“Oh, our castle?”
“Yeah. Our castle. And what did we dream about in our castle? You, me, and Caroline. What did we lie there and make up stories about?”
“Our prince,” I sigh.
“Our prince. Remember? They would save us, right?”
“Yes.” I swallow back the tears threatening. We practically lived in that treehouse. We each had a notebook with pictures and stories. Mine was so lame. I wanted to be carried off into the sunset, and we’d run away and live happily ever after. “But life isn’t a fairy tale. Shit happens. Bad guys come and ruin the ending. They take the princess and strip her down, layer by layer, until there’s nothing left.”
“Whatever. Come on.”
“What?” I follow her back to the car and cross my arms. This is stupid. I don’t know what the hell she’s doing, besides pissing me off.
At the beach, she pulls me behind her in the cold sand to my favorite place. “What’s this?” She points to the large flat rock, surrounded by grass.
“Meara, what the hell are you doing?”
“What is this?” she asks again, frustrated.
“It’s my spot!” I yell.
“And whose spot was it before you?”
“My parents,” I cry. The tears roll out, and I let them fall.
“Why? Why was this their spot?”
“It’s where they met.”
“Right. It’s also where my parents met. And Grandma and Grandpa.”
“I know. Alright.” I turn, but she grabs my arm and pulls me back.
“Who else?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie.
“Yes, you do. You don’t want to admit it.” She smiles and angles her head at the water. “I didn’t meet Liam here, but it’s where I go when I want to feel close to him. We’ve laughed, cried, made love, and fought here. It’s a special place for all of us. I’ve caught Pierce here, too. It means something, Char, and you know it.” Her brown eyes look back at me. “Now, tell me, who else?”
“Travis,” I whisper. “I met Travis here.”
“Right. Now come on, two more stops.”
Rolling my eyes, I follow her. The ride is silent again, but I think about what she said. That spot is special — not only to me, but my family. The first time I saw Travis, I knew he was it for me.
She stops in front of my building, and I feel sick.
“No,” I protest. I haven’t been back here since that night.
“Yes.” She rounds the car and opens my door. “You’ve gotta do it eventually, Char. Why hold it off?” I don’t move, and she squats down. Her voice softens. “If you really don’t want to, I won’t make you. I kind of need this for my dramatic finish, though, so it’ll piss me off if you ruin it.”
Her lips are tilted up, and I nod. “Fine.”
We stand in front of my boarded off door.
“What happened?” she asks.
“He came here.”
“Who?”
“Todd.” Venom spills out of my mouth at his name. “He came here and attacked me. Blamed me. Hurt me.” Chills run up my spine, remembering his words and his hands grabbing my body. Those same hands at one time, made me feel not alone.
“Did he rape you?”
Closing my eyes, I shake my head. I run the scenario through my head. I have nightmares about it. Would he have stopped after that? Would he have killed me?
“Why not? He wanted to. That was why he came here, right?” Her condescending tone has its effect.
“Because Travis saved me,” I snap.
“How did he save you, Char? What did he do?”
“He broke down the fucking door, okay! He barged in and beat the shit out of Todd. He fucking saved me!” Spit flies out of my mouth, and I pound on the wood, releasing some pent-up anger. “Todd would have killed me, but Travis saved me.”
“That’s right. Travis saved your life. Not because he had to, but because he loves you, Charlotte. Don’t you see that? He. Loves. You.”
“For how long, Meara? How many more breakdowns and episodes is he going to put up with? I’m not normal, and after what I’ve been through, I never will be again!” My head rests on the makeshift door as I try to get my thoughts together. “I love him. More than I thought was ever possible, and I’m so afraid of losing him again.”
She puts her hands on my shoulders and turns me so I’m looking at her. Her eyes are glossy and a single tear leaks down her cheek. “One more stop.”
Through the tears, we walk with our arms linked and heads resting together down stairs to her car.
The last stop turns out to be Travis’ building.
“I don’t understand.”
“You will.”
Inside his place, I turn the lights on and hold my arms out. It feels so empty without him here. “Well?”
“Where are we?”
Dropping my hands, I rest them on my hips. “Meara, really?”
“Where are we?”
“Travis’ apartment.”
“Right. Where is he right now?”
“I don’t know. He said running errands.”
“Yeah. Errands. But not the kinds of errands you think.”
“What do you mean?”
“He had to go take care of paperwork at work, because he took some kind of extended absence the past two weeks. He’s going to pay for a new door for your place. He’s also going to the police station to give another statement and continue to try to get them off your ass.” She ticks off each answer with her fingers.
“What are you talking about? The police haven’t been bugging me. I haven’t heard one thing from them after my initial statement.”
“Because of Travis.” She runs a hand through her short hair. “Don’t you see, Char? Don’t you get it? He does all of these thing for you, without even telling you. He takes care of you. He’s your fucking prince, Charlotte.”
“But I’m not a princess! He’ll realize that eventually and want to stop taking care of me. The hero act will get old!” I scream at her. “What’s the point of this, Meara? To make me feel like shit even more for ruining his life?”
“Ugh! I want to slap you so bad right now! He. Loves. Your stupid ass, Charlotte. He’s not going anywhere.” Her head falls, and she continues to shake it. “You’re so lucky. I’m jealous of you, your man here, with you every fucking day. And maybe you’re right. Maybe this was a bad idea, but I can’t stand to see you like this anymore. Open your eyes, babe. This is your happily ever after.”
Chapter 22
Charlotte
MEARA’S RIGHT. SHE’S ABSOLUTELY right. I jump when the door slams and numbly sit on the couch.
He loves me. He’s proven over and over again that he’s here. For me. From the beginning. The night with Johnny. Holding me so the crickets didn’t get me. Finding me at the motel. He saved me from Todd. Not only does he still want to be with me, but he brought me to his place and takes care of me. Calming me when I have a nightmare, cleaning my wounds, and making sure I eat. He loves me.