We drive quietly back to Everly and Charlie’s apartment first. “So, um, are you staying tonight or going to Derrick’s?” she asks.
“I was going to do some washing and then head over later,” Charlie tells her.
“You know if you two want to live together, I’d be okay with it,” she says. It’s a conversation we have both been wanting to broach, but haven’t had the courage to.
“Ev …” Charlie starts.
“I’m fine with it. Truly. I think it makes sense, plus, I need to learn to stand on my own two feet. I’ve never lived by myself before, and I feel like someone in their twenties should be.”
“Are you sure?” Charlie asks.
“I am. This trip away has made me re-evaluate a lot of things and what I want and where I want to go.” Oh wow. We had no idea. “I think it’s time you and I cut the cords from each other.”
“We’re not that bad,” Charlie argues.
“I know. We’ve had fun, but you’re moving onto a new chapter with Derrick, and I need to find mine.” This is devastating. This isn’t how I wanted Charlie to move in with me.
“Are you sure?” Charlie sniffles, and it’s my turn to squeeze his leg in reassurance, letting him know I’ve got him.
Everly is crying now, but she is smiling as she turns and looks at us in the backseat. “Yes. I need this as much as you do.” She sniffles. Charlie reaches out and takes her hand, giving it a squeeze.
“I love you,” he tells her.
“And I love you too.”
We arrive at Charlie and Everly’s apartment, and the siblings get out and hug each other. I leave them to have their moment before jumping out and hugging Everly goodbye.
“You look after him,” she tells me.
“I’ll be back. I have to get my things,” Charlie tells her.
“I will. I promise.”
“Good.” She smiles. “Now go,” she says, pushing her brother away as she makes her way into the apartment. We wave and watch to make sure she is in safely, and then head back into the car.
“That wasn’t how I thought us moving in together was going to go,” Charlie states. “I mean, you still want me to move in, right?”
“Yes. Fuck yes,” I tell him. “As long as you do.”
“I do.”
“Okay. Well, I guess we’re doing this.” Charlie smirks.
“Guess we are. Does this mean you’re going to want to redecorate?”
“I wouldn’t do that to you, but I do need closet space.”
My eyes widen. “Um …”
He bursts out laughing. “I can set my stuff up in the spare room.”
“Oh, thank goodness, because I didn’t know how your stuff was going to fit in my closet.”
“We might need to buy a bigger house.” Charlie grins as he nudges me.
“Definitely need the closet space, but I love that we are both walking distance to work.”
“Me too, but we could have a look and see what is around and if we could afford it.”
