Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24418 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24418 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Chapter Thirteen
CHARLIE
I pace back and forth in my room. It’s torture not having my phone. I want to call Shay, but I don’t have his number memorized. I could tell from the expression on his face when he told me to leave without going to the locker room that he must have discovered something.
How is he going to handle all of this? I’m sure that’s what he’s doing. Maybe I should have fought him and gone back to the locker room. If he knows about the mess with Parker, then he could have confronted him. That wouldn't be good. In fact, it could make everything worse.
Staying away from Shay isn’t an option for me. No matter what Parker told me to do. Even if I tried to do that, I know Shay won’t stay away from me. He’s made it clear from day one when he tried and failed miserably. He was telling me to leave him alone the whole time he was seeking me out. I can’t help but smile at the thought, but then it quickly fades as reality settles in.
Tins gave me the third degree all the way home. She knows that there is something going on between Shay and me. Then when I walked in the front door, my uncle started telling me that I could talk to him about anything. I hope he’s just worried because I’ve got a new friend and I'm going to football games. Not because I’m fucking the new football coach.
A knock sounds on my door, and I stop pacing back and forth. “Yeah?” I call out, not wanting to face my uncle again.
I hate that I’m kind of lying to him. If he pushed for the truth, I might crack. Shay has enough problems on his hands, and I’m not sure what my uncle would do. He’s laid back, but at times I’ve felt there was something simmering under the surface.
“Can I come in?”
“Sure.” Now I’m getting suspicious. I can’t think of a time when Callum has ever asked to come into my bedroom. He’s always given me space, and we talk downstairs.
“How are you holding up, kiddo?” he asks, stepping into my bedroom.
“What do you mean?”
“Charlie.” He cocks his head. “I can read you better than you think.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I shift on my feet, knowing that getting defensive isn’t going to help my case. I have no idea what else to do, so I deflect.
“Sit.” He grabs the chair at my desk and moves it closer to where I drop down on the bed. Callum sits down in front of me. “I know we’re not as close as we likely should be.”
“Don’t do that, Uncle Callum. You’ve done a great job. Better than my parents.”
“That might be true, but the bar is on the fucking floor.” I bark a laugh, not used to him cursing. He’s not strait-laced, but it is not normal for him to curse around me. When I drop the occasional F-bomb, he doesn’t care.
“You’ve done more than you should have had to.”
“But I want us to be family.”
“We are.”
“A real family, Charlie. You go to your family when you need help. When you’re in trouble.”
Shit, he knows something.
“Okay, so I punched a boy in his face, and now I have to be the mascot. I’m handling it. I don’t need help with that.” I shrug to show it’s no big deal and try to sell it.
“I’m not talking about that.” He raises an eyebrow.
“Oh.” Double shit. “Wait, you know about that?”
“Yes, I know about that.”
“Since when?” I throw my hands up.
“Since you punched the little shit in the face.”
“What the hell?” I huff. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
"I thought you had it handled. I was letting you do it your way."
"I do have it handled."
"You don't," he fires back, and I can clearly see that he's angry.
"Did someone contact you?" Would Parker reach out to my uncle? God, I hate that shithead.
“I didn’t need anyone to contact me, just like I don’t need anyone to tell me you have someone sneaking in and out of your bedroom window.” I stare at my uncle in shock. “Close your mouth before you catch flies.”
I quickly press my lips together. My heart thunders in my chest. I have to fight the urge not to cry. I don't cry.
"What now?"
Have I disappointed my uncle and now he's pissed at me? Will he go after Shay? I don’t think I can handle the two men I love hating each other. I don't have many people in my life, and I can't stand the idea of them not liking each other or having to choose between them. It would kill me.
“Come on.” He motions for me to get up.
“Where are we going?” Oh shit, I am in trouble. I’ve never been in trouble with Callum before.