Chapter 56: Chapter 56

12 whole hours. That was the amount of time Charlie was out of the house without Morgan having any idea where she was. It was also the longest he'd been away from her since they'd been married, but this wasn't the time to think about that. Slamming the car door behind him as he climbed into the driver's seat, he considered stopping for a moment and trying to take a deep breath to calm himself, but soon realized there was no time for that.

Not until he was sure that Charlie was okay and that she was safe.

When she'd left the house that morning, looking as angry and shaken as Morgan had ever seen her, he'd convinced himself that it was best to keep their distance for a few hours, so they could both calm down and get their heads in the right place. He thought he'd know where to find her after all. Charlie would spend five long hours at the university and, who knows, that was the period of time she needed to think about what he had said and better reevaluate what she wanted. Even though, secretly, a part of him, the most selfish and visceral part, didn't want her to do that. There was a part of her that just wanted to give in, take Charlie in her arms and never look back.

But Morgan knew he couldn't do that. Or, at least, he thought he knew. The right thing to do, apparently, was to think about what was best for Charlie. And certainly the best thing for a free-spirited young woman with a vibrant personality like her was not to have a relationship with an old fool and passionate like him, who would soon begin to want something more serious and lasting with her. Hell, they'd barely had a few moments of intimacy and he was already having daydreams about making this a real marriage and not just in bed. And maybe that was the truth he was so hesitant to admit to Charlie, not just afraid of how she would react, but also afraid of what would happen to himself if, in the end, she wanted nothing more than his body.

How could he tell her that he was being selfish as he feared for his own heart? That accepting what she wanted meant that maybe Charlie would get hurt, but when it came to him, that was a certainty: he would have her in his bed sometimes, until she got tired of him and then he would have to stay for the rest of her life. just as his friend when he wanted so much more.

Was there a crueler definition of hell than that?

Well, apparently there was: the version where he didn't know where Charlie was. And, worse, she seemed determined to avoid him at all costs. That morning, when he'd last seen her, it seemed like an excellent idea to just give them both the entire morning to cool off and then go to the university and pick her up so they could talk better. But here he was, his head exploding with worry and his heart racing, after circling the entire campus and finding no sign of her. The only clue he had was what Ava, the not-so-nice co-worker his wife obviously disliked, had told him about Charlie taking a different route out, which she didn't know. And that was the only useful thing out of the thousands of hints she made to him, before Morgan finally realized that nothing else would come of it and walked away.

Squeezing the steering wheel almost to the point of breaking it, he disobeyed all existing traffic rules, while accelerating as much as the car would allow, towards Vivian's shelter. That's where Charlie would be, for sure. He knew her routine like no one else and she never missed a day of her volunteer work. So that was where he would find her. He had to find it.

Pulling to a stop in front of the shelter with a loud squeal as his tires skidded across the asphalt, Morgan practically ripped off the car door and also the one on the small house, certain he must have an almost maniacal look on his face, judging by Vivian's expression. as she lifted her head from the computer placed on the desk she was sitting at, to stare at him in alarm.

“Where is Charlie? “ he asked, about to hyperventilate “I need to talk to her...

“Hello to you too, Morgan. “ was all that Vivian answered him, getting up from her chair almost in slow motion, or so it seemed, before his eyes.

“I don't have time for greetings, Vivian! Just tell me where Charlie is, please! “ he begged desperately “ Or, if she asked you not to tell me anything or anything, just let me look for her around here! It's just what I ask! I need to know if she's okay! “ without waiting for Vivian's permission, he started to run towards the corridor and the shed where Charlie used to take care of the animals, but Vivian's voice stopped him.

" She is not here. “ she stated calmly, stopping him “ You can search my shelter all you want if you don't believe me, but you'll only waste your time. " when he turned to her, heartbroken, Vivian just raised an eyebrow, analyzing him carefully “What happened between you two yesterday, anyway? Charlie didn't want to tell me at all...

“You said she wasn't here…” he accused with a growl, making Vivian sigh.

“And she's not. Not anymore, at least. " she shrugged, very calmly " But I never said she didn't stop by...

“Tell me where she went, Vivian! “ Morgan pleaded, taking a few steps closer to her. “Please!

“Not until you tell me exactly what you did to her! “ Vivian crossed her arms over her chest, determined “How do I know she isn't avoiding you for valid reasons? What did you do that was so bad anyway?

“We didn't do anything! I mean, I didn't do anything! “ he corrected himself, running his hands through his hair anxiously “Actually, we almost… I mean…

“Oh…” Vivian's eyes widened slightly, not with surprise, but a kind of realization. “She finally got you to buckle down a bit? “ Charlie's friend laughed, without much humor “ Apparently not quite, judging by the way you two are acting. But you still haven't convinced me. The way Charlie was acting doesn't make sense. “ Vivian shook her head. “It couldn't have just been frustration. She's used to that when it comes to you.

