Chapter 17
Charlotte
I wake up to a weight around my waist and open my eyes, startled.
The fright fades when I see the Royals flag hanging on the wall, which I recognize from Ethan's room.
The events of the early morning come rushing back into my mind and I bite my lip to keep from crying. I'd already had enough self-pity.
I turn slowly and look at the dark-haired guy sleeping peacefully.
He snores a little bit and I'm forced to control my laughter.
I let myself observe his details for a few seconds: the big lashes that make me envious, the two little freckles near his eyes that are really cute, about three little marks on his skin I hadn't noticed before that don't look like acne...
maybe chickenpox? Maybe I'll ask that later.
The black hair falling on his forehead makes me want to fix it, but I hold back, just like I hold back the urge to hug him again for all the comfort and support he gave me last night.
Him and... Logan.
Damn. A new level of humiliation for me had been unlocked in front of that guy. Once again.
I let out a sigh of defeat.
Despite everything, I was really grateful for his care with me and I was going to find a way to thank him for it soon.
The growl in my stomach reminds me I have other, more urgent needs. Carefully, I take Ethan's hand off my waist and slide out of bed. I grab my phone from the nightstand and hurry to the bathroom.
After peeing and using the mouthwash that'll have to do, since I don't have a toothbrush, I leave the room and check the notifications on my phone.
Damn. There are a million messages and calls from my mom. She must have seen the news online.
The apartment is completely silent, confirming that Logan must be asleep too. I grab an apple I find in the kitchen and head to the small balcony, where I lean on the railing and return Doctor McCarthy's call.
She answers on the third ring.
"Charlotte June McCarthy, are you planning to give me a heart attack?" she practically shouts on the other end, skipping any greeting.
"Hi, Mom. No, I swear I'm not. But what happened was crazy and I wasn't going to call you in the middle of the night, I'd only leave you terrified and..." I try to explain, but she huffs and interrupts me.
"You should have called me! At any hour! I'm your mother! And I was on shift, wide awake!" she exclaims indignantly, except the bit of information she lets slip makes me gasp.
"You're taking night shifts again?"
"It was just yesterday! But don't try to turn this on me, I'm mad at you!"
"And why are you mad at me? I'm the one whose room burned down, you should be comforting me!
" I shoot back, because it's true, it's my turn to freak out here, not hers.
That seems to finally make her snap out of it.
I hear her let the air out of her lungs and her next sentence comes out with a more controlled voice.
"Oh, God, that's true. I'm so sorry, my daughter.
It's just that I got so worried that the only reason I didn't get in the car and come there was because the news article said no one was seriously hurt, but if you'd taken any longer to reach out, I really would have lost my mind," she says, and I nod, even though she can't see it.
"But enough of that! Tell me, how are you? How did it happen?"
I breathe in hard and start to tell her.
We talk for a good while. She thanks God that Maddie and I weren't in the room at the time, and also that we managed to find temporary places to stay.
Then we move on to lighter subjects and I take the chance to eat my apple while she shares her updates.
We also gossip about me thinking my cousin feels a lot more for Zac than she lets herself believe, and we bet that Maddie won't want to come here.
"I give it a month before they're officially dating," I guess, and my mom laughs lightly.
"I give it three weeks," she bets, and I smile too. "Sweetie, I have to go into my pilates class. Call me later, okay? After you find out the state of your things, so we can think about what we'll have to replace."
"Okay, I'll call. I promise."
"I love you. Stay safe," she says goodbye, and I let a single tear slip out. I missed her so much and I'd give anything for a hug right now.
"Love you too, Mom. Take care."
After hanging up, I still stay there a few more minutes looking at the view.
Frosthaven didn't have any really tall buildings, so the fifth floor where the guys' apartment was already produced a good view of the town.
Lots of houses with black roofs and various colors, asphalt in every direction, and there on the horizon you could see part of the mountain range surrounding the little town.
The mountains were actually giving the first signs that the weather would soon get much colder: the dark brown tone indicated the trees were already almost bare, and the peak already had a good dose of snow.
In a few days that snow would reach here and we'd have to take the heavy coats out of the closet.
"Well... if I even still have a closet," I whisper to myself when it hits me, and I let myself laugh a little at my own misfortune.
"Should I be worried about your mental health?
Talking and laughing to yourself out here?
