Finding Infinity by Layne Harper Read Free Book Online Page A

and small. “Did you do it?” I yell. I know that I look and sound insane, but I can’t calm myself down. My future with her is evaporating before my eyes.
    She tilts her head sideways, and her brow wrinkles in confusion. “Did I do what?”
    “You made yourself sick, didn’t you? Instead of talking to me, you made yourself sick. Goddammit, Charlie. You promised me that you’d never do it again.” I clench and unclench my fists. I can feel myself leaning forward on my toes. I realize that I look like a tiger, ready to pounce, so I make an effort to relax my hands and stand up straight. I can’t stand the terrified look that she has on her face.
    I’m so fucking pissed at myself for being blind. I knew that she needed order, yet I just moved her into my house, assuming that I was enough to keep her healthy. “You promised that you’d ask for help. I didn’t fucking know that it was this bad. I swear to you.” I start pacing and running my hands through my hair. I feel my life slipping away from me. I feel my dreams of us getting married, having a baby, spending our life together going up in smoke. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” I yell, but it’s not at her. I’m really yelling at myself. I’ve been so blinded by love that I couldn’t see what was right in front of me.
    Charlie’s tear-stained face and silent sobs break me out of my anger-filled trance. I scoop her in my arms and hold her to me. I push her into my chest, needing to feel her against me. She can calm me like nothing else can—just her scent, her touch. My body recognizes her as it’s other half.
    I cling to her, needing to know that she’s still with me. In a much calmer voice, I say, “I’ll get you help, baby. We’ll call Doctor Benson and have her find you the best hospital possible. I’ll take care of you. I’m not going to let you lose my favorite pair of tits.” That’s my way of saying that I’m not going to let her leave me again.
    “I…I…I didn’t do it,” she says, barely above a whisper. “I almost did, but I didn’t do it. You called instead, and I knew that I had to talk to you.”
    Relief flows out of me. Glorious relief. I kiss her forehead and her hair. I kiss the tears off her cheeks. I hold her even more tightly to me, and silently send God as many thank you prayers that I can think to say. I even promise him that I’ll quit saying goddammit if he’ll just keep her safe, and keep her from getting sick again.
    “I did run almost twenty miles today, and it felt so good to be in control again,” she confesses in a soft whisper.
    “Thank you for telling me, and for sharing all of your problems that you’re having with my life. I’ll start flying Doctor Benson up to meet with you. I’ll move Jenny to an office building. I can’t do much about the media and the crazy fans right now, but I’ll figure something out. I fucking love you. I’m going to make you happy. I promise.”
    Charlie sits up and takes my face in her hands. Her lavender eyes pierce my soul. “Not once, since I proposed to you, have I regretted my decision. I love you. I’m just struggling with everything that surrounds you. Be patient with me. I’ll be my old self again. I promise.”
    Her words own me. She fucking owns me. “I love you so much, beautiful girl. You’ve got to communicate with me. I’ve got to know that you’re telling me when there’s a problem. I can’t fucking spend every day living in fear that you’re hiding shit from me. Tell me! I’m a fucking reasonable guy.” She gives me her “You’ve got to be kidding me” look.
    “Okay, so I’m not reasonable all the time, but I told you that I love you enough to make this work. I meant every damn word of it, Charlie.”
    She smiles, a smile that finally reaches her eyes. “Thank you. We’re going to make this work,” she confirms. Those are the sweetest damn words ever spoken.

Chapter Three
     
    Charlie
     
     
    There’s something big