Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
Charlie
Moving On
One month later…
The entire drive, Kip bounces in his seat, unable to sit still for even a second.
“We’re going to have to get a car. There’s no public transit in Willowhaven.” I mention.
Kip’s eyes widen. “Not even a bus?”
I smirk. “Nope. You’re lucky you have me to chauffeur you around.
And since we’ll be working at the same place, at least we can ride together.
” When I glance over at Kip, I realize he’s gnawing on his lip with an anxious look on his face.
Reaching over, I grab his hand. “You alright? It’s not too late to change your mind, you know? We don’t have to move here.”
Kip’s free hand lands on top of mine. “No, that’s not it at all.
It’s just…well, it’s a big change. I’ve never been anywhere but the city.
And I’m kind of scared.” He takes a deep breath.
“But I’m sure about wanting to be here with you.
It’s going to be great, honestly. I’m just nervous is all.
And I’m meeting your mom. I’ve never met a partner’s parent before.
Mainly because I haven’t had a partner before, but still. ”
“Baby, she’s fucking dying to meet you. You have nothing to worry about.” I reassure him, squeezing his fingers in mine.
When I was a teen, all I wanted to do was move away from my small town into the big city.
I couldn’t wait to get away from home. But as time went on, I realized that the city wasn’t as great as I thought it would be.
Sure, it sucks to be leaving my friends behind, but it’s only a few hours drive away.
And I’ll have Kip with me, so I won’t be lonely.
Eighteen year old me would never have believed that I’d choose to move back home, not after Jeremy.
But here we are, driving down main street.
As we go along, I point out different spots in town.
My old high school, which I definitely didn’t miss.
The movie theater. The grocery store. And the empty building that we’re hoping to sign a lease on in order to open our gym.
“This doesn’t feel real.” Kip’s eyes are wide as he takes in the staples of the stereotypical small town. “It’s like from a movie or some shit.”
It’s easy to forget that Kip hasn’t seen anywhere like this before. To me, it’s basic and kind of boring, even though it’s home. But seeing it through his eyes is magical.
A few blocks off of main street is my mom’s house.
We pull up along the curb, and I take it in for the first time in a couple of years.
I cringe at the thought. I’ve kind of been a shitty son, not coming home in all that time.
Life tends to get away from you. And even though it hurt my Mom, and me to stay away, it was easier than facing my fear of this place.
But with Kip here, the fear isn’t nearly as strong.
“It’s so cute!” Kip squeals. “This is your Mom’s house? It’s like a dollhouse!”
I look from him to the slightly run-down Victorian style home.
It’s light blue, with white and black accents.
The paint is peeling, and the front porch has definitely seen better days.
It’s my childhood home, and although it’s a little rough, my heart warms at the sight of it.
There’s love in this home, and it’s special to me, and Mom.
The front door swings open, and Mom comes running down the front steps. “Charlie!” She shrieks, beaming at me.
I don’t get a chance to get around the front of the car before she meets me and crushes me in her arms.
“Hi, Mom.” I smile, squeezing her back.
She pulls back, and punches my shoulder. “You little shit. You haven’t been home in years! And now I’m finding out you’re serious with some guy and moving home with him?”
Kip pauses behind her, his expression sheepish. “I’m sorry, ma’am. If you’re not comfortable, I can go—”
Mom whirls on him. Using her pointer finger, she pokes him in the chest. “Now don’t go putting words in my mouth. I never said I was uncomfortable with it.” Dropping her hand, she pulls Kip into a hug.
He huffs out a breath, and looks at me over her shoulder. “What is going on?” He mouths.
I just shake my head and smile.
Mom places her hands on Kip’s shoulders and takes a step back, looking him up and down. Then, she turns and gives me an impish grin. “Damn, Charlie. You pulled a hottie.”
Kip chokes and coughs.
“That I did.” I agree.
“Alright, boys. Let’s get you settled in, and then I’ve got lasagna in the oven for you.” Mom rounds the back of the rental car, popping the trunk to start grabbing our belongings.
Kip and I exchange a horrified look when she isn’t paying attention. Fuckity shitballs…we didn’t think about the fact that Kip is a vampire and can’t fucking eat human food! Mom is going to be hurt if he doesn’t eat…
I move in to whisper in Kip’s ear. “You’re gonna have to take one for the team, baby. If you don’t eat her lasagna she’s going to be devastated.”
