Page 26 of His Kingdom

Louie chuckles. “It makes me money. I wouldn’t call it fun.”

“Do you think you should be downstairs now? I wouldn’t want you to be losing money.”

“I’m good. I’d much rather be sitting here with you,” Louie says, and then his phone rings. “Shit. I have to take this. Eat. You’ve barely touched your food.” He points at my almost-full plate as he stands up and walks out of the dining room.

I don’t think I can eat. My stomach isn’t feeling great. My emotions are all over the place and my mind is spinning. I don’t know what I’m doing here. I know I need to make some hard decisions. I just don’t know if I’m ready to make them yet.

“I’m really sorry. I have to step out for a bit.” Louie stops at the table. “Will you be okay? I can get one of the guys to come up and keep you company.”

“No, I’m good. I’ll go back to my room. I think I just want to lie in bed and binge some crappy television show.” I stand and push the chair in. “Wait… Do you want me to do something with all this? I can pack it away.”

“Leave it. I’ll have someone come and clean up, but you don’t need to go. Come with me.” Louie takes my hand in his and starts leading me down a hall. Into a bedroom. His bedroom. I can tell because it smells like his citrus aftershave. “You can binge watch whatever you want in here. Make yourself at home,” he says, pulling the covers back.

I stare at the bed and then up at him. “You want me to stay here? In your bed?”

“I want to come back and see you right here. So, yes, I want you in my bed,” Louie says.

Well, crap. Did my knees just wobble?I think they did.

“Okay,” I whisper, climbing onto the plush mattress.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can. If you need anything, call me.” Louie kisses my forehead and then hands me a phone. My phone.

“Where did you get this?” I ask him.

“Your room. I picked it up before we walked out. My number’s on here,” he says, handing me a business card.

“Thank you.” I dip deeper into what has to be one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever been on.

“Here.” Louie passes me a remote after he presses a button that makes a screen start descending from the ceiling like magic. “See you soon.”

“Um, yeah. Thanks again,” I say as he walks out.

I wait until I hear the door click shut. And that feeling of utter aloneness sinks in again. I hate it. Burying myself under the covers, I click on the Netflix app on the television and start scrolling.

After about thirty minutes of not being able to settle on anything to watch, I toss the remote to the other side of the bed in frustration. Then I pick up my phone and turn it on for the first time since I messaged my mom. As soon as the screen lights up, notifications come rapid fire. Ignoring the ones from Owen and my sister again, I open the one from my mom.

Mom:

Charlotte, call me. Answer your phone, please. We can fix this. We just need to talk about it.

Mom:

Charlotte, you’re being really selfish right now. Call me. Let me know that my daughter is alive.

The texts continue. I can tell my mom is worried about me. There’s also the sense that she wants to talk me into going home. I don’t think I’m going to, though. I’m seriously considering taking Louie up on his offer to stay here and figure out the next chapter in my life.

My finger presses over my mom’s name and the dial sound starts ringing out through my speaker.

“Charlotte, is that you?” My mom’s voice is rushed.

“It’s me, Mom,” I whisper.

“Oh, sweet Jesus. Thank god you’re okay. You are okay, aren’t you? Where are you?” Mom asks.

“I’m okay. I’m just going to stay away for a little bit. I need time,” I tell her.

“Time for what? You need to come home and sort out this mess, Charlotte. You know your sister hasn’t stopped crying. She’s been trying to call you.” My mother’s concern quickly turns into her reprimanding me.

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