Page 6 of What We May Be

He was sitting on the edge of the living room couch, rolling on his socks, when Charlie appeared in the bedroom doorway across from him, Trevor’s T-shirt hanging off one shoulder and skirting her thighs.

“What time’s your flight?” she asked.

“Two hours.” He slipped his feet into his dress shoes. “Out of Wilmington.” It would take him forty-five minutes to get there, leaving just enough time to check in, board, then have the inevitable breakdown with an in-flight beverage in hand and his face aimed out the window. No witnesses but the clouds and the morning sun.

“So, this is it?” Charlie said.

“Yeah, this is it.” He swallowed hard, stood, and crossed the room to her. Looping an arm around her waist, he rested a hand at the small of her back and with the other, wove a dark tendril of hair through his fingers.

Charlie fiddled with his unbuttoned collar as tears pooled in her eyes. She gave a watery chuckle. “I failed at not feeling.”

His own sad laugh was equally damp. “I should have picked a stronger scotch.”

She leaned forward and kissed his knuckles. “I’m devastated that more of my family is gone. I’m angry as hell at the way they were taken and at myself for playing a role in that.”

“Charlie—”

She talked right over him. “And somewhere below all that grief and anger, I’m still pissed at how you left and that you came back. And I’m pissed that Trevor and I have to move on from all this, from our home, if we have any chance of being happy. But despite all that hurt and anger, despite the fact I know I’m supposed to say goodbye and let you go, the only thing I can think to do is tell you we still love you and beg you to stay. That’s the only way I can think to make some of this pain and anger go away.”

But it wouldn’t truly go away, and the pain and anger would only be worse if Charlie ever learned the truth of why he left and stayed away in the first place. He couldn’t cause her more pain, couldn’t cause more damage. He’d made a promise.

Brushing aside her hair and curling his hand around her neck, Sean pressed his lips to her forehead. He breathed deep, a final inhale of all that was home, a final melody as Trevor snored in the background. When he was sure every aspect of home was committed to memory, he drew back and held Charlie’s tear-streaked face in his hands. “I love you, Charlotte. I love Trevor too. Always have and always will,” he vowed. “But I have to go.”

“Are you going to keep tabs on us?” she asked, repeating her question from the previous night.

“No.” After the night they’d just shared, after learning they’d be in DC too, there’d be no way Sean could resist seeking them out if he knew exactly where they were. And that would be the opposite of moving on. So no, he wouldn’t be checking up on them any longer. He wouldn’t be looking back. “I’m going to let you live your lives, Charlie. Let you and Trevor be happy.”

“But what about you?” She rose on her toes, her lips soft against his jaw. “Is that enough, Sean?”

“Knowing you’re both happy is all I need.” He nuzzled her cheek and inhaled one last breath of cocoa butter and salt. Listened once more for the sleepy rumble from the other room. “Take care of him.”

“Always.”

That would have to be enough.

---