Kip blanches. “But if I do I’m gonna get sick!”
“We’ll figure something out for future meals, but for tonight, you’re going to have to suck it up.”
“Are you going to make me unload this car by myself?” Mom calls out impatiently.
“Sorry.” I mouth to Kip, heading towards the trunk to help unload.
“You’ll owe me for this one!” Kip hisses, before joining me.
Our first week in Willowhaven flies by. We get settled in with Mom, sign a lease on the building for the gym, and start working on getting it set up.
Kip is absolutely enamored with the quaint town. Each place we go, he buzzes with excitement. He can’t get over the fact that places like this are real, not just something from TV and movies. It’s endearing, and makes me see the magic of my hometown again.
Kip sits on the bench next to me at the diner. He can’t eat the food, but he still wanted me to bring him here to see one of the town’s staples. It’s one of only three restaurants in town.
The diner, as most of the town calls it, is actually named Rosie’s.
Rosie and her husband, George, opened it back in the fifties.
They’re gone now, passed away several years ago, but now their granddaughter Beth runs it.
It’s largely stayed the same since it opened.
Updates here and there, but all of them preserved the original fifties style of the place, down to the black and white checkered floors and red vinyl booths.
Luckily, Mom has been busy for lunch and dinners since that first night, so Kip only had to eat one meal. He was not happy afterwards, poor guy. He was throwing up all night, crying ‘never again’. We’ve got to find a solution for the whole ‘eating’ problem.
Kip is telling me about his ideas for the gym, and I’m lifting a bite of syrupy and delicious chocolate chip pancake to my mouth when my eyes lock with someone’s across the diner.
My mouth is open, and I know the syrup is dripping everywhere, but I’m frozen. Panic, fear, and nausea flood my gut.
Jeremy makes a beeline for our table, leaving behind the woman and child he was with. The woman, who I’m now realizing is Hannah, a popular girl from high school, shoots a confused look at Jeremy. And then her eyes trail over to me, recognition lighting up like a bulb in them.
Kip pauses what he was saying. “Sweetheart?” He turns to look over his shoulder, his brows furrowing as he looks at Jeremy moving towards us.
Jeremy pulls to a stop at our table, scuffing his shoes on the worn tile floor. “Hi, Charlie.”
I drop my fork, syrup flinging in droplets over the table and my shirt. Fuck, keep it together. He has no power over you anymore, remember?
“Hey, I’m Kip. Charlie’s boyfriend. And you are…?” Kip pipes in, realizing that I’m not going to say anything.
“Oh, uhh…” Jeremy rubs the back of his neck nervously. “I’m Jeremy…I’m sure you don’t know who I am, but Charlie and I went to high school together.”
Kip stiffens, throwing his arm protectively around my shoulders. “I know exactly who you are, Jeremy.”
Jeremy blanches. “Ahh…ummm…listen, can I please sit? I have something I want to say…”
“Actually, no, you have nothing to say to Charlie. Ever.” Kip nods in the direction of Hannah and the kid. “And I’m pretty sure your wife and child are waiting for you, so you should probably go and fuck off.”
Jeremy’s gaze darts over to Hannah, and then back to me. “Please, Charlie. Just give me one minute, that’s all I want. One minute of your time, and then I promise I’ll leave you alone.”
I look at Jeremy, really look at him for the first time, and I’m taken aback by his drastic change in appearance.
He’s changed a lot since high school. His once wavy brown hair is now basically non-existent, just a few wisps left behind on his otherwise bald head.
He’s got a beer belly now, and his brown eyes are rimmed with red, dark bags underneath.
“Fine.” I grit out. “One minute, and then you go.”
“T-thank you, really. Thank you so much.” Jeremy’s body sags with relief.
“Are you sure, baby?” Kip whispers in my ear.
I nod. “I’m not doing this for you, Jeremy. I’m doing this for me. For closure.” I gesture to the booth across from us. “Now sit down, take your minute, and then leave so Kip and I can get on with our lunch.”
Jeremy promptly slides into the red vinyl booth across from Kip and me. “I…well…I…” he pauses. “Listen, Charlie. Can I talk to just you? Your uhh, boyfriend, is making me uncomfortable.”
Kip snorts. “Yeah, that’s not fucking happening. Get on with it, I’m timing you.”
