Page 24 of Her Nightshade

Dinner had gone smoothly, the conversation flowing easily enough between the four of us. But even as we ate, I couldn’t shake the tension from Callan from earlier. He had been quieter than usual, his focus drifting between Charlie and me, like he was working something out in his head.

After dinner we sat on the terrace, mingling amongst ourselves. When Sloane excused herself to take a phone call and Charlie went to grab something from the kitchen, Callan glanced at me. His demeanor had shifted from relaxed to something more serious, his arms crossed, as if he was guarding himself for what he was about to say.

“Ana,” he started, keeping his voice low. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you…about Charlie.”

My heart skipped a beat, but I tried to remain calm. “What do you mean?”

He hesitated, glancing towards the kitchen to make sure Charlie wasn’t nearby. “Look, I didn’t want to say anything before, but I’ve heard some things about him. Stuff that’s…unsettling.”

I furrowed my brow, feeling my stomach drop. “What do you mean?”

He sighed, lowering his voice even more. “Back when he dated someone a few years ago, that one actress, I heard he got…possessive. Really fucking intense. People talked about how he wouldn’t let her go anywhere without him, how he was always checking up on her.” His eyes darkened, concern clear on his face. “And when she broke up with him…apparently, he didn’t take it well. Tried to hurt himself. Some people said it was a cry for attention, others said it was serious. But…I thought you should know.”

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

Callan shook his head. “After Sloane told me about his history, I looked into it. I wasn’t sure if it was true. People talk, you know? But seeing him today, I don’t know, Ana. He seems…”

“Intense?” I finished for him, my voice quiet.

Callan nodded. “I get that you care about him, but I’ve seen this before. I’ve seen guys like this get worse. Just…be careful. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

I nodded, a strange feeling creeping over me. The red flags were there, screaming at me to run. But I ignored them, clutching red flags of my own.

* * *

When Sloane and Callan settled into the guest room later, I couldn’t shake the conversation with Callan from my mind. His words kept echoing in my head, and no matter how hard I tried to ignore them, the weight of it all kept pressing down on me. I knew I couldn’t let it go.

Charlie must’ve sensed it too. He’d been watching me closely all evening, probably waiting for me to say something. Finally, when it was just the two of us in my room, he broke the silence.

“Ana, what’s going on? You’ve been quiet…more quiet than usual.” He pulled his shirt off over his head and I caught myself staring.

I swallowed, my heart racing. “Callan said something earlier…”

He froze, already defensive. “What did he say?”

I hesitated but I couldn’t keep it in any longer. “He was concerned after he heard some…stuff. He said you were possessive with your ex. That you wouldn’t let her have any space. And when she broke up with you…you tried to hurt yourself.”

Charlie’s face went pale and I knew right then that it was true. He didn’t even try to deny it. He sat at the edge of the bed and shook his head. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. “That was a long time ago, Ana. I was in a really bad place.”

I shook my head, feeling the anger rise inside me. “You told me you were never like this with anyone else. You said it was different with me. That I was the only one you’ve ever been—”

His eyes flickered with confusion and hurt. “Itisdifferent with you. It wasn’t like that with her.”

I scoffed, jealousy rising within me again. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. I keep hearing that you’ve been crazy about these other women. And now suddenly I’m the only one you’re like this with?” I hated every word coming out of my mouth but I couldn’t stop them.

Charlie stood up and stepped towards me, his voice low. “No, Ana, you don’t understand. It’s not the same. What I feel for you…it’s deeper. Endless. I never felt this way with her.”

I shook my head, my heart pounding in my chest. “But you were still like that with her, Charlie. You said I was the only one. Youlied.”

Charlie’s jaw clenched, his eyes pleading with me to understand. “Ididn’tlie. It’s different with you, Ana—”

“Stop,” I interrupted. Tears stung the back of my eyes but I blinked them away. As much as I hated it, I was jealous—jealous that he’d been this way with someone else, and evenIknew how crazy that sounded. I knew how toxic this thinking was, but it was there, gnawing at me.

“Ana, please,” Charlie’s voice softened, stepping closer. “I don’t want you to feel like this. What I feel for you is…it’s so much more. It scares me sometimes, how much I need you.”

I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to create some distance. “I know it’s not right to even think this way,” I admitted, my voice shaky. “But I can’t help it. You told me I was the only one and now I don’t know if I can believe anything you say.”

Everything I was saying felt so juvenile, so immature, but it was as if something else entirely took over me.

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