Her lips twitch. “She’s feisty and strong.”

  My brows pull together. “So are you. It’s in you, Charlotte. But never forget who you are either. Sometimes the strongest people we know are the quietest.”

  “I don’t know who I am anymore,” she whispers.

  “When you remember, the game changes,” I tell her.

  She tilts her head up, her lips parting in wonder.

  “So, this is why you aren’t answering your phone.”

  I jump, glancing away from Charlotte. “Mum! What are you doing here?”

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHARLOTTE

  Mum?

  I get to my feet, and close my jacket when she runs her gaze over me, her lip curling. Or at least, I think it was. Her lips look a little… stiff. There’s no movement at all. On any of her face. Yet, she doesn’t need to have movement there. Her eyes say it all.

  Freaky.

  She turns to her son. “I came because you have been ignoring my calls.”

  He rubs the back of his neck. “I’ve been busy.”

  Her gaze runs back over me distastefully. “I can see that.”

  “Mum, this is Charlotte. Charlotte, this is my mum, Grace Wyatt.”

  I reach out to shake her hand, giving her my best smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  She looks from my hand to her son. “Why haven’t you gotten back to me? This is an important day for your sister and I’ll not have you ruining it for her. The least you can do is answer the phone when I call you.”

  Well, okay.

  “Jesus, Mum. I said I was going to be there. Alice knows I’m coming. She isn’t worried.”

  She narrows her eyes into slits. “Alison is too shy to say anything to you. We have important people coming to this wedding.”

  Drew groans. “And I’ll be there.”

  “Then why did you miss your tux fitting?”

  “Because I’m not wearing a tux. I’ve got a suit.”

  She gasps, placing her hand on her chest. “You most certainly will not,” she hisses.

  “Mum, Alice knows and is okay with it. I’m not a best man, I’m not walking her down the aisle, I’m literally like any other guest. She doesn’t care.”

  “We have an image to uphold, young man. I’ll not have you prancing around wearing a suit on your sister’s wedding day.”

  Maybe I should go.

  “She doesn’t care,” he bites out, pinching the bridge of his nose.

  “Yes, she does,” she tells him, before reaching into her bag. She pulls out a card and hands it to him. “The tailor is waiting to hear from you.”

  He shoves it into his pocket. “I’m wearing a suit.”

  “You will wear a tux,” she orders. “But that isn’t the only reason I’m here. You still haven’t confirmed your date. We need to know her name.” When she turns to me, I shrivel under the look she’s sending my way and take a step closer to Drew.

  His mum is mean.

  “And I guess this is the one,” she drawls out, her lip curling. “This won’t do.”

  “Oh, I’m—”

  Drew’s arm goes around my shoulders and I stiffen. “Yes, she’s my date to the wedding, Mum. Now, I’m going to respectfully ask you to leave.”

  She scoffs. “Because she’s here? She’s got to meet us if you continue to think you’re bringing her to your sister’s wedding.”

  I hold my hand up to interrupt. “I’m—”

  “Why do you need to be like this? Next you are going to ask me to take out my gauge,” he argues.

  I like the gauge in his ear. It isn’t much thicker than a regular earring hole, certainly not huge like many I have seen.

  Her face reddens. “Andrew Harvey, do not make this day difficult for her.”

  “For you, you mean?” he snaps back, his arm sliding off my shoulder.

  I take a step back, fiddling with my fingers. “I’m going to, um, go.”

  “No,” he tells me, before turning to his mum. “We were talking.”

  “I’m your mother.”

  I fiddle with my fingers. “You’re busy and I—”

  “Just give me a minute,” he tells me, and I nod, picking up my bag and stepping away.

  “Why must you be difficult all the time?” Grace snaps.

  “Mum, I’m an adult now. You can’t tell me how to dress, and I won’t have you telling me who I can date.”

  “Eloise is a bright girl. She’ll be—”

  “A bitch the entire night.”