Jeremy clasps his hands tightly on the table, his knuckles white from how hard he’s gripping. “Okay, okay.” He takes a deep inhale, looking down at his hands. “I’m sorry.”
“Okay…” I reply. “And?”
Jeremy looks up at Charlie, then his eyes dart back down before he continues. “I fucked up, Charlie, and I’m so sorry. It wasn’t supposed to go down like that. I swear to you, I never wanted to hurt you. I was…I was in love with you.”
My fists clench, and Kip pulls me tighter to his side.
“And you’re done. You can leave now. Minute’s up.” Kip sneers.
Kip’s protective side never fails to make me melt.
I love how fiercely he’s sticking up for me right now.
I’m so glad that things worked out the way they did.
I’m glad I moved to the city and found Kip, my soulmate.
Jeremy and I were never supposed to work out, and I know that now. Everything happens for a reason.
“No, please. Let me finish, please. Give me a chance.” Jeremy pleads, tears in his voice.
“Fine. Make it count.” My voice is terse. I’m ready for this to be done. But maybe I need to hear what Jeremy’s going to say, for my own sake.
“Okay, thank you.” Jeremy fidgets. “I’m not lying when I say I was in love with you.
I really, really was. And I really am bi.
That night at the hotel…I was so fucking excited.
But my friends…they uhhh…found out about us.
Followed me there. When I went to my car to grab my duffel, they ambushed me.
And I couldn’t fucking tell them the truth.
” He’s full on crying now. Jeremy sniffles.
“Sorry, uhhh…I was a coward, Charlie. So, instead of telling them that I was really in a relationship with you…I told them it was a prank. I had no idea they would go up to the room and film it…”
Kip cuts in, his tone disbelieving. “How’d they get the room key if not from you, genius?”
Jeremy groans, wiping the wetness on his face with his palm.
“I gave it to them. I know I shouldn’t have, but I felt trapped.
My Dad, he would have disowned me for liking guys.
I couldn’t let him find out the truth. So I let them have the key.
I didn’t know you’d be waiting like that, and I had no idea they’d film it and show everyone…
I’m so fucking sorry I didn’t protect you, Charlie. I was selfish.”
“And so you just let it all happen?” Kip says, absolutely disgusted with Jeremy. “Instead of stopping everyone from tormenting Charlie, you let them do it? You made his senior year unbearable, dude. You’re the reason he had to switch to online school. He moved away to escape the pain you caused.”
“I know!” Jeremy cries, anguished. “Like I said, I’m a fucking coward. I should’ve done something, anything. But I didn’t. And so when I realized you were back in town, I had to find you and apologize. I know you’ll never forgive me, but I have to try.”
I think on everything Jeremy’s admitted.
None of our relationship was fake. But he made the choice to let me down, in order to save himself.
I’ll never understand what it’s like to have a parent hate you because of who you love.
Even so, it didn’t give Jeremy the right to hand over the key and let his friends humiliate me. He could have stopped it at any point.
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm for the rest of this conversation.
“You’re right…I can’t forgive you. I don’t think I ever will.
Just like I’ll never comprehend how you could do what you did, and still claim that you were in love with me.
I am glad you came over and told me the truth, but it doesn’t change anything. ”
Kip leans into me, lending me his love and strength.
“Your time is up. Your wife and kid are waiting for you.” I point behind Jeremy, to the people still eyeing us and waiting for him.
“If I see you around town, I might wave, but that doesn’t give you permission to approach me or talk to me ever again.
That’s up to me. This is probably the last conversation we’ll ever have. ”
Jeremy wipes his face and nods. “Okay. I get it.” Standing, he’s about to walk away, when he turns back to Kip and me. “Have a good life, you two. I’m sorry. And Kip?”
Kip’s gaze doesn’t waver from Jeremy’s.
“Take care of Charlie. Treat him better than I was able to…he deserves that.” With that, Jeremy walks away, rejoining his family.
When he’s finally gone, I feel a weight fall off my shoulders. I let out a quiet, shuddering sob of relief. I can finally put the past behind me. I don’t need to worry about living in Willowhaven, or Jeremy, or any of that ever again.
Kip wraps his arms around me, tugging my head to his chest. His lips press to my hair. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”
And I know that’s the truth. Kip will never let me down.