Chapter Twenty-One
We Always Want
What We Can’t Have
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“What the fuck did you do?”
“Look, Harry, I don’t know if you realized this or not, but I’m just going to remind you:Charlotte Anderson is 17 years-old. You’re seven years older than her.”
“You don’t think I’m aware of her age?”
“No, I just think you forgot. She’s still in high school; she doesn’t even have her own car, mate. You can have any woman your age, women who are much prettier than her—so why the bloody hell would you want her?”
“That’s really none of your business. What I want to know is what the hell you told her; she was being such a good girl until you showed up.”
Louis looked appalled by the way I referred to Lottie, but I wasn’t fazed by the look in hiseyes. No, I was furious; I’ve never been this angry before—ever. I was seeing red, and I literally could not think straight.
Lottie was doing so good; she was finally warming up to me. And I didn’t know what Louis told her, but I knew he told her something because she wouldn’t have ran off like that if he hadn’t.
She was being so good…
“Louis,” I growled, turning my gaze to his. “What did you tell her?”
“I told her the truth.” Louis replied solemnly. “I told her what she needed to hear.”
“What did you tell her?”
“Harry, don’t you think it’s sick to do that to a teenage girl? You forced her into it by threatening her mum’s job! Don’t you see how insane that is? How cruel? There’s no way you could possibly care for her if you could do that; she thought you cared about her, mate.”
I froze. She thought…I cared about her? And he told her I didn’t?
She…did that mean that she cared about me? Was that why she ran off—because she was hurt when she heard I didn’t care about her?
Quietly, I asked, “Why would you tell her that?”
Louis groaned, “Oh please don’t tell me you actually believe you care about her, because you don’t. If you did care about her—which you don’t—then you would have never have gone after her the way you did.”
“I was doing so well,” I whispered, staring down at my hands.
“What? You were doing well at what? Manipulating her? Making her think you cared?” Louis’ eyes flashed with anger now. “It’s not right to do that to anyone, Harry. Of all people, I’d think you’d know this.”
