Chapter 27

As I opened the door of Charlie's house with my key, I was looking forward to putting my feet up. Today had been a long day and I'd spent most of it working directly in the hot sun. I could use a kiss, a shower, and a beer, preferably in that order.

"Charlie?" I called out. I poked my head into the kitchen, but she wasn't there. "Charlie, you home?"

She wasn't there but there was a tray of onion rings on the counter along with a mess of flour and what looked like every spice from the cabinet. Tentatively, I picked up an onion ring and took a small bite.

"Not bad." I shoved the rest in my mouth as I wandered back into the living room. Meatball was in his usual position, playing possum in his dog bed.

Then I heard a voice above me. Charlie must be in her room. As I walked up the stairs, her voice got louder.

"Billie said her grandmother thinks she's going to be staying with them soon. Please tell me that isn't what it sounds like."

I paused outside of Charlie's bedroom, not wanting to intrude. But I couldn't help overhearing what she was saying.

"Are they really suing you? Can they even do that?"

The floor squeaked under my boots and I froze in place. The door wasn't closed all the way but Charlie didn't even look up.

"This is ridiculous. It's not like you're taking her to another country. Virginia isn't that far from New York. Couldn't they just visit?"

The other voice was muffled but it was obviously her mother.

"Let's try not to panic until Alan has a chance to talk to them. Maybe they'll be reasonable once they realize how much this is going to hurt Billie."

What would happen if this lawsuit prevented her mother and sister from moving? Could they even afford to stay in New York? Charlie had made it seem like they were on the brink of losing everything.

"I don't know what to do, Mom," Charlie's voice broke. "I don't want to sell the house. It's all I have left of Gran..."

I was torn between wanting to barge in and offer my help and respecting her privacy. But this was a private conversation. I shouldn't have been eavesdropping.

Carefully I made my way back downstairs, skipping the second stair from the bottom that always squeaked.

A million questions raced through my head. What if she did have to sell the house? If she had to sell, she would definitely leave town. Without a place to come back to, would I ever see her again?

My chest ached. The mere thought of not seeing her every day hit me like a ton of bricks.

This was what Dad meant, I realized. I didn't want to say goodbye.

Of course, Charlie had proven time and time again that family was her top priority. And it should be, shouldn't it? The very thought of making her choose between her family and me was unbearable. I couldn't, and wouldn't, be the cause of more pain for her.

As if he could sense that something major was happening, Meatball pawed at my leg.

I knelt down to scratch behind his ears. "We got off to a rough start, but I think we understand each other. You'll take care of her, right?"

When I heard noise on the stairs, I opened the front door and then slammed it shut, as if I was just getting home. A few seconds later, Charlie entered the room with reddened eyes, and a forced smile on her face. It was clear she had been crying.

"Hey. Did you just get back?" she asked.

"Yeah. How has your day been?" I replied, trying to keep my own voice steady.

"It was okay. I was with David at the shop for most of the afternoon. His office was a mess and so were his books. But I whipped him into shape." Her voice trembled slightly.

It took everything within me not to pick her up and cuddle her. It was hard to see her like this, looking so defeated but she didn't need me to break down with her. She needed someone who would put her first for once.

This wonderful, strong, beautiful woman had become the center of my world. All I wanted was to do what was best for her, even if it tore my heart out in the process.

I cleared my throat and looked at Charlie. "So, I got some good news today."

"Oh?" She looked over curiously as she walked into the kitchen. She skidded to a stop when she saw the mess on the counter and the tray of onion rings, like she'd forgotten she made them.

"Mr. Donald offered me a place in exchange for fixing it up, same arrangement as here. So, I can move out." My heart was racing, and I snagged another onion ring so I didn't have to look directly at her. "These are pretty good, by the way."

"Wait a minute." Charlie held up her hands. "You're leaving? What about our renovation?"

"We're almost done at this point. I can finish the rest easily," I said, trying to assure her. "Besides, you"ll be happy to have your privacy back. You don't need me hanging around anymore."

There was a long silence, and then Meatball whined at my feet. It was as if he was trying to tell me this was a terrible idea.

I looked at Charlie, whose face was a mix of confusion and sadness. I wanted to take her in my arms and tell her everything I felt, but instead, I turned around.

"I should start packing."

As I walked upstairs, the heavy sensation in my chest increased. My mind knew this was the right thing to do, for her sake, but my heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces.

I grabbed my duffel bag from the closet and started to throw my clothes into it haphazardly. Just then Charlie appeared in the doorway.

"Why are you acting like this?" she demanded.

I closed my eyes briefly before grabbing another bundle of clothes from the dresser. "Like what?"

She crossed her arms. "Like it's no big deal that you're leaving. Like we," she gestured between us, "didn't happen?"

"What do you want from me, Charlie? You said we were keeping things casual and that's what I'm doing. Did you expect me to fall in love and beg you to stay with me forever?"

The harsh words felt like knives even as I said them. She winced. "I didn't say that."

"You and me, it was never going to work anyway. It's better to get out while things are good instead of waiting until you've lost everything."

Charlie came closer. "What are you talking about? Who have you ever lost? You've never been moved from country to country. From school to school. You have your parents, your brothers and your sister. Your friends from freaking kindergarten. What do you know about loss?" Her voice broke at the end.

I couldn't stand it anymore. I walked over and pulled her into my arms. She tried to turn away but I slid one hand behind her neck and rested my forehead against hers. Her ragged breathing slowed slightly until we stood there just breathing together.

"What do I know about loss?" I whispered into the space between us. "I know the girl I love has done nothing but leave me over and over again. So why did I think this summer would be any different?"

Charlie looked up at me with shocked eyes and the force of it tore through me. I cursed at what I'd just admitted.

"I have to go."

She didn't say anything else as I walked back over to the bed and zipped up the duffel bag. I couldn't get distracted. Charlie needed to be with her family right now and that meant going back to New York. I was willing to deal with her being mad at me for a while if it made it easier for her to do what she needed to do.

That was what love was about, wasn"t it? Putting her happiness above my own.

When I looked up, the room was empty.

She was gone.

Fuck this. I'd get the rest of my stuff later. It wasn't like we wouldn't see each other around as I finished up the final projects on the house. But we'd spent the last two months living, working, and fighting together so it left me with a sick feeling to walk out without so much as a goodbye.

As I grabbed my duffel and threw it over my shoulder, I thought about that last conversation with my dad. He had said it was the easiest thing in the world to come home to your favorite person.

I wish he'd told me how hard it was to walk away.