Read Online Love's Embers (Canon City Series) by Lauren Marie - Free Book Online Page B

turn into my dad. I didn’t mean to scare you earlier, Lark. I still have moments when I worry about being my dad.”
    “I don’t think you need to worry about that. My reaction came from something else and wasn’t your fault.”
    He nodded. “The crap that went on with my mom and dad wasn’t my fault, either, but for a long time I’d thought it was and since they were gone, I blamed you for everything that went wrong while I was in detention. I was pretty mixed up.”
    “Blamed me for what? I don’t understand.”
    He looked at her. “Did you go to the prom?” he asked.
    “Yeah, I went. What of it?” Lark couldn’t figure out where this conversation was headed.
    “With Zack Strom?”
    “Yeah. What does that have to do with anything? It was twelve years ago.”
    He shook his head. “Unbelievable. You go to the prom with the one dick I could never stand. He was an arrogant bully then and I suppose he still is now.”
    Lark couldn’t stand the look in his eyes. It seemed to go from anger to confusion back to anger in less than a heartbeat. “So, I wasn’t supposed to go to the prom?”
    Charlie stood up so fast from his seat he almost stumbled on the hearth. He went to the
    other side of the room and crossed his arms. “You were supposed to wait for me. You promised to wait,” he shouted at her.
    Lark stood up with her fists clenched. “How long was I supposed to wait, Charlie? Five years, ten? Christ, was I supposed to become Miss Havisham and wear my wedding dress until I died? How long, Charlie? I was only fifteen. When we were eighteen years old and you didn’t come back, what was I supposed to do?” She saw a new expression on his face. “Let me guess, you never read Great Expectations? Figures. I thought we’d be able to once and for all put the past away, but even though you were counseled it would seem you’re still angry. I’m still angry. I guess it would be better to wait until tomorrow.” She turned and started out of the living room.
    Charlie followed behind her and in the hallway, grabbed her arm. She looked up at him, shocked. He spun her around and pushed her against the front door. They were both breathing hard and Lark could feel tears start to burn her eyes. She kept telling herself this was not June and Charlie wasn’t one of those men.
    “Answer my question, Charlie. Why did you cut me off?” she whispered. “Gran and I tried to see you every month, but you refused to see us. Why?” She looked up as his brows creased.
    “I was so pissed off at you,” he choked. “You were supposed to wait and now you’re engaged. I just can’t win. I came back here when I was released from juvie and Gran told me you were up in Boulder going to the university. I spent two weeks watching you on the campus and it was obvious you fit right in there. It was best for me to leave.”
    She felt him press his pelvis against hers. A warm tingle began to work its way down her legs into her feet and thaw the ice that surrounded her heart. He still held her arms. “You didn’t answer my question, Charlie. Why did you cut me off?” She felt the grip lessen on her arms, as his bottom lip lightly trembled. She was able to bend her elbow and brought her hand up to his face. She lightly touched his lip and looked into his eyes.
    “I was so fucking jealous of you, but you were my friend and I needed you,” he whispered.
    Lark didn’t say anything. She felt there was more to spill and didn’t want to interrupt his train of thought. She moved her hand along his jawline and around his neck.
    “The week you sent me the letter about going to the prom with Zack, my mom came to visit.” He let her arms go and backed to the other side of the hall. He leaned against the wall, but didn’t look at her. He laughed. “It’s so funny. I was in detention for saving her from my dad.” He glanced at Lark. “I never had the love you got from Gran. I always wished she was my Gran, too, but then that would