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Chapter 37

*C H A R L O T T E*

My heart is racing and for a second I don't know what to do or say. What do you say when you just found out that you have to share a room with your ex? Your ex who broke your heart. I don't dare to look at Hero. I just stare at my hands on my lap.

"I'm sorry," Lizzie adds. "But we didn't expect to have both of you over at the same time."

Yeah... clearly. I wonder why she didn't mention this before. Like, she could have told me the minute I told her I would stay for a bit.

"I can go to a hotel," Hero says with a quiet voice.

I'm sure he can see and feel my hesitation. I think about this for a second. It would be cruel to send him to a hotel, I mean they are his friends too and he has been staying here for a while now. I was the one who decided to stay all of a sudden. I changed everything. If there is anyone that should go to a hotel, it's me. But I'm here to be with Jack and Lizzie so I don't want to go either.

"Don't be silly," I answer. "You don't need to go. Surely there is a solution that works for the both of us."

Jack and Lizzie exchange a look and Hero smiles at me. He looks relieved.

"Well," Jack says. "There are two single beds in the room. So you would have your own bed."

Not exactly what I was hoping for.

"I can sleep on the sofa!" Hero quickly says.

But this makes me feel bad again. As much as I don't want to share a room with Hero, I also don't want to be the mean bitch that makes him sleep on the sofa. He just doesn't deserve that.

"Oh, you shouldn't do that," I say. "I'll sleep on the sofa."

I honestly don't mind. And this is perfect.

"I'm not making a girl sleep on the sofa," Hero says with a frown.

"I totally don't mind!" I assure him.

"Nope, you're not sleeping on the sofa." He sounds stubborn.

I sigh. This is a stupid discussion.

"Just a suggestion, but can't you both sleep in the room? You can try at least. You each have your own bed," Jack suggests.

No, no no no, I don't want this. Seeing Hero all day every day is one thing but sharing a room with him? That would be too much. For one because I don't want to be around him that much and also because I'm not sure if I'll be able to control myself. Like, look what happened at the wedding. Plus we did share a room last night, shouldn't that be enough?!

Also, I'm afraid of that tiny voice in the back of my mind that is thrilled about this. A small inner voice is cheering and very excited about this. That frightens me.

"I'm in if that's okay for Charlotte," Hero says. He sounds careful. I know he doesn't want to offend me. What is he thinking about all this? As always, he has the perfect poker face. I can't tell if he's excited or frightened. Or maybe he just doesn't feel anything at all. I mean, we would be two friends sharing a room but since I still have feelings for him, I can't think of it that way. And I suspect it's not like that for Hero either. At the wedding he made it pretty clear that he wants to be with me. Hero was right about one thing: we can never be just friends. But I'm trying. I'm trying so hard to show him we can so maybe I should share the room with him...

I also don't want to be a prude or to be difficult so I guess I don't have an other choice.

"Okay," I softly reply.

This is such a bad idea!

"Okay, that's settled then," Lizzie says with a cheeky smile. "I'll show you the room."

I will talk about this with her later. I need an explanation! Damn you Lizzie!

Hero and I take our luggage and we follow Lizzie to our bedroom. God, our bedroom... that sounds so strange.

The bedroom isn't that big but the beds are on opposite sides of the room so we're as far apart as possible. Also, the beds are too small to share with two people so that comforts me a little. Now Hero won't expect anything. I don't want to get his hopes up. Each of the single beds has a bedside table but there is no wardrobe. There is a chair next to each bed. It's a cozy room in soft pink tones. Hero lets me pick a bed first and I take the one by the window with the floral bedding. When I look outside I see the park and the street. Maybe seeing the sky won't make me feel so trapped. I notice there are some clothes on the other bed so that must mean Hero has stayed here before. He probably didn't pack everything to go to the wedding. Then I spot the large suitcase in the corner and I know I'm right. This makes me wonder again about this sleeping arrangement.

"Okay, I'll let you unpack if necessary. I'll see you in a sec," Lizzie says and she quickly leaves the room. Too quickly.

When she leaves there is an awkward silence and the air is full of unanswered questions.