Wolves Don't Run Part 2: Chapter 2 update and Sneak Peek.
Just popping in to say that Wolves Donât Run: Part 2 â Chapter 2 is coming out in the next few days! Iâve been working on it for a couple of weeks, and it's almost ready to go!!
Rooftop trauma doctor angst.
Robby being a magical giant.
And a cliffhanger that will personally punch you in the throat.
Here is a little sneak peek :)
Monday morning crept in quietly, pale light slipping through the blinds of the downstairs guest room â the temporary space Robby had turned into âCharlieâs room 2.0.â Her framed posters were hung up, her favorite blanket was draped over the bed, and her desk had been squeezed into the corner so she could do Zoom classes without climbing stairs.
She wasnât supposed to go up or down without help. Which meant she was very much not supposed to be doing what she was doing now. At 6 AM â three full hours before her AP Calculus Zoom â Charlie was in the kitchen, wobbling on her crutches, attempting to make breakfast.
The downstairs shower was running; Robby was getting ready for the halfâshift he promised Dr. AlâHashimi heâd cover. She had something personal to take care of, and Robby had immediately said, âOf course, Iâve got you,â because thatâs exactly the kind of man he was.
Charlie, meanwhile, was trying to flip an omelet like she had two fully functioning legs and not one injured one and one that was basically a decorative attachment. The crutches were tucked under her arms making it a little difficult to hold the pan and flip the eggs.
âStay together,â she whispered to the eggs.
The eggs did not stay together. They folded, tore, and slid into a sad, lumpy pile.
Charlie groaned. âGuess weâre having scrambled eggs instead.â
She tried to adjust her stance, but her crutch slipped a little on the tile, and she had to grab the counter to steady herself. She froze, listening â the shower was still running. Good. She had time to salvage this.
She wanted to do something nice. Her Dad had been doing everything for her for weeks â cooking, cleaning, helping her shower, helping her dress, helping her get to the bathroom, helping her exist. Covering a shift for someone on top of that felt like too much. She wanted to give him something back. Even if it was just breakfast. Even if it was terrible.
The bathroom door opened down the hall. Charlie straightened so fast she nearly toppled over.
Robby walked into the kitchen, towel around his neck, hair damp. He stopped dead.
Charlie smiled like she hadnât just risked a fall for scrambled eggs. âMorning.â
âWhat are you doing?â
âMaking breakfast,â she said, as if this were a normal, safe, medically approved activity.
âIâm ambidextrous,â she said confidently.
âThatâs not what that means. You know that's not what that means."
She huffed. âI wanted to do something nice for you.â
Robbyâs face softened instantly.
He crossed the kitchen, gently took the spatula from her hand, and kissed the top of her head.
âYou trying is nice,â he said. âYou not breaking your neck is nicer.â
âTrue,â he said, turning the stove down. âEven if hurtful.â
Charlie lowered herself into a chair â carefully, because her arms were already tired â and watched him take over the pan. The kitchen filled with the warm smell of eggs and toast
Robby plated the eggs â the scrambled eggs, because the omelet had died a noble death â and slid a plate in front of her before grabbing one for himself. He sat across from her at the small kitchen table, the early morning light catching in the silver strands at his temples.
âAlright,â he said, âgive me your schedule.â
Charlie stabbed a piece of egg. âAP Calc at nine. APUSH at eleven. Bio at two. And a bunch of Google Classroom stuff in between.â
âThatâs basically a full day.â
âYeah,â she said. âJust⌠without the stairs. Or the hallways. Or the cafeteria. Or the people. Or the noise.â
"So, a better version." Robby said.
She snorted. âHonestly? Kind of.â
He smiled into his mug. âIâll be back around one. Covering for Dr. AlâHashimi until then.â
Charlie nodded. âTell her thanks again. For⌠yâknow. Everything.â
âI will.â He hesitated, then added, âIâm also going to talk to Dr. Marquez today. See if we can get you in sooner.â
Charlieâs fork paused midâair. âFor⌠the meds?â
âOnly if youâre ready,â he said gently. âYou said you wanted to talk to her. I just donât want you waiting weeks.â
Charlie looked down at her plate, pushing a piece of egg around with her fork. âYeah. I⌠I think I want that.â
Robby reached across the table and squeezed her hand. âGood. One step at a time.â
She nodded, swallowing around the lump in her throat. âOne step.â
They ate in comfortable silence for a moment âThe kitchen felt warm. Safe. Normal in a way she hadnât felt in a long time.
Robby glanced at the clock. âIâve got about ten minutes before I need to head out. Do you need anything before I go?â
Charlie shook her head. âIâm good. Iâll probably work on some assignments and then log into Calc early and pretend I understand derivatives.â
âYou do understand derivatives.â
âI understand them in theory,â she said. âIn practice? They bully me.â
Robby laughed. âYouâll be fine.â
She wasnât sure she believed that â about Calculus, about meds, about anything â but hearing him say it made it feel a little more possible.