Page 110 of With a Cherry On Top

I search the bottom part of the screen, frowning. I didn’t even know that was an option. “How do I turn it on?”

“Seriously, Grandpa?” A weak, teary smile tugs at her lips. “The camera symbol.”

“Which one?”

“Come on, Aaron. It looks like a camera.”

“Well, I don’t see it.”

“The third one!”

“Oh.” I press the button, and after a few seconds of buffering, my own face appears in the bottom right corner of the screen. “Hey.”

“Hi.” She swallows hard, her lips trembling again. “Do you still want me?”

The absurd question has me frowning. “What makes you think I ever stopped?”

She wipes the tear tracks on her cheeks. “I’m so sorry.”

“About what, baby?”

“About today. And...every day. I treat you so bad all the time.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Yes, I do,” she insists. “I’m just so...angry. Constantly, from the time I wake up until I go to sleep. I’m so angry, I want to...” She buries her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking.

“Of course you’re angry, Charlotte.” There’s an ache in my chest so deep I almost can’t stand it. “You’re hungry. You’re constantly starving, and not just for food, but for freedom, recognition, love. That’ll make anyone go crazy.”

She heaves out a sob, her shoulders curling inward. She looks so fucking tired. Like she’s been fighting a battle no one sees, and she’s losing.

And I swear, right now, I’ll be her armor. I’ll be her sword, her shield.

I’ll be whatever she needs until she wins the war.

CHAPTER 21

Sticky Fingers

Amelie

So you’re alive! I thought you’d fallen on a burner and caught fire.

Aaron

Alive and well. Just busy with Sadie and work.

Amelie

Is that all you’re busy with?

Picture a winky face. My phone’s bugging and emojis don’t work.

Iswallow the thickness in my throat. “Picture a winky face?” What’s the fucking winky face for? There’s no way she knows about Charlotte, is there? It can’t be. Please, tell me she doesn’t know.

My fingers hover over the keys, but the screen shifts to an incoming call, and I stare at Charlotte’s name flashing on it for a long moment before I pick it up.

“Hello?”