Simon picked up the notice, scanning it. "How long have you been struggling with rent?"
"Longer than I care to admit." Charlie sank onto his worn couch. "The convenience store gig barely covers food and utilities. I've been playing catch-up for months."
"And now?"
Charlie threw his hands up. "I don't know. I've missed work for no reason. I'm probably fired. I'll be evicted. And oh yeah, I'm apparently on the radar of supernatural creatures and secret organizations."
Simon sat beside him, the couch dipping under his weight. His presence felt solid, anchoring.
"I can't go back," Charlie said, the realization settling deep in his bones. "Not to this life. Not after everything that's happened."
"No," Simon agreed. "You can't."
They sat in silence for a long moment.
"Pack what matters to you," Simon finally said. "You're not staying here."
"Where am I supposed to go?" Charlie asked.
"Well, we can't go to my place," Simon said. "The Organization provided it." He pulled out a wallet, checking its contents. "But I never spent much of the money I was paid, so I have resources. It should be enough to keep us comfortable until we figure out our next steps."
Ournext steps.
Simon really thought of them as a unit now, didn't he?
"Okay," Charlie said, fighting a smile that seemed out of place. "Let me grab some things."
He moved through the apartment, collecting clothes, his laptop, the photo of his parents from the shelf. Small mementos that marked his existence: a concert ticket stub, a smooth stone from the beach trip with Brent last summer, a dog-eared copy of his favorite book.
When he was done, everything that truly mattered to him fit into a large backpack.
Charlie took one final look around the apartment, almost ready to leave when Simon spoke up.
"Hold up," he said. "Aren’t you forgetting someone?"
Charlie blinked, confused. "Who?"
Simon pointed toward his kitchenette. "Marvin."
Charlie scratched the back of his neck. "He's just a succulent."
"A succulent you cared enough to name." Simon lightly touched his shoulder. "Go get your plant."
Charlie didn't need any more encouragement than that. He rushed to grab Marvin, muttering apologies under his breath for nearly leaving him behind.
Simon shot him a fond look when he returned plant in hand. "Guess that's everything."
"Yup."
In the hallway, Charlie locked the door for the last time and dropped the key through the landlord's mail slot on the way out.
He had everything he needed.
Chapter
Thirty-Eight
Simon watched Charlie sleep.
