AGAIN || MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

Charles

Now

I slam the car door shut, my fists pounding against the steering wheel in frustration. 'Damn it, damn it!' I want to scream, but I hold myself back. The last thing I need is for someone to record me losing it outside my ex's house and post it online. That would be a disaster. I can't wrap my head around it, why won't Céline talk to me? Why did she look so terrified, like my presence alone was too much for her to handle? My phone buzzes in the cupholder. It's Alexandra calling for the second time, probably wondering where I am. I let it ring out. Right now, I need to talk to someone who can help me clear my head. Liam. We've grown close over the past year, and he has a knack for talking sense into me. Without hesitating, I dial his number.

'Didn't know you were a morning person!' Liam's voice is cheerful, full of energy. Lucky him, I think. 'I'm screwing everything up. Can I come over?' When Liam opens the door to his penthouse, he's already dressed for the day, despite it being barely past eight in the morning. It's a surprise, he's never been much of a morning person either.

'Well, good morning to you too!' He teases, flashing me a grin. 'I just love seeing you this early, because clearly, we don't spend enough time together already!' His sarcasm is lighthearted, but I can't bring myself to smile. Not after the mess I've made of my morning.

'Please, cut the crap.' I beg him, feeling embarrassed.

'Holy moly. What happened to you? Troubles with Alex?' Now that's a great question. There will definitely be trouble when she finds out about my friendly chat with Céline. 'Ask me again in a few hours. I ditched her to come here.' Liam's eyes widen. He knows her as well as I do. 'You guys were supposed to meet this morning? Why the last-minute planning?' I'm confused now. What does "last-minute planning" mean?

'What? We have breakfast together every Thursday since she works the afternoon shift.' He's wearing a strange expression. There's something he's not telling me, and I'm not sure I want to know what it is.

'Then I'm sorry, but she's being a bitch to Céline!'

I cut him off.

'You don't call her that! Don't you dare ever say that again, Liam!' This conversation is taking an unexpected turn. 'No, listen to me! She's been making things hard for Céline for no reason.' I came with one problem, and now it feels like I'm going to leave with ten more.

'I'm not following. What about Céline?' Liam sighs and sits down next to me on the sofa. This is not going to be an easy conversation. 'She calls her an hour before the opening, forcing her to take the morning shift even though it was supposed to be Alex's. This morning, too.' It doesn't make sense. How could he know what happened to Céline this morning?

Unless. No, that's not a plausible reason.

'How do you know?'

This conversation is not going the way I imagined when I called him for comfort. 'I've heard the call a few times already, to be honest.'

A few times.

Only now does it hit me, I have a boyfriend.

Céline's words echo in my mind. My hands nervously rub the fabric of the jeans I'm wearing. 'Céline was here this morning?' Panic seizes me all at once. That can't be true, she can't still have this effect on me. 'She actually slept here. If you weren't too busy making out with Alex all over the world, I would've already told you!' This confirms my suspicions, and my mind is already imagining the nightmare I'll be living through in the coming months. 'Are you two... together? I can't believe she was talking about you!' He doesn't really need to answer, but I don't give him the chance.