Broken Charms

Same Mistakes: Part One

“A dream dirty and bruised is better than no dream at all.”

― Laini Taylor, Days of Blood & Starlight

Astrid.

I hit accept and said, “Hi, dad.” The sound on his end was silent, calming even.

He must have been in his room to the hospital. “Dad?”

“Tinkle!” he breathed in relief.

“Hey, daddy! How are you? aren’t you sleep?”

“No, I’m actually surfing in the Caribbean Sea.” He said chuckling. I was too flustered from Harry to notice my stupid questions.

“That’s great. How are the waves?” I asked. I’d do anything to take my dad’s mnd away from tomorrow and the test results.

“They are great actually. So, listen, tomorrow is the day. Please come to see me.” he said.

“Sure, daddy! I’ll be there for you. might if I bring a friend. He came here to visit me and be here for me.”

“It’s Harry, isn’t it?”

“yeah.” I admitted guiltly.

“Good. You need a friend right now. bring him along. I don’t want you to be alone. Oh! Your mother would be here too, with Marian.”

“would you mind if I didn’t speak to her?”

“yes, I would mind. Please make an effort. She has changed. All she needs is her daughter back. I need you two to be on speaking terms you know in case something happens.”

“okay, daddy. I promise I’ll say ‘hey’ to her.”

“Okay, tinkle. Be here at nine. Good night.”

“Sweet dreams, Daddy.” I said and clicked the phone off and sank down onto the couch. I pressed the cool phone screen to my heated cheek, and placed my other hand on the cushion beside me.

There were so many thoughts running through my head—thoughts about my dad and Harry. But it had been a long, emotional day. I wasn’t stupid enough to let myself make a decision in the heat of the moment. Even if I could still feel Harry’s hands on my back, and his face beneath my fingertips when I closed my eyes. Catastrofuck. Definitely.

All I wanted to do was take a shower, but then I’d screw up the bandages on my back. Instead, I shucked off my clothes, text Harry to come by at nine giving him my address and fell into bed and oblivion, sending a silent pray that the morning never came.

He tugged on my hair, and I felt the pull run down my spine all the way to my toes. He pulled my head back, and his lips came down on my neck. He dragged his mouth softly down the column of my throat, and then his teeth grazed my collarbone.

I moaned embarrassingly loud. He rewarded me with another nip of his teeth. I burrowed my hands underneath his shirt, and dug my fingers into his lower back. His hips pressed forward into mine, and I could feel his muscles flexing beneath my palms.

He left my collarbone, and nosed aside my shirt, kissing down my sternum. His tongue dragged across one of my tattoos, and I felt like I was burning alive. His stubble scratched against my sensitive skin, and my legs went weak.

“Please,” I begged.

“We shouldn’t,” he whispered. I pulled his mouth to mine, determined to convince him. I wrapped an arm around his neck, and a leg around his hips, and pulled him into me. He steadied himself with one hand against the wall, and the other on my ass.