Read C&A Novella (Marked Heart #2.5) for Free Online

worse."
      Narrowing her eyes at Penny, Charlotte blurted, "You know what's going on with him, don't you."
      Purposely avoiding eye contact, she replied, "Sorta."
      "Is it really all over a stupid tattoo?"
      Shaking her head, Penny appeared sad as she replied, "No, it's over a mark."
    Knowing what a big deal that was to them, Charlotte dropped the subject.
    Focusing on a happier relationship, she smiled at Penny.
    "So, exactly how awesome is Seth?"
      With a slight grimace, Penny replied, "He was fixing to show me the other morning and my mom showed up."
    "Wait! What?"
      Nodding with her eyes wide, Penny explained, "Yeah, she busted right in my bedroom door just as we were about..."
      Quickly cutting her off Charlotte, questioned, "Your mom came to our apartment?"
    Hesitant, Penny nodded.
      "Did she say anything about the wedding? Is she coming?"
      There was a long pause before Penny answered, "She mostly just fussed at me and Braden."
      "Oh, Okay..."
      "Sorry." Penny genuinely assured, walking to turn off the lights.
    Following her, Charlotte wondered if Auggie knew his mom had come by and if he did, why wouldn't he tell her?

 
    13
    Braden was sitting in the manager's office of The Dog House when Charlotte walked in to get her night started. Instead of being seated in the chair facing the desk, he sat on the one right inside the door.
    After giving him a quick once over, Charlotte shook her head at him as she walked to her desk.
      "What's up?"
      Shrugging, he replied, "Auggie sent me in here."
      Trying her best not to laugh, Charlotte asked, "He put you in a time out?"
      "Can't you lift the sex ban before he actually bites someone's head clean off?" He replied with a smirk.
      "Did he seriously send you back here to talk me into having sex with him?" She snapped.
      With a wide smile and a laugh, Braden swore, "Hey, I'm just tryin' to keep all us innocent bystanders safe."
      "Champion of the people sorta thing?" Charlotte laughed.
      "Somethin' like that."
    Rolling her eyes, she sat down behind her desk and flipped her computer on.
    When an hour went by and he was still sitting by the door in her office, Charlotte thought it might be nice to talk to him. Although she had known him for a while now and he was basically living on her couch, not once had there been a real conversation between the two of them.
    Standing up behind her desk, she walked to the chair that sat in front of it and took a seat.
    "So, how's it going?"
      "How's what going?" He question, appearing confused.
      "Life, I guess."
    Braden's usual careless demeanor was replaced by a somber one as he shrugged and stared at the floor.
      "Do you need someone to talk to?"
      With an appreciative yet dismissive glance, he shook his head answering, "I can't talk to you."
      "Not me." Charlotte agreed, almost laughing before suggesting, "You should talk to your brother."
      "Yea, sure." He sarcastically replied.
      "He's worried about you."
    Standing up out of his chair, he took a step towards her as if he was about to argue then took a deep breath and stepped back.
      Leaning his back against the door, he folded his arms in front of his chest and admitted, "I know he is."
    "So talk to him." She urged.
      Shaking his head, he relaxed his arms, dropped them at his sides and shared, "He doesn't understand."
      "Isn't that the point of talking about something?"
      Serious in expression, he replied, "It's not in him to understand."
    Charlotte knew Auggie wasn't the most understanding person. Regardless of how he would approach whatever Braden's problem was, she knew he loved his brother.
      As she started to press the issue of them talking, Braden informed, "Everyone in this family is doing exactly what they were always meant to do. Except me."
      Feeling as though he was just having a pity party for himself, Charlotte stood up and advised, "Stop letting people take who you are away from you then."
      Glancing up at the