Page 50 of Wallflower
Finn’s slouched in an armchair and scrolling through something on his phone, which he immediately tucks away before bounding to his feet. He gives Charlie a kiss on the cheek and is halfway to the door when he replies, “Can’t. Leave it, and I’ll do it tomorrow.”
Charlie stares at the front door as it swings closed behind our brother.
“Fine,” she mutters. “I’ll do it myself.”
Charlie disappears into the hallway, and I snatch up a stack of plates and a handful of dirty napkins before following. She’s at the sink when I enter the old but tidy kitchen, so I set the dirty dishes in the soapy suds and step back.
“Thanks,” she mutters under her breath.
“No problem.”
“You don’t need to hang around, you know.” Charlie yanks open the dishwasher and starts loading it. “I can clean up. I’m sure you’ve got things you need to do tonight.”
I check my watch. It’s nearly ten o’clock. If I leave now, I might get a moment with Violet before she goes to bed.
I imagine her face when she found my note on the fridge. When she read our texts, and then when she listened to my voice message.
I realized last night that when it comes to Violet, I’ve given up any hope of stone-cold self-control, and I don’t even care. I like who I am with her. She reminds me of the guy I used tobe. A younger Chord who trusted people and had fun and loved without regret. Before money and fame and betrayal changed things.
But as much as I miss her tonight, Violet is the reason Idon’trush back to my house. These past few weeks on the ranch have made me more certain than ever that this is where I want to be when I retire. And while I don’t need Charlie’s permission to do it, I don’t want to move back while there’s this tension between us. I need to fix whatever’s broken between my sister and me. I want to do better. I want tobebetter.
“I don’t mind hanging around a bit longer,” I tell her.
She shrugs but doesn’t look my way. “Whatever you want.”
I go back and forth between the living room and the kitchen, quietly clearing away all evidence of game night. There’s not much I can do about the confetti without pulling out the vacuum cleaner, but I sneak upstairs with the balloons and quietly load them into Izzy’s room, hoping it’ll be a fun surprise for her when she wakes.
I return to the kitchen one last time, lifting the last bowl to my mouth and tipping the final crumbs of the Pretzel M&M’s onto my tongue. I offer the empty dish to Charlie, who accepts it with a tiny smile and a shake of her head before stowing it in the dishwasher. “I can’t believe those are still your favorite.”
I lean back on the counter and cross my arms over my chest, my legs at the ankles. “I can’t believe you still only eat plain.”
She shrugs and programs the machine, still finding excuses not to look at me. “Original. Classic. Dependable.”
I nod. “Respectable.”
“Exactly.”
There’s an awkward silence, and I’m looking for the right words to start a meaningful conversation when Charlie speaks first.
“I guess I’ll call it a night, then.” She dries her hands on a dish towel and tosses it on the counter.
“Wait.”
She pauses with her body half turned from me, then shifts around and lifts her chin, finally meeting my eyes.
I take a long breath. I’m not an anxious person. I’m an arrogant asshole with too much money and a reputation that encourages people to make my life easy, but Charlie… Charlie makes me nervous.
“I’m looking at apartments in the city tomorrow. Three of them to start. I’m pretty sure one of them will be good enough for the season, so I’ll be out of your hair come September.”
“Oh.” Charlie shifts her feet and stares at her bare toes as they brush along the smooth, pale, hardwood floor. “Good. I mean, you know. Good for you.”
“Yeah.” I rub the back of my neck. “But Charlie…”
Her arms snake across her chest, and she lifts her chin like she’s anticipating a fight.
“I can’t play forever, and I reckon I’ve got two good years left in me—tops. I built my house here for a reason, and that reason was my retirement. You have to know I plan to come home once I’m done with hockey.”
Her eyes flash, and her spine straightens. “You can’t take this place from me. I won’t let you.”
