“Okay, what have you done with my myth maker?” Neo questioned, his brows furrowing.
“Fuck off, Neo.”
“Do you want me to fire you again?”
“Now, now, boys,” Addi raised her hands, putting a stop to their bickering. “Have you forgotten why we’re all having this conversation? Fern, are you guys ready to come back to London? I get if you want time, but don’t hide away.”
“I’m coming back on the 3rd. I’ll be back at work on the 4th.”
“And you Charlie? Your week is up, so can we expect you back in the city?”
Charlie was still leaning over my shoulder, his arm wrapped unseen by Neo and Addi around my waist.
“Nope. If Fern’s staying, then so am I.”
Addi gave me a look, and I desperately tried to stop the blush that I could feel spreading up my neck.
“Well, if you need anything before then, call me. Promise?”
“Promise, Addi. Thank you. Both of you.”
I hung up the call and closed down the laptop, thanking Jarrid for arranging it all. My body worked on autopilot as we walked back through the freezing wind to the lighthouse. Only when I was safe inside, with the door locked, did I break into a million pieces, the memories of James so close to the surface that my skin burned.
“I’m going to go take a bath,” I whispered, avoiding Charlie’s eyes because I knew he’d see my pain.
“Princess?”
“Don’t call me that,” I screamed, hating the fear I could hear in my voice. Fear that he’d broken me for good, fear that he’d be able to try it again, fear that next time he’d be successful.
“Fern?” Charlie wrapped his hand around my wrist so lightly I could barely feel him, but I freaked, pulling my arm to my chest.
“Just leave it.” I stormed away from him, slamming the bathroom door, but Charlie was there in seconds, making me wish the door had a lock.
“Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare push me away. I’ve been here, Fern. I’ve stayed. You don’t get to push me away now,” he said frustratedly as he stepped into the room.
I turned the taps on, hoping the sound would silence him, but of course, he just got louder.
“Fern?”
Keeping my back to him, I shook my head.
His voice softened. “Princess, look at me.”
I shook my head again. Wrapping his hands gently over my forearms, he turned me, so I faced him.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Everything. Nothing. I don’t know.” I closed my eyes.
Fingers ghosted down the side of my face, a thumb skimmed my lips, kisses pressed to my temple, giving me permission to feel the emotions that were consuming me.
“Tell me, Fern. I can’t make it better if you don’t talk to me.”
A tear spilled down my cheek, followed by another, until I was sobbing into his chest. “I-I’m so scared, Charlie.”
“Of what, Princess?”
“Of him coming back, finishing what he started.” I was crying so hard now that I could barely speak. “I’m so scared he’s goingto get his filthy hands on me again. I know him, Charlie. He won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”
