Talon
The next morning, I was in the kitchen making breakfast, while Charlotte slept. After the amazing sex the day before, she could probably use the rest. The memory of holding her in my arms brought a smile to my face.
I loved the feeling of being so close to her. Physical intimacy always made me feel a deep connection with Charlotte. There were no lies and no secrets in the bedroom, tangled up in each other, loving each other. It was the rawest expression of affection, and it always reaffirmed how much I loved her and how much she loved me.
Charlotte felt it too. I was sure of it. At least, she felt it while we were making love. After, when the talking started. That was when she pulled away from me. Not that I blamed her. She knew I was keeping something from her, and she could feel me holding back.
And yes, I was lying to her when I said there was nothing going on, but she legitimately had nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, she was worried. After she left the bed and showered, she’d been distant the rest of the day. She wasn’t cold, exactly, but cool. I didn’t get the silent treatment, but she wasn’t what I would call ‘chatty.’
I was hoping after a good night’s sleep and a warm breakfast, she would be in a better mood. It was part of the reason I was up early, making her breakfast. I made breakfast for her all the time, but this morning, it was more of a peace offering than just something I did. If it was possible to infuse eggs and toast with love, I was giving it my best.
Charlotte walked into the kitchen, her eyes still bleary with sleep. I glanced over at her while I stirred the eggs.
“Perfect timing,” I said. “Breakfast is almost ready.”
She gave me a weak smile and sat down at the table. I poured her a cup of coffee and set it in front of her.
“Thanks,” she said.
It was all she said, but I told myself she was still waking up and wasn’t really in the talking mood. The food would wake her up.
I finished up the eggs and buttered the toast. Then I put her plate in front of her, and I sat at the table.
“Dig in,” I said.
She pushed the eggs around on her plate with her fork, but she didn’t eat more than a couple of bites.
Without thinking, I said, “Is there something wrong with the eggs? Would you like something else?”
She looked up at me and then back down at her plate. “The eggs are fine. That’s not the problem.”
I cringed internally, wishing I’d never opened my stupid mouth in the first place. My plan was to avoid any conversation about my secret, but I’d just given her the opening she needed. Fuck.
I didn’t say anything back to her, hoping to end the discussion before it even started. But now that the idea was back in Charlotte’s head, she plowed right ahead.
“The problem,” she said. “Is that you refuse to open up to me. And honestly? It’s bothering the hell out of me.”
I put my fork down. “I’m sorry you feel that way. There’s nothing to open up to you about.”
“Really? Because you haven’t been acting like yourself at all. So, I don’t see how you can sit there, look me in the eyes, and tell me nothing’s wrong.”
I shrugged, unable to meet her gaze. “You know how it is. It was just finals. I was seriously stressed out about some of those classes. I’m fairly certain I failed chemistry. It just makes everything feel off.”
She shot me a skeptical look. “Finals are over, Talon. Way over. They shouldn’t be stressing you out anymore.”
“I know,” I said. “I’m just saying, if I’ve been acting weird or whatever, that was why. I mean, I’m still a little stressed out, and I will be until the grades are in. But other than that, everything is all good. I promise.”
Charlotte shook her head. “To be perfectly honest, Talon. I don’t believe you.”
“I’m sorry you don’t trust me,” I said miserably. “But I don’t know what else to say.”
“Say anything,” she said. “Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours. Is it something with me? Is it about my parents being here? Or is there something else going on?”
“Things are good,” I said, reaching across the table for her hand. She yanked it away from me.
“No, they’re not,” she said. “And if you won’t talk to me, they’re never going to be good again.”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. She nodded, as if my silence was answer enough. Then, she got up from the chair and stormed into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her.