaze soften when he looked at her. “How could you believe her over me?”
“We’ve been friends since third grade. I’d known you for less than a year.”
His shoulders slumped. “And she was there for you when you were a kid and your mom died. You told me that and I get it. I think it’s great that you’re so loyal.” He took her hand. She let him.
They were witnessing a tender and personal moment. When Rob interjected, Charley gave a start.
“Marc, the purpose of this session is to help you move past all that happened with Mila, so that you can start over fresh in a new relationship. Do you feel as though you’ve had some resolution of the past today by having one more chance to talk with Mila?”
Marc remained where he was, looking into the eyes of his former girlfriend. “I did not make a pass at Samantha, or anyone else, while we were together,” he said to her. “I hope someday you’ll believe that.”
“I—I don’t know that I can.”
“Don’t let loyalty blind you, Mila. If she did this to you once, she’ll do it again,” he said quietly. “And I want you to be happy.”
Charley caught a glimpse of Mila’s eyes, filled with confusion and pain.
Kiss and Confess (Love Unscripted Book 1) Page 12