“Accustomed? Frustration? “He repeated those meaningless words, more confused than ever“ What is she talking about?

“Oh, come on, Morgan, it's not possible that you're that blind... “ Vivian stared at him for a moment and, as she fixed her eyes on his lost expression for several minutes, she ended up sighing, clearly disappointed “Forget it. Apparently, I thought of you as smarter than you really are, just like Charlie...

“For God's sake, Vivian, I don't have time for this! “ he exclaimed, desperate “ Just tell me where she is, please!

“Do you really think it's a good idea to follow her, Morgan? “ Vivian asked and Morgan was surprised at how genuinely worried she looked “Listen, I've always avoided meddling in your relationship, because anyone could tell that what you two have is as true as it is complicated, but... That one girl is very precious, Morgan...

" I know that! “ Morgan stated, swallowing hard “ Nobody knows this better than I do, Vivian, because she is the most precious thing in my life!

“But in what way, Morgan? “ Charlie's best friend shook her head “ Ever wonder about that? And, more than that, have you ever wondered what Charlie thinks about it all? How does she feel about you?

“ You…” he swallowed hard, not knowing how to ask that question “Did you always know that she… wanted me?

“Want…” Vivian repeated, as if he'd used the wrong word. “Well, call it what you want. And, yes, I always knew how Charlie felt, but like I said, I always avoided intruding. And not just because I knew she would be upset with me if I did, or simply because none of what happened between the two of you was any of my business, but also because I trust Charlie and the decisions she is capable of making, especially when it comes to it's her life. “ She raised an eyebrow, and even though Vivian hadn't moved a muscle, Morgan felt like she'd punched him in the stomach with those words.

Vivian had respected Charlie's choices…something he hadn't done himself. That's what she wanted to say and it didn't even have to be aloud. He had understood. And the realization of how Charlie must have been feeling right now, about him and because of him, gnawed at Morgan inside like he'd swallowed acid.

“But the fact that Charlie asked me not to meddle doesn't mean I can't warn you about some things, since everything seems to be going downhill right now…” Vivian sighed, like a mother talking to a troubled child. “Listen, Morgan, I know you're a good man and that your relationship with Charlie started because you saw her as a neglected girl who needed to be helped and protected. I understand, I also saw her that way for a long time, at the beginning of our friendship. But she's an individual, Morgan. Not just now that she's 20, but she always has been. As long as you keep treating her like a doll, who always needs others to sort everything out for her, you two will never get anywhere, because Charlie is one of the most independent people I know. Insisting on continuing to act like this can push her away from you, maybe forever.

"It wasn't my intention to hurt her…" he sobbed, feeling despair suffocate him.

“Intentions don't prevent mistakes, Morgan. And much less are they an excuse to commit them. “ Vivian shook her head, worried “ I may not know exactly what happened between you two, but one thing I know for sure: Charlie is very hurt. And if you don't try hard enough to get her to forgive you, and especially if you don't find a way to change her behavior, you could lose her completely. And between you and me, I know that Charlie wouldn't be the only one affected forever if that happened. She lifted an eyebrow, a knowing glint in her amber eyes, as if she knew Morgan's soul.

“ Yes, I know…” he sighed, feeling almost dizzy “I just… I don't know who I should obey…” he admitted shyly “Whether in my head or in my heart…

“Well, I'd bet it was her head that created this whole situation…” Charlie's friend guessed, shrugging, “So why don't you give your heart a chance to rule, just this once?

“I… I just hope I'm not too late…” He shivered slightly, swallowing hard.

" Don't worry. You still have a chance to fix things. “ Vivian soothed him, seeming to genuinely empathize with his plight. “Just remember that if you break my friend's heart, I will break your face. “ she threatened, very seriously.

“If I break her heart…” he swore, solemnly “I'll help you do this.

“That's what I wanted to hear. “Vivian nodded, satisfied. “Now, before I tell you where Charlie is, I want you to promise she won't have a heart attack or a rage.

“Vivian…” he panted, getting more and more anxious as he couldn't tell if she was serious or just joking.

“Okay, fine…” Charlie's friend sighed “She left college early today because she was afraid you were there, waiting for her. And we both know she was right. So Charlie came over and started trying to work, but she was too nervous and tearful for that. I noticed and asked what had happened to leave her in that state, but she wouldn't tell me. “ Vivian recalled, making Morgan's heart clench. So I suggested that she go home, but Charlie didn't want to do that at all… That's when…” Vivian hesitated for a moment, glancing at him sideways.