Page 159 of His Boys to Protect

CHARLIE REFUSED to believe that Skylar was gone.

Their Sky couldn't be gone. Not now. They had plans! Ward said so.

Charlie had been so excited about the prospect of moving. It would be big and loud and frustrating, but also important.

He was ready. Going back and forth all the time was getting exhausting. As was living with his parents. Yes, his childhood home was safe and familiar, but he was an adult now. Had been for years. And he loved Ward and their Sky! It was time for them to take that next step. To be with them always instead of only getting to see them every other week or so.

Charlie hated being away from them. Missing them.

True, he'd miss his parents instead, but it was time. And his parents could visit, just like they did with Dakota. They could stay at Dakota's house since it had so many rooms, and Charlie, Skylar, and Ward could go over there to see them.

But then the three of them could escape back to their own house, where it would be quiet and uncrowded. Charlie could see his family but also have some relief at the end of the day.

He'd been so full of plans as they drove back to Paso Robles. Charlie had spent the drive thinking of all the things he wanted in a new house. The steps he'd have to take in order so he didn't get overwhelmed. First, he'd have to unpack again. That was frustrating, considering he'd just done it the day before, but that had to be taken care of before anything else. Then, he'd probably have to get something for lunch. Eating was important for thinking and making plans and decisions.

Then he could make a list.

There would have to be space in the kitchen for hungry soup. Ward's kitchen felt a little better now that he didn't have all that junk food crowding the cupboards, but they still needed more room. The layout wasn't quite right, either. Charlie wanted to move more things so they made sense, but Skylar had kept reminding him that it was Ward's place, not theirs.

But if they got a new house, it would betheirplace! They could arrange it together.

Still, Charlie knew he'd need certain things. Besides the kitchen, they needed a bigger closet. Ward's was cramped with all of their combined belongings stuffed in there. They even had to pile things on the floor! A dresser would help a lot. The bedroom in the new house had to be big enough to fit one. Even more so because Charlie wanted to buy Skylar some new clothes. What Skylar owned was so old and threadbare, besides being ill-fitting. Charlie wanted their Sky to have clothes that were soft and warm and whole.

He'd probably have to get a job in order to buy those things. Getting a job had always sounded so big and loud and scary, though, which was why his parents had him do chores around the house and paid him an allowance instead.

Maybe Charlie could do that at the new house, too! He could still do chores! He could keep the house clean and tidy while Ward and their Sky were at work. Then they wouldn't have todo chores after working all day. And he could cook! He hated cooking, but he'd do it. Then he'd know that Ward and their Sky were eating healthy food.

And when he ran out of chores, he could sit and read. Which meant the new house would need space for all his books! There was some space in Ward's living room now, sparsely furnished as it was, but then it would feel cramped. Charlie needed to not feel cramped.

Maybe a second bedroom! He could put all his books in there. And his desk! Then he'd have a place to put his laptop.

And, most important of all: There had to be space for a piano. Charlie wanted to buy one for Skylar so badly, except he'd never had enough money to do so. Besides, in Ward's apartment, it would be out of the question. There was simply no good spot to put one. But maybe there would be at the new house! Charlie would have to make sure of it, even if it took a really long time to afford it.

When they passed a store all done up for Christmas, Charlie had gotten even more excited. If they got a new house in time for Christmas, they could decorate! They'd have to get a place with enough room for a tree. And get more decorations! Ward had some, but they were going to need more. Charlie loved Christmas. He wanted it all over the new house. He wanted to wake up on Christmas morning with Ward and their Sky. They could sit in front of the tree with only those lights on, drink their coffee, and enjoy the pretty colors.

Except Skylar was gone.

Charlie put the empty hanger back up on the rod, then folded his shirt back into his bag. He stood there, eyeing the empty space in the closet. All of Skylar's clothes were gone. Charlie stepped forward and flipped through every single hanger, then searched the piles of clothing on the floor and the shelf above.

But there was nothing. Not a single thing that Skylar owned.

Charlie ran to the bathroom. The toothbrush cup sat on the counter—and Charlie really wanted it to be in the medicine cabinet instead—but that wasn't what stopped him in his tracks.

There was only one brush sitting in it. Charlie hadn't unpacked his yet, and Skylar's was missing.

Charlie yanked open the medicine cabinet, touching every single item in there, then searched through the drawers beneath the sink. No matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find any of Skylar's things. His hairbrush, his injection supplies, his deodorant—all of it was gone.

In the kitchen, there was a tiny, empty space where Skylar's supplements had been.

That left one last thing to check.

Charlie ran to the front door, then lurched to a stop. Ward's boots were there, as were Charlie's own shoes.

But those were it.

“He left, little mouse,” Ward murmured.

Charlie whirled around and saw Ward standing just outside the bedroom, a piece of paper in his hand.

---