Can walk away from any temptation
Luther' Pov
I slammed my hand against the steering wheel, the sharp sting a poor punishment for what I’d just done.
“What the hell is wrong with me?” I muttered, dragging both hands down my face. My heart was racing, my chest tight, and not from anything noble. It was guilt, heavy and unforgiving.
For years, I prided myself on keeping a tight grip on my desires. I could walk away from any temptation without a second thought. But today? One slip. One moment of weakness. And I’d crossed a line that should’ve never been in sight. I stared at the dashboard, hoping the silence would calm the chaos inside me. It didn’t.
Then my phone buzzed. Stanley’s name lit up the screen. Of course. I let it ring once… twice… then picked up, trying to mask the mess in my voice. “Hey.”
“Luther. Hope I’m not catching you at a bad time?” he asked politely. Always thoughtful. Always calm. Everything I wasn’t right now.
“No, I’m good,” I lied, wiping sweat from my brow. “What’s up?”
“Charlotte’s got my car and her mum’s taken the other. I need a lift to the office in two hours. Big client coming in.”
Perfect timing. Just what I needed, an escape wrapped up in responsibility.
“Yeah… sure. I’m at the cabin but I’ll be there soon,” I said, not technically lying. I had stopped by earlier, before everything went to hell. As I drove toward his fiancée’s place, I tried to pull myself together. My thoughts raced as I circled the neighbourhood, stalling in a quiet park before heading in. The last thing I needed was to see her again, not with everything still so raw. When I finally arrived, Stanley greeted me at the door.
“That was quick,” he said.
“I was nearby,” I replied, forcing my face into something that looked like a smile.
He looked at me for a beat too long. “You okay?”
I stood stiff, my hands in my pockets. “Yeah.”
“Girl problems?” he asked, half-joking.
I closed my eyes for a second, steadying my breath. “Not really. Just a long day.”
“We can sit down for a bit if you want,” he offered gently.
“No. Let’s head out. I have somewhere I need to be,” I said, almost begging him to let it go.
But he didn’t move. “You’re carrying something, Luther. I won’t push, but when you’re ready to talk, I’ll be here. You’ve always had my back, and I’ve got yours.”
The guilt tightened in my gut. He had no idea just how deep the betrayal ran. Just as we turned toward the door, I heard tires on the driveway. Her car. I looked up, and there she was, Charlotte, stepping out in a hoodie too big for her frame. She kept her head down, eyes avoiding mine like I was a stranger. But I saw the redness in her eyes. The puffiness. The pink around her nose.
She’d been crying. And still, she smiled at Stanley like nothing had happened. Like her world hadn’t just collided with mine in the worst way possible. I stood frozen in place, the weight of everything we’d done pressing on my chest like a boulder. This wasn’t just a mistake. This was a storm waiting to hit, and none of us would come out clean.
“I thought you’d be out all day,” Stanley said as she walked up to us. “That’s why I asked my brother to pick me up.”
Her eyes stayed glued to Stanley. Not once did she look my way.
“I didn’t want to bother you,” she said, handing him his car keys. “Besides, I feel a bit better now.”
“Thanks, I really needed that.” Stanley smiled, and she gave him one in return, but I could tell it was forced. Her lips curved, but her eyes remained flat, tired. It was the kind of smile people gave when they were trying too hard to seem fine. My chest tightened just looking at her.
I stayed silent, forcing myself not to think about last night, how her hands had gripped me, how her breath had hitched. It had happened, and now it needed to be buried like it meant nothing.
“I’m going to freshen up and grab something to eat,” she said quietly and walked past me, carefully avoiding eye contact like I was some stranger she couldn’t bear to see. Stanley didn’t stop her or mention that he was about to leave. And I… I just stood there, staring at where she’d just been. My thoughts ran wild when I noticed her hoodie. It wasn’t hers. My stomach knotted. Had she gone to another man after I left?
“She was right there,” Stanley said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Why didn’t the two of you even say hello?”
“I didn’t want to interrupt. You two were talking.” It was a weak excuse, but I hoped it would do.
“Well, now that I’ve got my car back, you don’t need to drive me anywhere.” He paused. “But maybe you should stay and talk to Charlotte.”
My pulse skipped. “Why would I do that?” I asked, sliding my hands into my pockets.
“There’s clearly tension between you two,” he said, folding his arms. “And that’s strange, considering you were the one who convinced her to give her mum and me a chance.”
I looked down at my phone, pretending to check something.
“Look, Luther. I need things to work out with her mother. And that’s hard to do if you and Charlotte are acting like strangers. She’ll be my stepdaughter soon, and you’re going to see more of her. A lot more.”
I wiped my brow, trying not to snap. He had no idea what he was pushing me into.
“I get it,” I muttered.
“Then talk to her.”
“I told you, I have somewhere I need to be.”
“You’re lying.” His voice turned serious. “Did she say something when you two spoke in the backyard the other day? Because I noticed you weren’t the same afterward.”
I turned away, dragging a hand down my face. I couldn’t let him keep digging.
“I’ll talk to her,” I said quickly, just to shut him up.
He smiled, clapped me on the shoulder, and walked toward his car. I waited, hoping he’d drive off so I could sneak away to mine. But he didn’t move, just leaned against the door, watching me. He wasn’t going anywhere until I stepped inside. So I turned, gritted my teeth, and pushed the door open. I only meant to stand just inside, pretend I was going to talk to her, and slip out as soon as Stanley was gone. But luck didn’t take my side.
The door clicked shut behind me, and then I heard it, her throat clearing from somewhere behind me. I turned slowly. Charlotte stood a few steps away, arms crossed, eyes locked on me like she’d been holding in a storm. And I knew, without a doubt, that I was about to get hit with all of it.
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