That’s how I end up at Audrey and Charlie’s condo. I want to stay home, but I push through because I know no matter what, if I’m staying in Denver, I’m going to see Audrey. Either we’re going to coexist or somehow actually have a relationship.
Unlikely, but we’re both adults now and never really talked about the one thing we have in common which is that we were born into the same unfortunate family.
“Hey, how’s it going?” Charlie opens the front door, and we slap our hands together in greeting as I walk inside.
“Pretty good.” I nod, taking in the condo like I always do, but I try not to let my judgment take over like it always does. I spend so much time at Rae’s house and in her world that I can’t really judge.
“Saw you in some pictures with Rae.” He raises an eyebrow. I just shrug. I don’t know what we’re telling people, or if we are saying anything at all.
“Wasn’t just me.” I shrug.
“Saw that too.”
“If you’re trying to get info out of him, you know you’re not going to.” Audrey closes her laptop she was on at the counter as we walk into the open kitchen and living room area.
“Do you expect me to walk in here and spill all my secrets or something?” I attempt to joke, but it comes out harsher than I intend.
“At least then you’d be talking.” Audrey folds her arms across her chest.
Charlie walks up to my sister, and I already feel the tense energy between us that always happens when we’re together. The one that leads to us arguing and why we’ve never been able to have a productive conversation.
“I’m meeting up with Colver and Wheeler for a bit.” Charlie kisses the side of Audrey’s head, and I have to muffle my laughter with a cough at who he is meeting up with.
I also may meet up with a Colver and Wheeler later, and that thought is funnier to me than it should be.
“Have fun,” Audrey says, tilting her head for a kiss that I look away from, pretending to look at a picture on the wall.
Charlie taps my shoulder on his way out. I was kind of hoping he would stick around because he’s always been good at being a mediator between the two of us. Audrey and I are both stubborn and some would say hot headed, so having someone like Charlie who is a bit…calmer is helpful.
She flops herself down on the couch and looks at me. “This visit was unexpected. Are you being courteous and giving me a warning that you’re leaving this time?”
I clench my jaw and try to keep my calm before replying. I know she’s just giving me shit, and maybe it’s because a small part of her actually cares. I just have Rae’s voice in my head telling me to give her a chance.
I’m tense as I sit on the couch and she narrows her eyes at me, questioning, “Are you okay?”
I nod, thinking about how I can ask this without coming across like a massive dick, but it’s been ten years since I moved in with her, and I just need to rip the Band-Aid off and know for sure.
“Why did you never try and talk to me before I moved in with you?” I blurt.
“What?”
“Why didn’t you want anything to do with me before you were forced to?” I’m unable to hide how irritated I am saying it out loud.
She rears back. “Forced to?”
“Yeah, you never wanted me here and we both know it.”
“Asher,” she starts, twisting her mouth to the side and narrowing her eyes at me. “What makes you think you know everything?”
“Why won’t you answer the question?”
She lets out a deep sigh, shaking her head. “Did you know I lived with our grandma before I got the fuck away from her at eighteen?”
I shrug. “Yeah, I guess.”
“If she was still alive, would you want anything to do with her after leaving her hell hole?”
“Fuck no.”