" The deep voice appears behind me and I whirl around, coming face to face with a T-shirt and sweatpants in different shades of gray.
The messy hair and the pillow mark on his cheek give away that he'd just woken up. "Inhale too much smoke?"
I feel my face heat up and run a hand through my hair before answering.
"Maybe, but for now I'm at my expected level of crazy. I was just thinking out loud," I explain, and he cracks a sideways smile.
"Good. Did you manage to sleep?" he asks as he crosses his arms and leans against the balcony doorframe. I pretend not to notice how thick his biceps get when he flexes them like that.
"Yes. Thank God. I woke up a little while ago and went straight to call my mom," I say, and he nods.
"Have you had breakfast?"
"No, I just stole an apple," I confess, showing the fruit's core still in my hand.
"I only know how to make pancakes, that work?"
"Definitely."
"Then come, Pinkie, I'll show you my culinary talents," he announces, already turning his body and heading to the kitchen. I press my lips together to keep from laughing and follow him.
Several minutes later, I'm sitting at the island eating warm pancakes topped with caramel and sliced-up bananas. I can't hold back the moan of delight the moment I taste the food.
"This is delicious," I compliment, and Logan just shoots me a wink before leaning over his own plate.
We stay like that for a few minutes, in a slightly uncomfortable silence, which I decide to end.
"Thank you," I start, and the blond lifts his eyes to me. "For breakfast, of course, but mostly for comforting me and letting me stay here."
Logan shrugs.
"It was nothing major, Charlie." That's his calm answer, going back to eating. Not feeling satisfied, I get down off the stool and walk the few steps to stand in front of him and hold him by the arm.
"No, really. Thank you. I... was a mess and you and Ethan helped me a lot," I reinforce, looking into his eyes.
Logan blinks repeatedly and for a second he even seems a little shy.
"Especially you, who had no obligation to me and...
I mean, Ethan didn't either, we're just hooking up, but...
" I try to explain, but I end up tripping all over myself.
What the hell was I supposed to say? "I was just a hookup over a year ago and I didn't even know you remembered my face, let alone that you'd let me stay at your place"?
Fuck. What a disaster. "You... y-you know? You didn't have to do... that."
I feel my whole face heat up now and I feel really stupid, but Logan suddenly seems extremely entertained. He breaks into a sideways smile that even lets a dimple show and brings his face a little closer to mine.
"Did you think I was just a pretty face you hooked up with in the past and had no sensitivity at all, Charlotte?" he asks in a low voice, and I swallow hard.
"N-no. I mean..." I start trying to explain myself, but the player starts laughing and pulls back.
"I'm just messing with you, Pinkie, relax. And it was nothing major, I swear. You can stay here as long as you need."
I cross my arms and let out a loud exhale, then start glaring at him.
"You like embarrassing me, huh?"
"Yes. It's pretty fun," he confesses without any shame, and I shake my head, a little incredulous at the nerve.
"And what's the deal with that nickname?" I ask, and he looks at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Your hair, obviously," he says and lightly tugs a strand fallen over my shoulder. I roll my eyes.
"Wow, you couldn't come up with anything more creative?"
"I thought about Pink too, but then it reminded me of that cartoon mouse," he explains, and I let my jaw drop. "Which do you prefer? Pink or Pinkie?"
"I prefer Charlie!" I exclaim, and he chews one last piece of pancake while pretending to think.
"You can't have everything, dear roommate. I'll stick with Pinkie," he decides, and I'm forced to stare at the ceiling to stop myself from telling him exactly where he can shove that Pinkie. Luckily, Ethan's voice also intervenes.
"Morning," he greets, coming straight toward me and placing a kiss on my cheek. "Sleep well?"
"Plenty, thanks," I assure, and Ethan smiles lightly.
"Good. I see you've already had breakfast too. Any pancakes left for me?"
"I didn't make any because they'd get cold, man, but the batter's ready," it's Logan who answers, and Ethan nods in agreement.
"Great, thanks," he thanks his friend and heads to the stove, though he looks back at me over his shoulder. "I'll eat and then we can head to campus to find out whether we'll be able to get into Lovelace, what do you think?"
"Perfect," I agree with a sheepish smile, because the fear of not being able to recover anything from my room comes rushing back. I swallow hard and try to control the anxiety for at least a few more moments.