Rebounding (24 page)

THIRTY-FOUR

Max

One Year Later

Fee sits on the grass in front of their headstone, lightly tracing her fingers over our parents’ names. Being here makes me think about how much has changed since she’s come back into my life. For her, and for me. She doesn’t go by Francesca or Fiona anymore. She simply goes by Fee. It suits her.

I silently ask my parents for forgiveness. For so long I blamed them for what happened, thinking they were mixed up in Garcia’s drug cartel. When I think about how much I hated them for something they had no control over, I feel sick to my stomach. They didn’t deserve to lose their lives.

Wherever you are, I’m glad you have each other. Thank you for bringing Fee back to me.

I rub the back of my neck, squeezing the muscles there. This conversation is long overdue, but I’m not sure where to begin.

She asked me not to kill him. Even though she hates him, and even though she refuses to speak to him again, she doesn’t want me to kill the man that raised her. I hate that she asked me that. So I never gave her an answer. What do you guys think?

More than anything in the world, I wish they could give me an answer.

Would you tell me to leave it alone? To just be grateful for the life I have? Or would you tell me to kill the son of a bitch? Sometimes I think leaving him alive is too dangerous. What if he tries to come after me? What if he tries to kidnap Fee again?

Fee places the flowers we bought in the vase mounted to their headstone, then wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. “You almost ready?” she asks, sniffling.

I nod.

I promised Charlotte I’d stop looking for him. I’m going to keep that promise. It’s the best I can do. But if Garcia ever comes looking for me…I’m taking him out. Fee might hate me for it, but I don’t think I could stop myself.

As we walk back to the car, I drape my arm around my sister’s shoulders. She’s still crying. “Thanks for bringing me here,” she says softly.

“Thanks for coming with me.”

“I wish I remembered them better.”

“Do you have any memories?”

She shakes her head. “Not really. They’re all kind of fuzzy. I have one of you though.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I remember being locked in that closet. I was so scared, but you held my hand and told me it would be all right.”

“I guess I was wrong about that, wasn’t I?”

“I don’t think that’s why it stands out in my mind. What I remember is the way you fought when they came. You tried to protect me. I think they were going to take you too, but you fought so wildly that someone had to hit you over the head with the barrel of a gun.”

I let out an unsteady breath. “I’d always wondered how it happened. When the police asked me about you, I couldn’t remember anything. They figured it was because of my head injury, but I still hated myself for not remembering.”

She smiles weakly. “It wasn’t your fault, Max.”

“I’m glad we came here,” I say, strangely feeling lighter.

“Me too.”

***

Everyone’s eyes are on me. Trevor and Steph are watching me from the sofa. I’m pretty sure their jaws have dropped. Fee is sitting next to Batman on the rug by the TV, frozen. Charlotte’s brother Lucas is holding his hand up in midair, the potato chip stopped just short of his mouth. Charlotte’s bright blue eyes have grown three times larger, and she’s staring at me as if I’ve lost my mind.

I probably shouldn’t have invited everyone over, but it’s Superbowl Sunday. Watching the game together has been a tradition for me, Steph, and Trevor for years. After I kicked Trevor out last year, the two of them take it hard whenever I break tradition. In a way, I guess it’s a good thing they’re all here to see this. Everyone in this room is family. These are the people I care about the most. But even though they’re all watching me, I keep my eyes glued on the person who matters most. The only person I need an answer from.

Charlotte’s eyes fill with tears. “You don’t have to do this.”

“But I want to,” I say simply.

“You’re doing it wrong, bro,” Trevor says disapprovingly. “You’re supposed to be on one knee.”

“He’s right,” Fee adds. “It’s more romantic that way.”

Lowering to one knee, I try again. Someone mutes the TV. “Charlotte Hart, will you spend the rest of your life with me?”

My heart is beating uncontrollably. I never considered she might not give me the answer I want to hear. Usually couples talk about marriage before someone proposes, but it’s never come up with us. I know why Charlotte avoids the subject, and I appreciate her so fucking much for that. But deep down, I know she craves this. This means more to her than the giant blue diamond sitting in the box I’m holding, and it means more than the fairytale wedding I’m prepared to give her.

She drops to her knees in front of me, throwing her arms around my neck. “We don’t need a piece of paper to tell us we can spend the rest of our lives together, Max.”

I let out a small sigh of disappointment. Gathering up the courage to ask her was hard enough. I never counted on having to convince her that this is a good idea. “Look at me, kid.”

She lets go and our eyes meet. “Don’t you see how much you’re breaking my heart? This was supposed to be an exciting moment.”

She lowers her voice to a whisper. “I’m supposed to believe this is
exciting
for you?”

“Someone once told me that when we let our demons rule us, that’s when we forget how to live. This is what it’s about, remember? Absorbing every last messy piece of life. You’re not supposed to give me the answer you think is best for me. The answer I want is the one that comes from here.” I gently lay my palm against her chest, over her heart. Then I take another deep breath. “So I’m going to ask again. Will you marry me, Charlotte?”

A flicker of uncertainty crosses her eyes, but it only lasts a moment. The corners of her mouth begin to lift into a slow smile. “One condition,” she says.

“Anything.”

“A quick ceremony. In a court room, preferably.”

“But—”

“You can give me the best honeymoon in the world, Max. That’s my condition.”

