Page 55 of A Forever Love
“Absolutely.” I pinch her cheeks before looking at the empty doorway. “Where’s your brother?”
“I’m here,” Charlie replies, poking his head out from a wingback chair positioned facing the fireplace and away from me.
“Charles Hawthorne, you make me a lousy bodyguard. I didn’t even notice you come in.” I take a seat opposite Charlie, and Chloe dumps herself next to her brother on his chair.
“Would you like to try something new today?” I direct my question to Charlie, who sits across from me with a blank expression. His response is a tiny shrug, and as if that’s not enough even for Chloe, she breaks the quiet.
“Is Charlie going to get to shoot again?” A mischievous gleam dances in her eyes, and I can’t help but smile.
“Do you like to see your brother at the shooting range, Chloe?” I ask, hoping to provoke a reaction from Charlie through his sister. However, I quickly realize it was a terrible idea.
“I want Charlie to kill Rudy.”
“Who the heck is Rudy?”
“He’s my classmate, and he wants to be my boyfriend.” She crinkles her nose as if having a boyfriend is the biggest misery of her life.
“Charlie is learning self-defense, and it’s a crime to kill someone. Your brother could go to prison for that.”
“Oh. I don’t want you to go anywhere, Charlie.” Chloe glances at her brother, who finally gives her a lopsided smile. “Maybe you can break his nose. Can you?”
“Absolutely not,” I interject into the conversation. “Violence is never the solution, Chloe. Just tell Rudy that you’re not interested in being his girlfriend. It’s as simple as that.” While I generally enjoy being around kids, Chloe is dangerous, and I’m scared to be her pseudocounselor. “Also, talk to your parents about it.”
Chloe nods and then slides down from the chair. “Mom told me not to disturb you guys too much. But please, Carter, make my brother strong. He has to kill a lot of boys for me.”
She skips out of the room, and I turn my attention to Charlie. “I’m afraid of your sister.”
He grins. “Everyone is, but she’s a blast. She’s my favorite person in the world.”
I study the boy before me. Charles Hawthorne, at fifteen, is dressed in a white polo T-shirt and black shorts. He’s the spitting image of his father, with his blond hair, cropped short on the sides and longer on top, and his piercing blue eyes. He sits with perfect posture, a testament to the years of grooming he’s received, as he’s destined to inherit the Hawthorne estate and business when he grows up. After hearing Tony this morning, I’m sure there are more people who are waiting to see what sort of a man Charlie grows to be.
“Mom said you want to teach me something new.” He fiddles with an invisible piece of lint on his shorts.
“While your sister might be thrilled, I’m thinking of teaching you Aikido, a Japanese martial art. What sets Aikido apart is its defensive nature. It’s not about hurting others but about protection,” I explain.
When he doesn’t reply, I lean forward. “We’re here to protect you, Charlie. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you, physically. But there’s a bigger threat, the emotional kind, and only you can protect yourself from that. If you let fear take over, that would be a bigger loss, buddy.”
“I don’t like being helpless.” His fists clench tight. “How can I protect Chloe if I can’t even keep myself safe?”
“You’re far from helpless. Remember, even the strongest warriors don’t go to battles alone. Seeking help and training yourself to overcome future challenges is a sign of strength, not weakness.”
He’s quiet for a while, as if thinking about my words, and then asks, “Do you really believe Aikido can help me?”
I nod. “It’ll not only strengthen your body but also your mind and willpower.”
“Alright, I’ll go change into my training clothes.”
Charlie leaves, and when I check my phone, there’s a text from Tom Trent, the co-advisor of the Security Excellence Guild.
Tom: I heard wonderful things about your girlfriend, Carter. My wife and I can’t wait to see her this weekend. Everyone is eager to meet the girl who finally stole our wolf’s heart.
This bunch of geriatrics and their wolf bullshit.
I recall the advice I gave Charlie moments ago. Even the bravest ask for help. Before I can second-guess myself, I shoot a text to Merida.
15
MERIDA