The Accidental Almost Kiss with my Ex's Uncle

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V. Lydia grumbled under her breath as she shoved the hotel keycard into the slot for the third time. The light flashed red again, and I groaned, stumbling to the side a few steps before regaining my footing. We had been at the club all night, and there was no way I wanted to return to Justin this drunk. If I did, I would probably tell him everything… that I knew about his little intern and that I was filing for divorce. So we agreed to stay at the hotel just down the street, but we hadn’t been able to get into our room. “I am starting to think this is personal,” Lydia said, bending down until she was face to face with the automated lock. “Open up, you stupid thing!” “You’re putting it in upside down!” I said, leaning against the wall behind me to hold myself steady as I glanced at the door number once more. 403. “Maybe we should just go down to the desk and tell them it isn’t working.” Lydia huffed, flipping the card over before trying again, only to get the s

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V. I wanted to set it on fire. It took me a moment to collect myself before I rushed outside to the car and yanked the door open. I could hear Justin laughing behind me in the kitchen, but the sound just grated on my nerves. I didn’t want to find anything, but with my camera recording me going through every part of the car as quickly as I could, I was disgusted when I pulled a thong out of the pocket behind the driver’s seat. Proof. The text. Her thong… And it wasn’t enough. I shoved it into the pocket of my robe to throw away before slamming the door shut and walking back inside. "I knew you would be excited. Why don’t you get in and test drive it?" Justin asked as he stood at the kitchen island with his phone in one hand before shoving the last bite of his English muffin into his mouth with the other. I forced a smile and shook my head as I looked up. "I’m a bit tired today. I want to rest." "Then go rest, baby," Justin said, walking over to stand bef

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V.My heart dropped to my stomach as if I had just been caught doing something wrong, and I tore myself away quickly. Justin’s face was red with fury as he stormed toward us, but his anger dropped instantly as recognition flashed in his eyes along with something close to fear. I grimaced as he wrapped his arm around me, yanking me a step back into his side. “Uncle,” Justin said, almost hesitantly. “Justin, he was just giving me a ride home,” I said, looking at Derek with a forced, polite smile that he did not return. His dark green eyes were locked on my husband, and he looked furious.“A ride home? Uncle, thank you, but she is MY wife. You didn’t need to do that.” Justin said, and my head snapped to the side to stare up at him in surprise. I had no way home, and he had a problem with a member of his family giving me a ride?Unbelievable! Derek lifted one eyebrow, and the small movement made Justin tense further.“She has the finest cars and her own driver… I tak

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V. The drive to the hospital was a blur of red lights and panic. I barely remembered the car coming to a stop or my driver opening the door, though it was probably going to be one of the last times he drove me anywhere. By the time I sprinted through the main entrance and reached the fourth floor, my heart was ready to burst out of my chest. “Charlotte!” I turned sharply toward my father’s voice, relieved to see him here this time. He stood near in the hallway of the oncology wing, looking pale and exhausted, and fear immediately clawed up my throat. “What happened?” I demanded, rushing toward him, wondering why he was out here and not in there with her. “The nurse said your mom’s condition got worse…” “They said there were complications after her last round of treatment,” he interrupted hoarsely. “They were draining the fluid around her lungs, and one of them collapsed.” My stomach dropped violently. No. No, no, no. “What do you mean it collapsed??” I demand

JUSTIN’S P.O.V. I watched as the golden liquid sloshed in the glass, tilting my whiskey tumbler back and forth, over and over again, hypnotized by the movement. The sun had set hours ago, and the house was dark, except for the light coming from the television. I hadn’t bothered to turn it off, and the ultrasound picture was still up on the screen. I should have turned it off, but I couldn’t stop staring at it. If it weren’t for the tiny blob on the screen, none of this would be happening. That blurry shape on the screen had cost me my wife of five years. Happy Anniversary. The words replayed in my head, and my grip tightened on my glass before I tossed it back, swallowing it in one gulp. My jaw clenched from the burn that slid down my throat and settled in my stomach, and I sucked in a breath through my teeth with a hiss before pouring another. My phone sat face down next to the bottle with Charlotte pulled up. I had called her forty-seven times and texted her even more, bu