Chapter 23 Part 1

Charlie

Everyone in the room is speechless. Juliet’s eyes move from me to Maxwell just as my eyes move from Maxwell to her.

The sound of Juliet’s dry throat clearing fills the room. “You brought your secret boyfriend.” Obviously no one can beat the sarcasm out of her.

“Yes. No.” I can feel a blush creeping up my neck to pool in my cheeks.

I look over her scrapes and bruises, her cast and IVs. This was a message and the message has been received. The tension in the room is thick, too thick for my liking. “You know what, I’m going to get some coffee and a snack from the vending machines downstairs. Do you want anything?” I look at both of them only to be polite as I take a few steps toward the door. Maxwell follows my lead. “You can stay here and get some juicy dirt on me from my bestie,” I say to him, holding up my hand, stopping him in his tracks. “I know she wants the dish on you.”

“Twizzlers,” Juliet demands before I finally depart the room.

I look one last time at Maxwell; his expr