WHERE ARE YOU CHARLIE?

NOW - CHAPTER 22

Once I'd buckled up, Cole reached across the console and holding my face with both hands he kissed me hungrily.

Unwilling to embarrass Sam who was waiting patiently at the back of the car, I pulled away.

"What was that for?" I asked in a small voice.

He shrugged and I melted at what he told me next.

"Just because I'm totally and utterly in love with you Zoe..." Oh. My. God. My heart was going crazy inside my chest.

Sam... A little voice reminded me.

"I... Hmm... We're... Hmm... Going to be late?" That sounded just as bad as it looked and if Sam hadn't burst out laughing, I think I'd have made a run for it but Cole seemed totally oblivious to my awkwardness and started the car.

"By the way, Zoe..." Sam said from behind me. "I think you should know that..." He paused, sounding very shy all of a sudden making me turned around.

"What's up?" I asked him with furrowed eyebrow.

He grimaced.

"I'm taking Lea out on a date tonight..." He finally admitted with the cutest blush ever. I'd noticed that they'd got close but I didn't know it was that close.

Sam was a good guy, though, and I knew he'd treat Lea well.

"Does Tash know?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

He nodded, looking worried for some reason.

"Has she given you the I'll knee you in the cojones speech?" Cole chuckled while Sam gulped loudly before bobbing his head. "Then I'm really happy for you."

He let out a relieved sigh.

"Why did you look so worried?" I was curious.

He grimaced again.

"I was worried you'd resent me dating one of your best friends after what happened..." He admitted sheepishly.

Oh...

It was my turn to sigh and to grimace.

"Lucky for you people like me are not big on holding grudges, then..." I half-joked, to let him know that I had in fact almost forgiven him already.

The truth was I had forgiven him but my pride refused to let go of the bitter memory.

Some might argue that what Cole had done was worse but that I'd forgiven him so why not Sam?

My heart, my friends, my heart dictated anything Cole related. It seemed that love with the big L had royally messed me up – in a good way, mostly.

Besides, I kind of understood why Cole had gone through with his uncle's request. Jim had shot his Dad after all.

I winced at the silence that followed my bad joke and decided to turn the radio on for the last minute before we reached the school parking lot.

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Time seemed to drag on and on.

Fortunately, between Lea and Sam's upcoming date and our first game tomorrow, Den and the girls were totally oblivious of my increasing worry.

They knew about Charlie's release the day before and had been waiting for me at my locker that morning. I'd even let them hug me. In their mind, now that Jim was dead and Charlie back, I was on cloud nine. They had no idea how worried I was about my brother's first day of community service. He'd looked so out of place with that nice lady when I'd left him.