Poly

That and his stupid attempt to kiss her later that same night.

His change had allowed her stupid brain to play the what-if game.

The problem?

Oliver was happily married to Molly with an eighteen-month-old daughter he adored. Charlie had been his best man at their wedding and was his daughter’s godmother.

More than that, she genuinely loved Molly. Oliver had been a small-time actor when the two of them met. Bit parts in television shows, commercials, and whatnot. But after five years, just after they had married, his career had exploded.

Oliver had landed a part in a new show. It hadn’t been the lead, or more accurately, it wasn’t supposed to be, but Oliver had quickly outshined the leading man, and the next season things had shifted giving him more airtime. By season four Oliver’s character was the lead character and he had a massive fan base.

Their quiet life had gotten blown to hell. The only saving grace was Oliver’s refusal to live in Hollywood. He didn’t want his family in the middle of that. He wanted them to have as normal a life as possible.

Charlie actually respected him for that. What she was struggling with, however, was him trying to convince her to be his mistress.

“Oliver,” Charlie hissed. She grabbed his wrist when he did it again making it clear it hadn’t been an accident.

“Charlie?” There was laughter in his voice as she turned and glared at him.

She looked at him and hated that she no longer saw her best friend. That he had made her see him as something else. Ever since that night.

The night they had celebrated Gracie’s birth. The night he had begun to look at her differently.

“Stop,” she told him. “We can’t do this. I won’t do this. But more than that, I won’t let you do this either. Molly deserves better.”

The grin left his face and he sighed. “I know. I know.”

“Then stop.”

His hazel eyes met hers. “I tell myself if I ignore it then it will go away and things can go back to the way they were. But the more I try to ignore it…” he sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “The more I fantasize about you. About us.”

“You love your wife and your daughter. Are you really willing to risk them?”

“No.” She had to strain to hear him.

“If you want this. Us. Then you know what you need to do.”

“There is no way Molly is going to go for it.”

Charlie shrugged. “Then you need to figure something out before you destroy us all. Either man the fuck up and talk to your wife, be honest about what you want, or…” Charlie swallowed not wanting to say the words.

“Or?” Oliver asked.

“Or, I think it would be better if we spent less time together.”

She saw the flash of panic in his eyes. Charlie knew she had been his one constant for a long time. Just as he was hers. It would hurt to walk away, but she would do it to keep Oliver from destroying his life and the woman he loved. A woman who loved him just as much.

Never had she seen two people more suited for one another than the two of them.

Molly was sweet and kind and beautiful. She lit up a room whenever she walked into it. Charlie had actually seen her first and pointed her out to Oliver. The lithe brunette with green eyes and a beautiful smile had been impossible to miss.

As was her luck, Molly had fallen for Oliver almost immediately. There had been a bit of jealousy in the beginning. Molly had been wary of Charlie and Oliver’s relationship.

It was common with the women he dated, and something they had to deal with time and time again. In the end, Oliver would tire of their insecurities and ditch them. But Molly had been different. After the initial few bumps, she’d accepted Charlie. Welcomed her even.

Now Charlie considered Molly one of her best friends.

Which was why this was tearing her up, and why she would not allow Oliver to do this to her, to them.

It would destroy Charlie to walk away from them, but she would because she refused to let Oliver turn her into something she wasn’t.

A few years ago she would have said she would do anything for him. But she now realized this was one thing she wasn’t willing to do.

“I think I should go.”

“No. Stay. I’m sorry. You just…” his eyes ran down her body and the sexy dress she’d bought for tonight’s dinner. A dress she had worn because maybe she had wanted him to notice her, but now she realized was a mistake.

“I’m sorry, Oliver. I really am. I shouldn’t have worn this. I‘ll make my excuses to Molly.”

He reached for her but Charlie dodged him. She met Molly’s eyes across the room and realized she had been watching Charlie and Oliver. The frown wrinkling her brow didn’t belong there and she hated knowing she was part of the reason for it.

Pasting on a smile she made her way through the crowd to Molly. “Sorry. I’m going to have to duck out early. My neighbor called and said Buster is out. I swore I locked the gate but you know that dog is an escape artist.”

“Are you okay?”

Molly’s hand touched her forearm and concern shined in her eyes. “I’m fine. I just need to get home before he causes too much trouble.”

Molly looked across the room at her husband. “You and Oliver looked like you were having a serious discussion.”

“It’s nothing you should worry about. Just a minor disagreement.” Charlie leaned down and kissed Molly on the cheek catching a whiff of her sweet scent that held just a hint of vanilla from the soap she used. “It’s a lovely party. I’m sorry I can’t stay.”

Charlie didn’t give Molly a chance to say anything else before she hurried out. Instead of going home, however, she headed for the nearest bar.

Alone was the last thing she wanted to be right then. Alone gave her too much time to think about the mistakes she’d made lately.

Charlie drew attention as she walked into the dive bar wearing a dress that probably cost more than the bar made in a night. Maybe even a week.

Several guys hit on her but none of them did anything for her.

After a beer, she moved on to another bar and then another. The third one was a gay bar. A lithe brunette with long legs and pert breasts caught her eye. Charlie gave her a nod and sent her a drink.

When she left she wasn’t alone.