  I step into another room at her gasp and marvel at the empty space that has mirrored walls. I twirl around in a circle, watching my reflection do the same.

  This is so cool.

  I wonder if this is the room he teaches self-defence classes in. I can’t speak for everyone, but it would be a little awkward staring at yourself whilst trying to fend off an attacker.

  My gaze shoots to the door when their voices begin to rise. I pull my phone out and bite my lip. I can’t message my family about what just happened. It would be shared within their next breath and I’m not sure what’s going on.

  Charlotte: I think I just got asked on a date.

  Harriet: I left you, what, forty minutes ago? How did that happen?

  Charlotte: I’m not actually sure. His mum came in being all scary and the next thing I know, he says I’m his date to a wedding. But he’s not asked me. Did I give him the wrong impression?

  Harriet: I’m lost. So lost. More details.

  Charlotte: I think I’ve given him the wrong impression because he sounded desperate. No one is ever desperate to go on a date with me.

  Harriet: DETAILS!!

  Hearing footsteps approach and noticing the yelling is no longer happening, I quickly type out a reply.

  Charlotte: I’ll call later. He’s coming back.

  I manage to get my phone back into my bag when he finds me. I straighten, my pulse racing.

  “Look, I’m flattered and all, but I think you’ve got the wrong impression. Coming here was for self-defence classes. Not a date,” I tell him, giving him a sad smile. “I mean, it’s not because you aren’t handsome, you are, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to date again. No, I know I’m not. I don’t think. I’ve never been in this situation and meeting your family? Gosh, that is too soon.”

  He bursts out laughing and my shoulders slump. “Charlotte, calm down. My mum has been on my back about bringing a date to my sister’s wedding. I only said it to get rid of her.”

  That makes a lot more sense. I shuffle on my feet, as my cheeks heat.

  “So, you aren’t taking a date?”

  He rubs the back of his neck. “If I don’t want her to try to set me up with the devil then yeah, I’ll need to, but I hadn’t planned on it.”

  My eyes widen. “The devil?”

  “A family friend,” he explains.

  He looks revolted at the thought. And I kind of feel bad for going on at him now. Here he is doing this incredibly nice thing and I basically told him he isn’t good enough.

  “I’ll go,” I blurt out. “I love weddings.”

  His eyes widen and he begins to choke. “What?”

  I pull on the sleeves of my jacket. “Well, you need a date, and it’s the least I can do since you’ve been helping me.”

  “Charlotte, it’s fine.”

  “No. I’ll go. Plus, you’ve told her I am now.”

  He mulls it over then nods. “She might leave me alone if it is you I bring.”

  My nose twitches. “Why?”

  “Because I’m not really good with girlfriends. I’ve only had a few.”

  I blush. “Well, I can pretend to be your girlfriend. I think.” I pause, tapping my chin. “My family do say I’m the worst actress so it might not actually work.”

  He chuckles. “You’d really do this for me?” he asks, seeming surprised.

  I shrug. “Yes. It’s not like you’re interested in me like that.”

  He glances away. “Of course not.”

  “Just let me know when and where and I’ll be there.”

  He clears his throat. “Um, there’s not just the wedding. There’s the rehearsal dinner. It’s something formal my family do, and then there’s the engagement party next weekend.”

  “Um, that’s a lot of stuff for a wedding.”

  He nods. “And she wants me to sleep over for the actual wedding. So, it will be a two-night stay.”

  I gulp, wondering what I have gotten myself into. “That’s okay. I can get a cat sitter.”

  His lips twitch. “Are you really sure?”

  “I am.”

  He groans and runs a hand over his face. “Fuck! Landon is going to kill me.”

  I wave him off. “He’ll be fine once he hears it’s not real. And he’s your friend. He doesn’t hurt his friends.”

  He looks at me like I’m crazy. I’m used to that look. “If you say so.”

  “What is this room?” I blurt out, needing to change the subject.

  “I’m not sure yet. I’ve never filled it.”

