Charlie's POV
A week went by waiting for word from Enzo and my mother was a little distant the entire time, I thought maybe it was because of how I treated Enzo so I finally decided to go to her about Enzo: I'm sorry, I genuinely thought that he dumped us here and left to give his life free of obligation but I guess I was wrong, I'm sorry mom
"Honey I can understand why you would think that, but who do you think paid for your college? Did you really think I could pay for your college on a nurse's salary without going into debt too? Enzo has been there, I've even seen him a couple times, but he stayed away to protect us."
"But why? And why for so long?"
"Enzo was sent go scare the head of a rival family, things went south very fast, and a woman and her child were killed. Enzo would never hurt a woman or child, so it was an accident but… the husband of that woman swore to do the same to Enzo by taking the life of his wife and child, the man has been searching for us ever since."
"Jeez mom, don't you think you should have told me that before calling him? Isn't that just putting us in danger in anoth…."
There was a knock at the door: We're not done with this conversation. I said as my mother strode to the door.
I heard a familiar voices at the door and for a strange reason it didn't cause pain or anger, I was happy to hear them: Just because I updated you doesn't mean you can just come over here without her invitation.
"Mom it's okay, let em in"
Lacey and Mark both walked in gingerly, and they moved slowly as if they were expecting things to be thrown at them: Hey guys, it's been a long time.
Lacey fell to her knees in front of me: Oh Charlotte, I'm so sorry for everything, could you ever forgive me?
"I can forgive you both, obviously trust is another thing all together and our friendships couldn't possibly go back to the way they were, but I don't know, maybe we can our find a way to a different kind of friendship?" I know that I probably should never forgive either one of them and that I should kick them out on their asses, but something told me I was going to need friends of any kind in the coming months.
Lacey started crying and thanking me and Mark smiled through pursed lips as he sat down on the couch and let Lacey make a fool of herself.
"You're really not angry still?"
"No Mark I'm not, I mean it was a really fucked up shitty thing you two did to me but after almost dying in the ocean and then being stranded on an island for all those months it kind of puts things into perspective."
Lacey smiled and nudged me: Doesn't hurt that you moved on with a billionaire though, right? I lifted my brow at her, just waiting for some comment about when she would get to meet him, but it didn't come, in fact something even crazier did: Well, I really hope you meant that about not being angry anymore because, well… Mark and I actually got married last month.
They both squinted their eyes waiting for an explosion, but I actually felt a bit of relief. I laughed through my nose softly and smiled: I am actually really happy for you guys. They moth looked relieved but also shocked, so I added: I guess you guys finding happiness means it wasn't as shallow, I guess I feel like my heart didn't get broken in vain, again shitty fucked up thing, but it worked out for you guys so I'm happy for you.
We sat and talked for hours when we heard another knock at the door, my mom got excited to see Enzo again, so she ran and opened the door without looking through the peephole. The second she opened the door a very tired Thomas walked through, his eyes were crazed and red and he looked angry.
"I need to talk to you"
"Thomas, you need to go home"
"Charlie! I need to talk to you now!"
It killed me to tell him to leave knowing he was in pain, but my resolve had limits. However, I could tell he wasn't going away without a conversation so I slowly stood up groaning and Mark reached his hand out to help me, but Thomas was at my side to help me, and I noticed that he glanced at Mark as he took my hand giving him a look that could kill and warning him to back off. He helped me to my feet, and we walked into the kitchen.
"Why did you break up with me"
"Thomas, I can't do this, you need to leave"
"I've been going over it, over and over again and it doesn't make sense. Nothing makes sense anymore" He looked like he was going insane, he didn't even look or sound like himself and it was taking everything I had in me to not wrap my arms around him.
"Thomas, you need sleep, you need to go home"
"Except I can't sleep without you, you know that"
I did know that, and I knew that he was losing it and that he wasn't going to be able to handle being awake much longer. I was hanging on by a thread and needed to get him out of the house before I caved.
"You need to go home Thomas now!"
I grabbed his arm to guide him towards the door and Mark stood up making Thomas even more defensive: You're going to throw me out, but he gets to stay? He is the piece of shit who hurt you isn't he? And what did I do, I got you pregnant, is that why you hate me now?
Lacey gasped and Mark reached out to try and grab him, but Thomas pushed him into the wall. Marked jumped to his feet muttering nonsense as he swung at Thomas, but he dodged Marks attack and jabbed Mark right in the nose causing him to fall and start bleeding profusely: Mark stop, Thomas stop. I put my hands up standing between them both. Mark, Lacey please leave, I'll talk to you both later but please leave now.
Lacey helped Mark to his feet and walked him out the door as he glared at Thomas the entire way, my mother following to close the door behind them.
I walked up to Thomas and took his hand his eyes were tired, and his tear-stained cheeks were red: We cannot be together Thomas, you have to understand that, and in the morning, you need to go to the Dr. to get something to help you sleep. Since you're already here and there isn't anything, we can do about that you can sleep on the couch with me: No, you both will sleep in my bed and I will take the couch, it's just one night, go.
I gave my mother a thankful smile and kissed her cheek as I guided Thomas to her bed. He wouldn't get in the bed, I tried to move his body, but he was rigid, so I laid down in the bed and opened my arms for him to come to me and he finally complied.
His body was warm and the feeling of it pressed against me caused mine to melt into the mattress. I didn't realize how badly I missed him until that moment. I had been taking pills to sleep and I guess it made me feel numb to his absence but having him here with me now was everything I've needed since the accident: Charlie, losing you is killing me, I know it's not your problem anymore, I feel disgusted with myself for begging you to stay when you don't want me but Its killing me.
His words made me sick, the idea that I could hurt him this badly made me hate myself and I knew it couldn't go on any longer: Thomas, I don't want to hurt you. I do love you, more than you could possibly know, and I do want you but I just can't be with you right now.
He lifted his head as if I just gave him all the hope in the world: If you love me then why can't we be together?
"If you trust me at all or love me at all you will leave here and not come back" His brows furrowed, and his voice became stern: No Charie! If you love me and you want me then there isn't a reason for us not to be together unless there's something you're not telling me. I will stand outside your house every fucking day until you tell me what the real reason is or until your back in my arms Charlie, I will do whatever it takes to get you back.
I knew better then to question whether he would do what he said he would, Thomas was nothing if not a man of his word: We'll talk about this in the morning, we shouldn't talk anymore while you're this exhausted.
My only hope was that he was too sleep deprived to remember what he promised. I pulled his head to my chest as his hand reached around my waist, his hand started to move to my stomach which had grown a little since the hospital and I grabbed his hand "Stitches remember?" he nodded his head and returned his hand to my waist pulling me closer to him. Our bodies relaxed into each other, and we fell asleep quickly.