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Chapter 29

*H E R O*

I stare at the ice in my glass and let it swirl. I don't know what to think about what just happened. Like, at first I thought it was a good sign, you know? But then she wouldn't meet my eyes or she wouldn't let me hold her. Like what is that about? What does she want from me?!

"So, did you talk to Charlotte yet?" Jack asks.

"Ehm, no."

"What? I saw you guys leave together and you didn't come back for ages!" Killian says. "Why didn't you talk to her? Isn't that what you wanted?"

I know I shouldn't tell them what happened and I know Charlotte would kill me if I did but I need to talk to someone. I need some perspective.

"Yeah, we left. But we didn't exactly talk." I try not to laugh but I can't help myself.

"Oh, Hero, you dog!" Killian says and he starts laughing too.

"That probably wasn't wise, Hero," Jack adds.

"Hey! Why do you think I started it?" I ask with an irritated voice.

"Because we know you," Jack says.

I glare at them both and take a sip from my glass.

"Oh come on, tell us!" Killian begs.

"Well, after the dance she kind of grabbed my tie and dragged me to the bathroom and then she jump on top of me."

"Yeah, right," Killian says. "As if Charlotte would do that!"

He looks at me when I don't say anything back.

"You mean, that's what happened? Wow."

"Yeah but then afterwards she was so awkward. She didn't want to look at me or she didn't want to let me hold her."

"Of course she didn't you stupid ass," Jack says and he slaps me on the back of my head. "You broke her heart! You should have stopped her and talked to her instead of having sex with her!"

"I realize that now but it's not that easy to stop a gorgeous girl from having sex with you. I'm not that strong." I try to smile.

"You need to talk to her as soon as possible," Killian says.

"I don't know man, it felt like she was saying goodbye."

"God, you're so stupid sometimes! I don't get you." Jack is getting angry with me. "You flew across the world to find her. You went to Belgium and to Florence to tell her the truth and now you chicken out?"

"You went to Belgium and Florence?" A voice behind Jack and me asks. Killian's eyes are wide for a second.

I slowly turn around.

"Eh, yeah. I was trying to find you."

"You were? Why?" She looks genuinely shocked.

"There is something I need to tell you," I start. "But I couldn't reach you on the phone so I tried to call Lizzie. She didn't know where you were and that kind of alarmed me so I flew to Cardiff. I tried to find you in Belgium but your family and friends weren't very helpful. I went to Florence because I remembered that that's your favorite city."

"Wow," she says. Clearly, she doesn't know what to say. "I had no idea."

"Of course not! You changed your phone number and you deleted all social media! I was very worried!"

"I just needed some time for myself. I needed to heal and I needed to find a place where I belong."

"Well, did you?"

"Yes."

"So, where the hell are you? The world is a big place to look for someone!"

I'm starting to get angry. Does she not realize the trouble I went through to find her?

"I'm living in Madeira."

Oh god, Jack is right, I am so stupid! Of course! It's her favorite place in the whole world! Why didn't I think of that?

"Madeira?" I repeat.

"Yes, I'm living in a house in Funchal with some friends. I stayed in a hotel at first but then I met this girl who introduced me to her brother and his friend. They share a house in Funchal and they were looking for a housemate so I moved in. I recently started a job as a guide."

I'm baffled. I did not see this coming. Charlotte who is so smart is working as a guide? Also, she's sharing a house with two dudes? Two dudes who probably fucking look like fucking Cristiano Ronaldo too! I did not once think about the fact that Charlotte may have found someone else.

"What is it you wanted to tell me?" Charlotte asks. Clearly she doesn't know the bomb she just dropped on me.

"It's about Melany."

That was a mistake. I see her face drop and her eyes become sad first, then hostile. The temperature seems to have dropped ten degrees.