charlie cobalt bot

— the best of charlie keating cobalt from the like us and cobalt empire series by krista and becca ritchie

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

No matter how many times Charlie comes back to see the Winged Victory of Samothrace, a gorgeous eight-foot marble sculpture of a winged goddess, he still has that same awed reverence in his eyes as the first time I saw him here. It’s a gift not to become jaded by beauty.

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

Charlie rubs another fallen tear. “I don’t need anyone to love me. I can deal with hate.”

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

“Love,” Charlie muses into a sad smile, almost longing. Wishing.

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

Charlie wipes away a quick, fallen tear off his cheek. He broke her fucking heart, and I think he broke his own too.

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

“Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt was the architect,” Charlie tells me as we stop in an area under a ceiling mural, chandeliers, and gold molding. Five windows have breathtaking views of the gardens. Charlie’s eyes trace the painted ceiling.

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

“I’m still your 24/7 bodyguard, Charlie. That’s not changing, okay?”
He frowns for a second. “Are you still my friend?”

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

“Maybe I should’ve thrown it harder so he could read me better.”

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

Charlie sits on the edge of a red floral couch. He pours cocaine on a glass coffee table and uses a black credit card to separate the powder in lines.

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

“Can someone just tell me what the fuck she means to you then?”
“Nothing. She means nothing.” Charlie stands at this, wincing.

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

I frown at his reaction. He...cares. “Are you friends with her?”
“No,”Charlie snaps ten times more harshly. “I barely know her.”

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

For one, I know way too much about Charlie’s sex life. He’s told me countless times, “I cum on women. Not in them.”

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

Charlie braces some of his weight on his cane and passes me for the door. He pauses just to whisper, “Que l’audace soit mon amie.” And then he leaves.

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

“Charlie doesn’t want to read his fan mail?”
“The guy rarely does.” Oscar balls another letter. “I’ve been instructed to destroy all condolences.”

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

Charlie looks pointedly at me. “Your friends.”
“Your brothers,” I say.
“One is a choice.”

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

His words ring my head. It’s one of our family’s favorite Shakespeare quotes, and in French, it’s become one of our many mottos.

Boldness be my friend.

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

“No one gives them gifts. Pretty sure Charlie would chuck it into the dumpster. In front of your face.”

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

“You implied it somewhere along the way, Charlie. They believe you’re going to be around. That it’s going to be like the good old high school days.”
“How is it my fault that they have the wrong expectations?”

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

The truth about Charlie? He has no real empathy for anyone outside of his twin. His unconditional love for Beckett is the best thing about him.

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

Charlie is on his way out the door when he says, “If you didn’t dump all your cash into the mysterious land of Oz, maybe you could’ve taken your girlfriend on an actual date.”

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

“Can someone just tell me what the fuck she means to you then?”

“Nothing. She means nothing.” Charlie stands at this, wincing. I think at his leg. He rubs at his thigh.

“Sit back down, Charlie,” Beckett says softly. “Please.”

[charlie cobalt bot @ckcobalt]

The crystal snaps off and plops with a clink into Charlie’s wine. He looks like he wants to self-eject from the room, but he puts the goblet to his lips like he means to take a sip.