Finally Free - Charlie Gillespie

Chapter Thirty

Kenedi
"I know it should be just you and Charlie, but thank you for letting me come, Kenz." I smile at him.

"Of course, Ow. When I first started going to therapy, I didn't want to be alone either. Plus, I'm not shopping with Charlie. He wants to do it on his own so I was just gonna look at wedding rings to get an idea for him." We start walking around the jewelry store.

"Do you...do you think it's too soon to give Sofia a promise ring?" I stop walking and look up to him covering my mouth in tears. "What? It's too soon isn't it? Fuck I knew that goddamn therapist didn't know what she's talking about!"

"No! No! I asked her the other day if she saw herself marrying you and she said that she would say yes if you were to ask her now." He smiles lightly blushing deeply.

"Really?" I nod laughing.

"Really. She loves you, Owen. But what did your therapist say?"

"I told her that Charlie proposed to you and I'm happy for you guys, but at the same time I'm kinda jealous."

"Why are you jealous?"

"Because you're so happy together. You're not fucked up in the head like I am and you're already engaged. It took me how long just to ask Sofia to be my girlfriend?"

"Four hours and seventeen minutes." He looks at me with his eyebrows raised. "What? I had a countdown from the time you finished fucking to when she texted me saying you asked her to be your girlfriend. I'm invested okay?" He laughs shaking his head.

"It took Charlie a lot longer than that to ask me to be his girlfriend."

"How long did he take?"

"From the first time we kissed to when he asked me to be his girlfriend was about a week."

"Really? I didn't realize it was that long." I nod looking at a bracelet that reminds me of Sofia.

"Yeah. But what else did your therapist say?"

"She said I shouldn't be comparing our relationship to yours because you two have shit that I don't know about and I can move at my own pace."

"She's right you know? You shouldn't be comparing your relationship to mine because if you do, you'll never be happy in your relationship. And if you're ready to give Sofia a promise ring, I will support you no matter what. We have the same ring size so I'll help you pick it out right now."

"Really?" He smiles at me. I nod giggling.

"Really. Do you have an idea on how to give it to her?"

"Nope. I was hoping you'd help with that too."

"Of course, Ow. I'll help in any way that I can." I kiss his cheek then drag him over to the ring section. "Do you have an idea of what kind of ring you want?"

"I saw her looking on instagram the other day. She liked a post for a promise ring set like one for her and one for me."

"Oh I like that! Okay so then let's look for a set. What color?"

"Silver?"

"Okay so traditional. I can work with that. Do you remember what the rings looked like?"

"I think it was kinda like a puzzle piece thing. Like hers was a swiggly line and it would fit inside of mine if that makes sense."

"Do you want that?"

"If we can find it, yeah."

"Okay. Do you want the swiggly line to be some kind of gem?"

"Diamond. Because she's worth more than a thousand diamonds." He smiles down at his feet. I cry internally seeing just how in love with her he is. I am not telling her about the ring, but I will be telling her how head over heels he is.

"Awwww Owen! You're such a romantic." He rolls his eyes laughing nervously and starts looking through the case. "Valentine's Day is in a couple weeks. Maybe you should give it to her then."

"I like that. You could spend all day having like a spa day with her and then get ready together and Charlie and I will come pick you up. Maybe we could do like a double date for dinner and then go our separate ways."

"YES! Oh my god, Owen. Yes." He laughs shaking his head.

"You're easy to please."

"Well yes, but it's gonna be perfect. She's gonna love it." He smiles lightly hugging me. I hug back kind of confused.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For everything. I...I'm finally starting to feel happy. I'm not as anxious anymore. I'm in a great relationship with the girl of my dreams. You're my best friend."

"I swear to god, Owen. I'm having a really good eyeliner day. Don't make me cry." He laughs gently wiping my tears away so he doesn't smear my mascara or my eyeliner.

"I'm being serious though. Thank you." I smile lightly knowing exactly how he feels.

"If we're being sentimental now, I guess I should thank you too."

"For what?"

"For saving me."

"How did I save you?" I hesitate looking around to make sure no one is listening. I sigh shakily.

"One of my coworkers forced me to watch the show. The first time I watched it, I only watched it because Booboo was in it, but seeing Alex struggle with his anxiety as well as his parents and all of that, it helped me see that I'm not the only one dealing with it."

"And you're not."

"I know, but I didn't have any friends. I had no one to talk to. And then once I watched the show, my coworker and I became friends and she introduced me to her friends. I met Sofia and the girls in the groupchat who have been there for me through so much it's not even funny."

He smiles lightly hearing Sofia's name.

"I met Haniyah, Madi, Charlie, you, Jeremy and everyone else. Before I even met Haniyah, I kept telling myself that I needed to be strong because it would crush Charlie if he found out a fan had killed themself. And now look where I am."

"You have an amazing support system. You're away from your mom and the rest of your family. You're engaged. You have a puppy."

"I have a reason to live, Owen. You gave me that." He hugs me again blinking back tears. "I love you so much." My voice cracks as a couple tears fall.

"I love you more, Kenz." He kisses my temple and helps wipe my tears away. "Okay now no more crying." I laugh nodding.

"Deal." We both look down at the ring case again and gasp at the same time.

"THAT'S THE ONE!" We both point at the same set then I squeal. He laughs and gets the attention of a worker to come size it for us.

I love my life.