That Emerald Vow (The Crimson Creed #2)

18. Chapter Eighteen

C harlie and I have been hanging out multiple times a week. We can’t get enough time together, but nothing has truly changed. We haven’t had any moments like the one at the go-kart place since then. I’m holding strong though. Every time we hang out, I fall even more for her energetic personality.

Pulling away from her that night took a level of self-restraint I didn’t know I possessed, but after looking into her fear-filled eyes, I knew I would do anything for her, even if it made my heart ache. It gives me resolve to wait—knowing that she’s worth waiting for and that I will earn her trust, no matter how long it takes.

I decide to surprise her at her place with some Thai takeout. Getting to her front door, I ring the doorbell.

“Who is it?” I hear her bellow from the other side.

Grinning, I reply, “Your favorite nightmare.”

She immediately opens the door with furrowed eyebrows and a fake annoyed look. “Nightmare sounds accurate. I don’t know what I did to deserve him knocking on my door.”

I pull up my hand, full of takeout, and her eyes light up. “And just like that, you go from a nightmare to a dream. Come on in.”

I follow her to the kitchen and start getting the table ready to eat, already knowing where everything is. Before sitting down, I realize there is a dry-cleaned dress draped over the seat. “This is pretty,” I say, holding the lilac dress.

Charlie looks a bit on edge. “Yeah. It’s for this weekend.”

My heart sinks while my body simultaneously heats in anger. Is she going on a date? “Oh, yeah? What are you doing? Clearly something special.” The thought of her sharing any of her free time being intimate with another man makes me clench and release my left hand a few times to release the tension. Thankfully, it’s hidden, so she can’t see.

She takes the dress from me—a darkness washing over her. “I’m heading out of town,” she whispers. There’s a pained tone lacing her voice, putting me on high alert.

“What’s wrong?” My anger changes instantly to concern.

“My parents’ wedding anniversary is this weekend, and I have to go.” She doesn’t seem very happy about that, which I don’t blame her for. I want to throttle her mother for everything she put Charlie through, let alone not believing her when she needed her protection. We both got the shit end of the stick when it came to parents.

My hand is fisted so tightly, my short nails bite into my flesh. “You don’t have to do anything,” I say, harsher than I should.

“But I do. I know it seems stupid from afar. But there’s a level of commitment I still feel towards them, even if they don’t deserve it.”

“I can come with you,” I offer before I even fully form the thought, not wanting her to have to face this alone anymore.

She gasps as her eyes go wide. “What? You’d really do that?” I can tell she appreciates the gesture as the thought makes her shoulders drop in relief, even if she’s shocked.

“I hope one day you realize I’d do just about anything for you. Let me know when and where, and I’ll be there.” I try to smile at her, but I’m sure it’s not reaching my eyes. I mean every word though.

She starts to pick an invisible piece of lint off of the dress as she pauses to consider my offer. “I appreciate it, but it’s not necessary. I’ll be there for at least a night, and it’s not wor—”

“I’m offering, gem. It’s not a bothe—”

“No. Thank you, but no.” She sounds curt, not wanting to continue this conversation.

Hmm. This isn’t over yet. Deciding to drop it—for now—I change the subject. “How about we eat and we can figure out the rest later?” I suggest.

Her eyes narrow at me, but she decides to take the opening. “Okay. Let me put this away,” she says, picking up the dress.

We’re halfway through our dinner as we continue to talk about safer topics like work, the shop, and even plans to take down X. After a while, I decide to bravely broach the subject again.

“So, can I ask why you don’t want me to accompany you?”

She lifts her eyebrows at me. “Accompany me? This is my parents’ anniversary, not a royal ball I need a date to.” Charlie tries to laugh it off, but it comes out more like a cat choking.

“Sure, but your family sucks ass,” I say as I lift my hands up to stop her from responding. “They’re all assholes, just like mine. Not judging, just stating a fact.”

“Even more reason for you to stay away,” she says.

“I don’t scare easily. Especially not by a rich, bitchy housewife.”

She scoffs. “Yeah, you’d think, right? I can’t explain the hold she has on me. I just don’t want to deal with it.”

Reaching over, I put my hand on hers as it hovers over her barely touched plate of food. “Then don’t, baby girl.”

Her eyes look to mine at the pet name, and she gives me a small smile. “I wish. But it’s easier this way. I’m not spending the night, but I’ll be home late. So maybe we can do something on Sunday.” She looks at me hopefully.

I’ll do anything to make her feel safe.

“Okay, little gem. We can definitely do something Sunday.” A plan is starting to formulate in my head, and as we continue our dinner, the tension slowly dissipates. When she starts to clean up, I send a quick text to help with forming my plan.

“Let me help you there,” I say as I start throwing the small amounts of food left on our plates down the garbage disposal. “It’s such a blessing to have these, right? Makes cleaning up so easy.”

“Yeah, for sure. That and a dishwasher,” she says as she starts wiping down the counter.

“I recently got a newer one installed that is suited for bones. It’s amazing!” My voice comes out excited.

Charlie perks up and looks at me with a mischievous smile. “Bones? Like femurs and stuff?” My mouth drops, and I internally chuckle as she continues, “That could be really helpful.”

Not being able to contain my laughter any longer, it all comes bubbling up. “No, silly, like chicken bones and other animals. But that’s a thought.”

Her bottom lip sticks out. “Oh, well that’s less cool then.”