What You're Missing

Chapter 16

"But I never broke anything. I always stood by and respected our oath, and you still fired me."

"Yeah, man, you were really wrong for that," Charlotte pointed. Ray rolled his eyes and Henry shook his head. Charlotte mouthed a 'sorry' to the blond and Ray sighed.

"Fine, I admit that was a little out of line," he let out. Henry looked to Charlotte and the two shared a hopeful glance.

"But even if I did give Henry his job back," Ray continued. "What am I going to do with you?" He looked at Charlotte with raised eyebrows.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I don't trust you," Ray stated. "Especially after you sent me to jail? I can't have you knowing our secret."

"So..." Charlotte wore a confused expression.

"I'm going to have to erase your memory."

"What?!" Henry and Charlotte exclaimed in unison.

"No, you can't do that, Ray," Henry said seriously, stepping closer to him. "I won't let you."

"Erase my memory?!" Charlotte exclaimed. "Are you serious?"

"You leave me no choice!" Ray responded. "You could expose our secret."

"She wouldn't do that," Henry said. "I trust her, Ray."

"Well, I don't," Ray responded flatly with a shrug. "So I'm going to have to wipe her memory."

"Wait!" Charlotte exclaimed, holding her hands out. "I could work for you." Ray scoffed.

"Doing what?" he asked dubiously.

"I know how you can catch the robbers," she told him, taking a step forward. "And I can help you." Ray raised his eyebrows.

"Seriously?" he questioned. "How?"

"I'll show you," she placed her hands on her hips, "if you promise not to wipe my memory."

"No deal," Ray shook his head. "You could be pulling an act for all I know."

"I'm not," she responded. "And I think you know that, too." Ray rolled his eyes.

"I don't need your help," he retorted. "I can catch them on my own."

"Right, now tell me, how long have you been trying to catch these guys?" she challenged him. "And how many times have they gotten away?" Henry raised his eyebrows and pouted his lips when she said that, and she smirked. Ray studied her, his arms crossed over his chest. Charlotte took a step forward.

"I was there the night of the robbery, too. They definitely had a motive. I could get you a lead on these guys by tonight," she continued. "You can trust me." Ray looked at her as if he was debating a critical moral dilemma, and finally, after an eternity of waiting and Henry and Charlotte holding their breath, Ray spoke.

"Fine," he exasperated, "I won't wipe your memory." Charlotte grinned.

"And I can have my job back?" Henry asked hopefully.

"Yeah, yeah, you get your job back, kid." Ray rolled his eyes but smiled at him. Henry beamed, throwing a fist in the air.

"Yes!" he exclaimed, hugging Ray. "Thank you." 

"And thanks for not wiping my memory, I guess," Charlotte told him.

"No problem." He shot her a thumbs-up to which Charlotte rolled her eyes in reply. Then she turned to Henry who was approaching her, and before she could argue he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her in the air. Charlotte laughed as he spun her around, and their faces were both lit with glee when he put her down.

"You're seriously so amazing," Henry gawked at her. "I can't believe you just got me my job back."

"Oh, it was nothing," she joked, fanning the air once with her hand. "It was the least I could do after basically getting you fired." Henry looked at her as she grinned up at him, and he tucked a lose strand of hair behind her ear.

"I never should've broken up with you," he spoke seriously then, "it was the biggest mistake I ever could've made." Charlotte leaned into his hand where it lingered after touching her hair.

"It's okay, Henry," she replied in a softer voice. "I mean, I was really hurt at first, obviously. But I understand why you did it. And I forgive you." She smiled at him to which he returned.

"I don't deserve you at all," he said slowly, "but I'd love for you to give me another chance." Charlotte grinned.

"Well I guess I have no choice then, do I?" Henry smiled, placing both his hands on her cheeks and kissing her. Charlotte chased after his lips after they parted for a split second, wrapping her arms around his neck and he moved his to her waist as they pulled each other closer. She felt a chill go up her spine when his lips caught hers in a way that left her not wanting any space between them ever again, and she didn't want this moment to end.

Ray cleared his throat as he stood a few feet away. "I'm still here, you know." Henry absentmindedly waved Ray's words away with his hand before placing it back on Charlotte's waist, neither of them parting from each other. Ray rolled his eyes, groaning in response, then marched up the steps to his bedroom.

And as Henry kissed the girl of his dreams in the middle of the Man Cave with the knowledge of having his job back, he felt the happiest he had ever been, like everything was finally perfect.