  An idea forms in my head. “What do you think of strippers?”

  He begins to choke, and bends forward, banging his chest. “What?”

  “My friends, they need somewhere to train and this would be perfect,” I tell him, taking a look around. “It just needs a few poles.”

  “Um.”

  “And you could keep them in here. A lot of women use pole dancing to exercise. It could bring in more clientele.” When he continues to stare, I begin to feel self-conscious. “What? Do I have something on my face?”

  “You want me to let strippers come and practice? In here?”

  I nod, wondering if I was clear enough. “I’m sure they’ll even pay you for the space. Or you could ask if they will teach a few classes for you.” I shrug. “It’s an idea. It’s not my gym.”

  “And these are your friends?”

  I beam. “Yes. You’ll like them. They’re lovely.”

  “Let me run it by Landon. I can’t see why not and your idea about teaching classes might come in handy. They could do it in exchange for the cost of rent for the room.”

  I clap my hands together, jumping up and down. His gaze drifts down to my chest. “Thank you. Thank you.”

  “I’ve not said yes yet,” he warns. “Landon now owns a percentage of the company.”

  I wave him off. “He’s their friend too.” Sort of.

  “Landon has stripper friends?” he chokes out, his lips twitching in amusement.

  “Yeah. Kind of,” I tell him, then a thought occurs to me. “Unless you’re only saying this because you don’t want to say no to my face. It won’t upset me. Well, a little, but only because I don’t want that Trixie working them into the ground with crappy dance routines. She just wants to keep all the tips. But if you say no— and you can say no— I’ll just find them somewhere else.”

  He chuckles, shaking his head. “Let me talk to Landon. And then we will set a meeting up with your friends.”

  “This is so exciting. I’d love to be able to learn to dance on the pole,” I tell him, then chuckle at the reminder. “I tried once and it ended badly. The manager who owns Tease got my foot in his face and I landed on a bunch of tables. It hurt.”

  His eyes bug out. “You stripped?”

  I shake my head. “Just once. And I kept my clothes on. I just wanted the experience, you know?”

  “Can’t say I do.”

  I eye his physique. “I’m not sure if you’d be able to do it. You’re so tall.”

  “Um, I’m good,” he tells me, his lips twitching.

  “So, where do you want me now?”

  “What?”

  I gesture to the door. “The class.”

  “Um, I think we should call it a night, but if you’re free this time next week, we can pick up on the next step.”

  “When will you be doing the group ones?” I ask.

  “Let’s get you taught first,” he tells me. “But if you want to join, they are on a Sunday night.”

  “I’ll come on Thursday and work my way up to Sunday. If you want me to help teach it, then it might be best for me to know what I’m doing first.”

  “Yeah,” he rasps, glancing away.

  “And the wedding— I’ll message you my number later,” I tell him, grabbing my bag. “I guess I should go.”

  “Charlotte?” he calls out when I take a step to leave.

  “Yeah?”

  “Don’t forget to talk to your mum, and family.”

  My shoulders slump. “I won’t.”

  “And I want you to stand in front of the mirror each morning and night, and say, ‘I’m worth it’ three times.”

  My brows bunch together. “Why?”

  His expression softens and his lips pull up into a smile. “Because one day you’ll stand in front of that mirror and you won’t need to say it. You’ll see and feel what everyone else around you knows.”

  “And what’s that?” I whisper, my heart racing.

  “That you are worth it. That you’re special.”

  I’m stuck for words, my throat tightening with emotion. I continue to stare at him, my eyes welling with tears.

  That’s… I don’t have any words.

  “I should go,” I whisper.

  His eyes widen. “Shit, let me grab my keys.”

  “Huh?”

  “I’m taking you home, remember?”

  I laugh. I forgot about that bit of information. “I’ll be fine walking.”

  He waves me off. “Not a chance. I’m heading home now anyway,” he explains.

  “Okay,” I reply, pushing my bag further up my shoulder.

