“Things are different—” he began, but I cut him off.
“Nothing’s changed,” I stated. “I’m sure you want some help with your little Elf…thing… but I’ve got my own problems, so don’t let the ass hit you in the door on the way— shit— I mean, don’t let the door fuck you in the ass—dammit, you know what I mean!”
“Does me being here offend you?” Charlie seethed. “Because right now, it seems like I’m annoying you just by breathing.”
“You are, so go away.” I huffed and turned my back on Charlie, but he reached out and nabbed me by the shoulder.
“Unhand me, you ruffian!” I screeched, and I batted at his arm.
“Ruffian? Are you a hundred fucking years old?” he growled. He tugged on my arm, and I yanked back. We waged a tug-of-war that didn’t do anything but stretch out my ugly-ass Institute sweater. Oberi barked madly around us and grabbed Charlie’s pant leg, pulling at it like he thought this was a game.
“Ouch! Oberi, cut it out!” Charlie said as the husky nearly yanked him off his feet with a giddy growl.
“Get him, Oberi! Good boy!” I cheered.
Charlie shook Oberi off, then grabbed my wrists. He pushed me into the wall roughly— though not as roughly as I would’ve liked— pinning my hands above my head.
Finally, we were getting somewhere— wait, no— fuck, Ava, make up your mind!
I was all over the place. Right now, my heart was split between choking this bastard or letting him screw me against the wall.
Both, please?
Charlie blocked me in, so I had nowhere to go. His hands were so firm, I knew any attempt to push him away would be absolutely futile. He was so close that I could feel his breath on my skin, and the heat of our bodies as they pressed together. Unlike when we’d first met, he was fed up with taking my shit and knew how to deal with me now.
I was momentarily terrified that Charlie would realize how much weight I’d lost. But he must’ve not noticed my bony frame through all the layers I was wearing, so at least I was spared from one lecture...
Or maybe he didn’t care. Who knew?
I didn’t reallymeanto, but for some reason or another, I pushed my boobs up. My breasts crushed against his chest, and Charlie breathed raggedly. “Hell, one of these days, I’m going to make you listen.”
“It’s not going to be today,” I sneered. “So piss off.”
“Goddamn you, pidge—” Charlie growled, but as he said it, he hitched a breath.
With that one word, both of our walls came crashing down in a moment of vulnerability, and a second was all it took.
Everything we’d shared. Everything we’d felt. The connection we had came rushing back. A well of love opened up inside of me, overflowing into an ocean that I couldn’t hold back. The effect broke me and healed me all at once. I’d forgotten what it was like to feel our bond. It’d been blocked off on both ends for so long. I never reached out to feel Charlie’s consciousness anymore, but when I did out of habit, I always hit resistance. Now that way was open, and I could feel the half of Charlie’s soul reaching out for my own, like it was lonely.
Through our bond, IexperiencedCharlie’s feelings. Ancestors, he was so torn up inside. His heart was shattered. I didn’t think, after all this time, he still—
This was too painful. I immediately shut the bond off, and I felt Charlie do the same on his end. The effect was similar to crashing into a brick wall full-speed, and nearly as fatal. He let go of my wrists and took a few steps back, widening the gap between us. My half of our soul wept in sorrow at failing to be reunited with its twin, curling up and dying in my chest.
Charlie scratched the back of his head and said quietly, “If you don’t want to come, fine. But to be honest, I need you. I can’t do this without you. So are you in, or what?”
All my earlier reservations were thrown out the window when he said he needed me. I couldn’t deny him. Not when he asked me like that. “Let’s just get this over with. Where are we going?”
“The chapel.” He said nothing more, just let Oberi lead him onward. I followed at a distance, keeping my head down.
When Charlie opened the chapel doors, my stomach plummeted even further. Kallie and Marcus were inside, sitting in separate pews on opposite sides of the chapel. I didn’t think they’d talked all summer, either— all of us had been off doing our own thing.
Eddie bounced in a corner, obviously pleased with himself. “They’re here, sir,” Eddie said. “I gathered Kallie and Marcus, just like you asked.”
“Thanks,” Charlie said. “And Eddie— stop calling me sir.”
“Right away, sir!”
Charlie sighed. “Can you give us some space?”
