“I want to show you every day that this is our forever,” I said, and I stroked Charlie’s hair back. “I’ll do anything to prove that.”
Yeah, that’s why you held on to certain intimacy items for months, giving yourself false hope,Oberi clipped dryly.
“Oberi,” I scolded. I was embarrassed he’d brought that up.
“What’s he talking about?” Charlie asked.
“Ugh, this.” I got off the bed and went to the next room. I ruffled through my bookbag, where I’d hidden something in one of the inside pockets. The foil packet crinkled as I took it out and walked back into the bedroom. “Remember those condoms my dad gave me the night of the Villain’s Ball last year?”
“Yeah. I thought Marcus turned them into balloon animals,” Charlie said.
“Don’t pick on me, but I keptone,” I said. “Just in case.”
Charlie snickered. “How sentimental.”
“Well, I wanted to be prepared in case something happened!” I said.
“That’s sweet you were thinking of me,” Charlie teased.
I threw the packet on the bedside table. “Anyway, it’s kind of a stupid joke now, isn’t it? Not like we ever used it.”
“I still think it’s weird that yourdadwas the one to buy them,” Charlie said.
“My family is pretty open. It doesn’t bother me to talk about that kind of stuff with my parents. They just want me to be safe.” I shrugged. “My dad pretends I’m his innocent little princess, but he knows I’m a wild child.”
“What tipped him off there? It’s not like we have each other’s names tattooed on our bodies,” Charlie said sarcastically.
“That’s true. What other bad decisions can we think of next?” I cracked.
“Wedding ring tattoos?” A sly grin had worked its way across Charlie’s face.
“Ooh, yes!” I jumped right up. “Let’s get them right now!”
“You being serious?” The smile hadn’t left his face since he’d had the idea.
“Of course! Aren’t you?”
“I think so. I want something I can’t take off,” Charlie said.
“Me too.” I grabbed his hand and tugged him out of bed. “Let’s find Marcus. Come on!”
We ran hand-in-hand through the hallways, and Oberi skipped after us. Elation ricocheted from one end of our bond to the other, and it made me feel like I was floating. I was so high on Charlie I didn’t think I’d ever come down. The bliss I was experiencing had invaded my senses, and we shared that, bouncing off of each other’s affection without a worry in the world.
We checked the Villain’s Den first and found Marcus shaking one of the arcade machines as Rishi batted at the joystick. “Aw, man. It took my dollar!”
Of course. The Warden was always ripping people off.
“Bad luck,” I said as I came up behind him.
Marcus turned. He saw Charlie and me holding hands and let out a relieved sigh. “Looks like you two worked things out.”
“We did, and mostly because of you,” Charlie said. “So thanks for telling my secret, I guess?”
“You’re… welcome?” Marcus tilted his head, as if he wasn’t sure whether to feel bad about being a bigmouth or not.
“And thanks again for finding the loophole,” I said. “If you didn’t, Charlie wouldn’t be here.”
“It wasn’t a big deal,” Marcus protested. “You guys are my friends. I’d do anything for you.”
