Chapter 50
CHARLIE
Troy is so nervous, it’s adorable. He keeps fidgeting where he stands, watching what everyone does with rapt attention.
He told me once that he hated anything theatrical thanks to a bad experience where he forgot his lines in a play, but the beauty of LARP is that it’s all improv.
You just have to go with the flow and stay in character.
After the dark forces cast a curse across the entire land, my character, Raven the Sorceress, suggests a partnership with Gunther Crook. Blake’s character, Philippe Di Biase, is a rogue vampire knight who’s against it, but he’s also against every idea the group suggests. That’s his character.
While Blake is busy with his monologue, listing why trusting a troll is a terrible idea, Troy steps closer to me and whispers, “Why am I not surprised this toad is against me?”
“Shh, you have to stay in character.” I elbow him lightly in the stomach.
He pinches my butt in retaliation, daring me with his eyes to say something. I watch him through slits, but then Blake asks Gunther a question.
“Come again?” Troy asks.
“I asked what you have to say for yourself, monster.”
“Well, for starters, who are you calling a monster, bloodsucker?”
Blake puffs out his chest. “I’m a valuable member of the king’s court. You’re nothing but a grotesque creature who lives in a filthy swamp.”
Troy crosses his arms and leans casually against a tree. “This ‘grotesque creature’ is the only one who knows the secret path to the Dark Lord’s castle. Don’t want my help? Too fucking bad.”
Okay, I think he’s into it now, but probably because of his feud with Blake. I don’t care, he’s saying exactly what Gunther Crook would, so everyone is happy.
“Oh, pipe down, Philippe,” I intervene. “Gunther is our only hope to save the lands from a much worse threat.”
“Besides, if he tries anything, he’ll meet my blade,” Ben adds, holding his fake sword menacingly.
Troy becomes our guide, and we continue playing until the nonplaying characters make an appearance to put a wrench in our plans.
A battle ensues, and when I throw a homemade bag filled with rice at a bad guy and call out a spell, the NP character makes a big show of dying and then drops to the ground.
That is apparently too much for Troy, and he immediately loses his shit.
He leans his hands on his knees and bursts out laughing.
His reaction makes everyone else self-conscious.
I grab his arm and drag him away from the scene.
“Hey, where are we going?” he asks.
“You were making everyone uncomfortable when you broke character,” I hiss, not wanting to be overheard.
“Ah, babe. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin the fun.”
“I know, but I think that’s enough LARP for you for the day. You’re still too green.”
“I’ll show you green.” He reaches for my waist and then tosses me over his shoulder.
I smack his back. “Troy, put me down.”
He laughs and breaks into a jog, only stopping when we reach our cabin.
He kicks the door open, and when he sets me back down, he doesn’t give me a chance to talk.
His mouth is on mine in an instant, hungry, possessive.
His hands explore my body in an urgent way, sliding down my sides until they reach the slits of my skirt.
Caught up in his fire, I yank at his costume, fighting with the straps that are keeping his armor in place.
“Ugh, why are there so many of them?” I complain.
“Leave them.” He pulls my dress over my head, leaving me standing in nothing but my lingerie.
“Not fair. I’m practically naked.”
He answers by getting rid of his pants and boxers. “Not the only one anymore.”
His lips claim mine again, and then we’re tumbling over the mattress. Troy is between my legs, pressing his erection against my center.
“I’m still wearing my panties,” I say against his mouth.
He grabs both sides of them and yanks the fabric, ripping it into two pieces. “Not anymore.”
“You owe me a new pair.” I grab his face, pulling his mouth back to mine.
“Sure, sure.” He enters me fast and hard, drawing a loud moan from my lips.
He doesn’t stop or slow down; we’re both too horny for making love slowly.
The bed creaks dangerously, and I’m afraid we’re going to break it.
But despite the loud noise the furniture is making, Troy keeps pumping harder and faster until both of us are at the edge of a cliff.
He grunts when he comes, and I bite his shoulder when I do seconds later.
This is us. Crazy, impulsive, complete.
Minutes later, I’m resting with my head against his chest. He’s still wearing his troll armor, so I make lazy circles with my fingers around his belly button.
“If you’re hoping for a second round, I’m going to need a few more minutes,” he tells me.
“It’s okay. I’m happy just staying like this for a little bit.”
We don’t speak for another minute, and then I decide to ask something that’s been nagging me for a while—what he plans to do after he graduates. We’ve been avoiding the topic since we got back together, but we can’t do that forever.
“Babe, have you decided what you’re doing once school is over?”
“I have, actually.”
I lean on my elbow so I can see his face, my heart hammering in my chest. “Really?”
“I’m taking that brand ambassador job I told you about.”
“The one where you have to travel the world?” I ask through the lump in my throat.
My worst fear is coming to pass. Troy is going to leave me.
“Yeah.”
I sit up, putting some distance between us. “It’s a great opportunity.”
Troy rolls out of bed and then grabs something from his backpack before sitting next to me. “Here.”
“What is this?” I grab the brochure from his hand.
“You told me you wanted to study abroad for a semester. There’s still time to apply, and the lady at the administration office told me you would be a shoo-in.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I want us to see the world together, Charlie. We’ll start with Europe while you’re in London. We can travel on weekends. I don’t want to go anywhere without you, babe. Those miserable six weeks we were apart were enough.”
I’m on the verge of crying, but I keep the tears at bay for the moment. I gave up on the idea because of Ben before, but my brother has proven to me over and over again that he doesn’t need me to be his champion. He can fight his own battles.
I want Troy to come to a realization of his own as well. Jane told me what today is, and the haunted glints I caught in his eyes a few times when he thought I wasn’t looking killed me. I don’t want Troy to keep carrying this immense guilt.
“I will apply under one condition.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“I want you to stop blaming yourself for what happened to your brother.”
He recoils, closing off his expression in an instant. Facing away from me, he breathes out heavily. “I wish it were that simple, Charlie. My own parents told me it was my fault.”
“No offense, babe, but your parents are vile. Ophelia told me what happened. Your parents got distracted, socializing, and didn’t see when Robbie removed his water wings. She was the one who raised the alarm when she got near the pool. Do you remember that?”
“No, not really.” He presses a closed fist against his chest. “My memories of the pool are blurry at best. My only vivid memory is of my mother shaking me in a rage, screaming it was my fault.”
“Oh, Troy.” I throw my arm around his shoulders and hug him tight. “I’m so sorry.”
He leans into me. “How come Grandma never told me that story?”
“She did, many times over. But I think you just blocked her out.”
Troy turns to me. “Thank you for telling me again.”
His eyes are so damn sad, but at least the anguish is gone.
“I couldn’t let you keep believing that lie. You’re a good person, Troy, better than anyone I know. You deserve to be free of that awful guilt.”
He cups my cheek. “You’re so good to me, Charlie. Sometimes, I think I’m dreaming.”
“Not a dream, I promise.” I place a featherlight kiss on his lips. “So, do we have a deal?”
“If that means I get to see the world with you by my side, yes, that’s a deal.”
*** THE END ***