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Chapter 14

*H E R O*

And for the second time in half an hour my world shatters around me. How is this even possible? I was so sure Lizzie would know how to reach Charlotte. I was so sure Lizzie would make everything okay. How did I get here?

"What do you mean?" I ask, panic clear in my voice. "How can you not know where she is?" I try desperately to stay calm.

"After she left you, she went back home, back to Belgium. But she couldn't fit in there anymore. Her old life was gone, her friends had their jobs and their own things going on and she just... She wasn't happy. She didn't belong there. She loves her family and friends but nothing was the same. By then, Jack and I were back in Cardiff so she moved here. But she was restless. It's not the same anymore here either. Everyone lives in different houses now, everyone had school and deadlines. Jack and I were busy looking for a bigger house to raise the babies. She didn't belong here either, or so she felt anyway. So she left. She said she needed to figure out where she belongs in this world, where home is. She texted me with her old number that she was okay and that she had found a nice place but that she needed to have a break from her old life so she got a new phone. I haven't heard from her since."

I don't know what to say.

"I'm sorry," Lizzie whispers. Her voice breaks too and I know this is hard on her. Charlotte is her friends so I know she cares.

I feel sorry for Lizzie but my heart breaks for Charlotte. I didn't know she was this unhappy. I didn't want this for her.

"Hero?" Lizzie asks. "Are you still there?"

"Yeah, sorry... I just.. I don't know what to say. I feel.. defeated I guess. There is no way for me to contact her now. I really wanted to talk to her."

"I'm so sorry," she apologizes again. She doesn't need to though. I should be the one apologizing to her. I'm the one who created this mess in the first place.

"It's not your fault, Lizzie," I say. "It's mine."

"What happens now?" she asks.

I don't know. I sigh and think about her question for a second. Then it hits me. I need to start fighting for Charlotte. I can go on my boys trip and I can keep fooling myself. I can keep telling myself I'm better off now and I can meet other girls. But deep down I know that won't do it. I know I've been feeling restless myself these past months and for the first time I'm not too stubborn to acknowledge why. I love Charlotte and all I want is to be with her. I should've faced reality sooner. I should've been a man all those months ago. But I was too stubborn and too young maybe to realize that this is it. I have been unhappy ever since we broke up and it's time to do something about that.

"You know what, Lizzie? I'm coming to Cardiff."

"Wait, what?"

"I'm coming to Cardiff and I'll start planning from there. I will find her. I just need to think about a place to start because she could literally be anywhere in this world. She only has family in Belgium and Cardiff so if she's not there she can by everywhere!"

"Oh my god, that's so romantic," Lizzie sighs.

"Let's hope she feels the same about that."

I promise Lizzie that I will text her as soon as I have booked my tickets to Heathrow. From there I will drive to Cardiff. Lizzie made me swear I will stay with her and Jack so that saves me the trouble of fining a hotel room. I start looking for tickets immediately and I don't care about the cost. All I want is the first ticket out of here. I find a ticket for a plane that leaves in five hours. That gives me plenty of time to sort my stuff out.

With new energy I go back to the hotel to pack my stuff. I will call the boys on my way to the airport and explain. I'm sure they won't mind that I'm not going. Scott is waiting for me in front of my room. Shit.

"Hi dude," he says and he jumps up from the ground he was sitting on. "Are you okay?"

"Are you?" I ask. "I mean she deceived you as much as me."

Scott looks uncomfortable.

"Look, Hero," he starts. "I know you feel betrayed now and you probably hate Melany with every fiber in your body but... It's different for me. It's about my baby and it's about the woman I love."

I stare at him in disbelief. I can't believe I'm hearing this.

"Hero," Scott continues. "I know you will understand one day. Melany is my Charlotte, she is the love of my life. You understand how it is, not being with the woman you love-"

"Yes, because of Melany," I snap.

Scott sighs.

"I know bro and I really hope you'll be able to fix it but I made my choice and you may not understand it, hell, probably no one will but I'm not afraid to fight for the woman I love, no matter what she did. Because in the end, I just love her. And I hope that one day, we can go for a drink again." Scott pats me on the shoulder and leaves.

I shake my head. I may not understand it but I'm impressed with his choice. He's one of the good ones, not many guys would make this decision so I hope Melany knows that she has gold in her hands. I'm actually relieved that he was waiting for me and not her. I'm still fuming and I don't know what I would have done. I meant it that I don't ever want to talk to her again.

On my way to the airport I try to think of a way to handle this and I wonder what the future holds. I will go to Cardiff and I will start from there. Where are you, Charlotte?