I don’t like this. I wanted to give her the best fucking wedding money could buy. I remind myself that it’s not about a wedding though. This is about more than that.

“All I want is you,” I say, giving in. “However you want to let me express that is fine with me.”

“Then, yes, I’ll marry you, Max Archer.”

As soon as she says the words, I pull her into my arms, squeezing her tightly. The happiness is overwhelming. I didn’t expect that either.

Charlotte laughs. “I can’t breathe, you crazy man.”

“Holy shit,” Trevor mutters. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

When I glance over Charlotte’s shoulder I notice both Steph and Fee wiping their eyes. Everyone rushes us all at once.

“Congratulations, guys,” Lucas says, hugging us both. “Just to warn you though, Mom’s going to be pissed she doesn’t get to plan her only daughter’s wedding.”

Charlotte waves that aside. “She’ll get over it.”

Fee squeals happily. “This is amazing. I’ve gone from having no siblings to having two of them.”

“Two siblings, and a cousin,” Trevor corrects her.

“Nobody wants to claim you, Trev,” I tell him jokingly.

I feel so relieved. This time when I breathe, it’s easier. I look at Charlotte. “So when do you want to do it? Today?”

She rolls her eyes, still smiling. “You need a license first.”

“We can hop on the first plane to Vegas,” I suggest.

“No way,” Stephanie complains. “Unless you plan on taking all of us with you, you’re doing it here.”

“That won’t work. Who would be here to run the
Gritty Voice
?”

I know we’re all thinking the same thing. The three of us went years without caring about the
Gritty Voice
, and now we all treat it as our baby. Since we all started taking work seriously, the company has tripled in growth. Revenue has exploded. Dividing it up into equal ownership between us was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Charlotte wraps her arms around me. “There’s no rush. Don’t I get to enjoy wearing that ring for a while?”

“Oh yeah,” I say sheepishly. Taking her hand in mine, I slip the ring on her finger. The brilliant blue matches her eyes just as I’d hoped.

“It’s gorgeous, Max. Thank you.” She kisses me on the cheek. “Now should we tell them about the baby?”

“What baby?” Trevor roars, holding his hands up.

“Is she
serious
?” Lucas says.

Charlotte laughs, ruining her own joke. “Just kidding, guys. Calm down.”

After everyone leaves, the two of us sit on the beach, stargazing. Charlotte plays with her ring, twisting it around her finger while I throw a ball for Batman and our new golden retriever puppy. “So what made you change your mind about all this?” she asks, contemplative.

“Not any one thing, specifically.”

She glances over at me. “You have to give me a better answer than that.”

Batman drops his ball at my feet, and I throw it across the beach. The puppy bounces after him. “Honestly? Since Fee came back into my life, I’ve been thinking about that day a lot. I hate that one person ruined something that was supposed to be beautiful. It was supposed to be about love, commitment, joy…I feel like he shouldn’t be able to steal that from us too.” My words drift off, and I shrug, not knowing how to explain it any better than that.

Charlotte scoots closer, dusting sand off her legs. She nuzzles against me, sighing. “I love that you said that.”

I grin. “Why’s that?”

“Because if you would’ve said it was all for me, I wouldn’t have believed you.”

“You’re the bigger reason behind it all, kid.”

“Well, I know, but I’m glad a much better reason caused you to see things differently. Because I wasn’t going anywhere whether or not you put this,” she pauses to flash me her ring, “huge, giant, over the top,
incredible
rock on my finger.”

“You never let me spend money on you,” I say without remorse. “And it matches your eyes.”

“Oh ho, very charming, Mr. Archer,” she says, laughing. She looks down at her hand, still admiring it. “This, surprisingly, I’m okay with. We’re going to have to donate a fortune to charity to balance out our karma—but I’m still okay with it.”

Eyeing Batman, I say, “I have a feeling I know exactly which one you’ll choose.”

“Pet Pals?”

“That’s the one. Speaking of dogs, it still amazes me that both Batman
and
Elektra found their way to my front porch. Especially since there are no other houses around for miles.”

“Um, yeah.” Charlotte coughs. “Funny how that happened.”

“Maybe this house is listed on a map for homeless dogs.”

She changes the subject quickly. “Do you think Elektra will be a good therapist?”

“Of course she will.
You’re
going to train her.”

“Me?”

“That’s right.”

“I don’t know the first thing about training dogs.”

“You’ll figure it out. I’ll help you.”

Elektra crawls into her lap, panting heavily. Charlotte strokes her fur, adoringly. “Fine, I suppose I can try.”

We’re silent for a long time, staring up at the sky, listening to the waves crash against the shore. “You know something, Max? I just realized you gave me everything I wanted when I first came here. I have friends, real ones. I have you, and a career, and I actually have time to breathe and enjoy life. We’re totally even on the whole saving each other’s lives thing.”

The way she says that makes me smile. “What you gave me could never begin to even the score.”

“What do you mean?”

“You can’t save someone’s shitty fucked up life when they don’t care about living it. Whoever I was before, you helped me kill him. He’s dead, and I’m glad. Because the only person I want to be is who I am right now. With you.”

Charlotte brushes her lips against mine. I kiss her back, trying to show her without words how much she means to me.

“I’m glad he’s dead too,” she says, breathless. “Because you’re perfect just like this.”

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