  I wait for him to finish turning everything off and follow him outside. The wind is chilly tonight and I tug my jacket together, warding off the chill.

  A blush rises over my cheeks when he holds the door for me. “Thank you.”

  I take a seat, tucking my bag down by my feet. He folds into the car and turns to me. “I’m sorry about my mum tonight. I know she can be full on.”

  “Have you met my family?” I tease, not wanting him to feel bad. “They can be a little full on.”

  “Yeah, but in a crazy good way,” he murmurs.

  “How come your relationship is strained?”

  He pulls out but I see him glance at me briefly. “I’m a disappointment to her.”

  “I’m sure that’s not true.”

  He chuckles dryly. “No, it really is. She wants me to be something I’m not.”

  “And who is that?” I ask, watching him closely.

  He has really nice lips.

  And a deep, husky voice.

  “Someone who makes more money than they could ever need in a lifetime. She wants me to be this upstanding citizen and I’m not. I’m not someone who kisses someone’s arse to get further in my career. Who she wants me to be is not who I am.”

  “And who are you?” I whisper, shifting in my seat.

  “Someone who swears a lot, likes getting tattoos, and loves running my gym. I prefer a beer at the pub rather than a glass of champagne at a charity or family event. I prefer paving my own way but it’s not good enough for her. I’m not good enough. She’s constantly trying to mould me into the son she always wanted.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with who you are,” I tell him as he pulls onto my street. “Don’t drive up my street. It’s hard to do a turn around.”

  He pulls up outside Lily’s, blocking her driveaway. “Try telling that to my mum.”

  “Is that why you never answered her calls?”

  “Yeah,” he admits. “My sister who is getting married is great and is fine with what I want to fucking wear or not wear. Mum is just being difficult.”

  I’m not sure what to say. I have empathy for him, but I can’t relate. My family are nothing like his. I’m not saying none of them can be mean, because they can, but they’re never mean to family.

  Unless you count the time Hayden shaved off Liam’s eyebrows the night before his first date.

  “I’m sure it will work out.”

  “You really don’t need to come to the wedding.”

  “If you don’t want me to, I won’t, but I honestly do not mind. It will be nice to get away from everyone’s concerned stares.”

  “Okay, thank you.”

  I push open the door but then stop, turning back to him. “As hard as it is, don’t let her change who you are, don’t become what she needs. Because there are people who need the real you. She might not see it, but I do.”

  His brows pull together. “You don’t know me.”

  “I don’t need to,” I tell him, pushing the door open further. I get out and duck my head back into the car. “If you hadn’t been you, I wouldn’t have gotten to my family that night. I wouldn’t be attending self-defence classes.” I pause, hoping he hears the truth in my words. “My uncle is always telling us: ‘change the game, don’t let the game change you’. And he’s right.”

  “He is?”

  I nod, but then frown. “Unless it applies to Monopoly. That game has started wars within our family.”

  His lips twitch. “Thank you, Charlotte.”

  “Thank you for tonight and for bringing me home.”

  “Goodbye.”

  “See you soon,” I tell him, shutting the door.

  Maybe self-defence classes really will be good for me.

  I already feel empowered.

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHARLOTTE

  Warmth trickles down my arm as I quickly rush to the kitchen, grabbing some kitchen roll. I press it to the scratch, biting my lip at the sting.

  “It’s okay, Katnip. We will get through this,” I cry out. “I promise.”

  She had been asleep in the bathroom sink and I reached for my hairbrush on the side behind her.

  I moved too quickly.

  So stupid.

  By now, I should have learned not to make any sudden movements, catch her off guard, or move my feet under the bedsheet.

  Or go anywhere near her.

  “It’s a work in progress,” I mumble to myself, just as the doorbell goes off. I head down the hall, knowing it’s Mum waiting to take me shopping.

  And to get a new dress now I have an engagement party to attend. I hadn’t told anyone about it yet, other than Harriet, but only because I couldn’t believe I actually offered to do it.