Seventy-One

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V. My hand fell to my side, and I slipped my phone into my back pocket as I stared at the visitor at my door. It had been a while since I had seen her, and I didn’t like the accusatory look she gave Paul and me. “Are my son and my brother not enough for you?” She asked, and I grimaced, hating it being worded like that. Derek and Justin were only a few years apart, and nothing had technically happened between Derek and me yet, but I didn’t feel the need to defend myself to her. Having her here didn’t feel very much like a surprise. It felt more like a punishment. Why in the world would Derek send my mother-in-law of all people to my home? No, he wouldn’t. There was no way. “What are you doing here?” I asked as Paul remained firmly between us. Looking her over, I couldn’t help but feel pity for her. She looked elegant as always in her designer clothes, but her usually perfect hair and makeup weren’t up to her normal standard. In fact, I didn’t think I had

Seventy- Two

LYDIA’S P.O.V.I didn’t think I had ever dreaded my monthly lunch with Charlotte before, but as my heels clicked on the floor as I entered her office, a cold knot settled into my stomach. Not because of her, but because of the man sitting at the desk next to hers.A woman stood before him in a bright green, polka-dot dress, and I couldn’t help but groan as he smiled up at her, flashing his dimples… well, he would have been if he hadn’t grown out his beard.I didn’t like the way his smile dropped as soon as she walked away and his eyes landed on me. What could she have possibly said that made him so happy a minute ago?Besides, if anyone should be pissed off of the two of us, it was me!“Lydia!” Charlotte exclaimed, and I forced a smile as I looked away from Paul to see my stunning best friend straightening some papers on her desk before standing to join me. “Ready for lunch?” I asked, trying to shake off the mix of anger, discomfort, and irritation that I got every time I saw… him.

Seventy-Three

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V.Lydia was quieter than I had ever seen her before. It didn’t help that every time she went to speak, she would glance at Paul and then shut down, only giving me one- to two-word answers. I needed a distraction, and this wasn’t what I had expected, but it was certainly doing the trick. Every time I started to think about the news Rebecca had just given me, Lydia or Paul would make a noise or glare at each other. I was pretty sure at one point, Lydia had gone to kick him, but he dodged it, and I watched her groan in pain after we heard her foot hit the metal table stand. When we got back to the office, Lydia didn’t even go inside. She practically ran to her car and was out of the parking lot before we made it through the front door. I wanted to ask Paul what happened before lunch, but I didn’t get the chance.“Charlotte, conference room in five minutes,” Rebecca called out with a smile, and I nodded. Getting news of an impromptu afternoon meeting right before lu

Seventy-Four

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V.The days had started to blur together. I didn’t remember falling asleep that night, but by the work clothes I woke up in, it hadn’t been planned. As I did every day for the past week, I went through the motions.Got up and dressed. Drank enough coffee to overdose on caffeine for the day, then spent the day between my office and the club, hunched over blueprints, talking to contractors, and taking call after call. It felt like I barely had time to breathe, and if it weren’t for Paul’s concern, begging me to take a break for lunch, I would have gone through the whole day without any breaks, let alone water or food. “Did you get any sleep?” Heather said as she walked into the club, seeing me already busy at work, talking to the contractors. Instinctively, my eyes flittered behind her, searching for Derek, but like always he wasn’t there. Why wo

Seventy-Five

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V. Walking into The Black Door, I almost didn't recognize it.The bar had been moved to the other side of the room, and the staff seemed happier not to have to go as far when restocking from the back room.There was more room to move freely, and with the new light fixtures and the new flooring, the energy felt entirely different. From the look on Heather’s face, I wasn’t the only one who loved it. She was beaming as we inspected the completed work.For the first time since the deadline was moved up, I actually felt good about leaving at a normal time, knowing everything was working out. Things were going well, and I needed to see my parents. It had been too long since I had been off work before the end of visiting hours, and I hated it.Leaving early for the day, I went against every instinct I had to go home and get a real night of sleep. Instead, I picked up dinner and headed for the hospital. The room was quiet when I entered, and I knew I made the right choic

All Chapters of The Accidental Almost Kiss with my Ex's Uncle: Chapter 71 - Chapter 75

Seventy-One

Seventy- Two

Seventy-Three

Seventy-Four

Seventy-Five