Chapter 23 #2
My heart’s racing after I send my reply, but it feels weirdly good to say something to him rather than staying silent as usual.
I don’t have to wait long to get his reaction. It’s less than thirty seconds before a second text comes through.
Unknown number
You made your choice. I’ll be seeing you, birdie. Real soon.
Something about what he said sends a shiver down my spine, but I remind myself that there’s no way he knows where I am. I’m safe and out of his reach. Or, at least, that’s what I try to convince myself as I finish my breakfast in uneasy silence.
Charlie looks at me incredulously from where she’s perched on the other side of the cream sectional. “You mean to tell me you spent the entire night in a hot guy’s bed and didn’t get it on? Even a little? What the actual fuck, Jojo? Are you trying to die a virgin?”
I had the guys drop me off at my apartment this morning so I could get a little work done. After finishing up what I needed for the day, I decided to come over to Charlie and Coop’s place to hang out for a little while, which I’m regretting now, thanks to her interrogation.
Coop makes a gagging noise from his spot next to me. “Eww. Can you not, Charles? Jesus. I don’t need to hear about either of my little sisters fucking anyone.”
I snort at his reaction. I’m glad to see Coop is pretty much healed up from his scuffle with Azrael. His bruises and cuts are completely gone, and he looks like his normal self.
She rolls her eyes and huffs at him. “Like you don’t know I’ve been having sex for years, Cooper. Jojo, not so much. But we’re working on that whole not-dying-without-ever-boinking-anyone thing.”
Coop slaps his hands over his ears as soon as Charlie mentions her sex life.
I groan. “For the last time, Charlie, I’m not a virgin. And no, nothing happened because I’m just friends with them.”
“Uh-huh,” she says, skepticism dripping from her words.
“You’re just friends with the stupidly hot guys who follow you around like lost puppies?
The four of them are so into you. I’m pretty sure even the scary dude who beat up Coop likes you.
So, what’s keeping you from jumping on those pogo sticks? ”
I let out another groan. Charlie sure has a way with words. An embarrassing way.
“Because she’s scared,” Coop supplies unhelpfully while I’m trying to figure out how to respond to her.
I twist around to give him a death glare that only causes his smirk to widen. The jerk is enjoying outing me to Charlie.
Her forehead wrinkles in confusion. “What are you scared of, Jojo? You know I’ll beat their asses if they even think about hurting you.”
I huff a laugh. I know she’d absolutely try to beat them up, but I doubt all five-foot-three of her stands a chance against any of the guys.
I shrug, not knowing how to explain any of it. Or if I even want to. “I’m just not ready, Charlie. I’m not ready to date or jump into a relationship so soon after my last one fell apart.”
More like imploded spectacularly.
I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to go through that again, and I’m honestly fine with it. I’d rather be alone than get hurt like that again.
Charlie’s ocean-blue eyes soften in sympathy as she hugs the green velvet pillow closer to her. “It’s been seven months, babe. You’re going to have to start moving on eventually. You can’t hide away from the world forever.”
“I know. I just… can’t yet.” My voice breaks, and I look away from her.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see something that looks a lot like pity cross Coops’s face, and I hate it.
“Okay, Jojo,” she whispers. “Just, don’t let opportunities pass you by because you’re waiting for the ‘right’ time. They seem like really good guys, and I know you like them, despite what you say. They’re not gonna wait around forever, so, just… don’t take too long.”
I swallow hard at that. I know there’s not a chance in hell that the guys and I would work as anything other than friends. I’m way too broken for that. But it still feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest at the thought of them with anyone else.
Whatever Charlie sees on my face has her hopping up and dashing out of the room. She returns a minute later with her arms loaded up with chocolate and candy. Plopping down next to me, she shoves the snacks into my lap and turns on the TV.
She puts on one of our favorite movies from when we were younger, The Parent Trap, and wraps an arm around me. “It’s all gonna be okay. You’ll see.”
I don’t say anything, because I want to believe her, at least for a little bit. The three of us get sucked into the movie for a couple of hours.
I enjoy soaking up the time just hanging out with my best friends. It feels like we’ve hardly gotten to see each other for the past few weeks, each of us busy with our own lives.
By the time the movie’s over, the sun has set, and it’s time to head out.
After saying my goodbyes, I suit up and hop onto my bike.
Not feeling like going back to an empty apartment, I decide to ride around for a while, Charlie’s words about not waiting too long bouncing around in my mind as I do so.