Love Burns Page 10

  “We could play board games and drink beer.”

  I loved her suggestion. So we followed through with her idea. We played Trivial Pursuit and Yahtzee. Then we played cards. I wasn’t sure how much beer either of us drank in those few hours. I was pretty sure there was a twelve-pack of bottles in her fridge at the beginning of our game playing. However, now there was only an empty box and two pretty intoxicated people in her apartment.

  “I’m going to go and get ready for bed.” Charlie attempted to stand but swayed slightly and appeared a little unsteady on her feet.

  “Okay.” Although I know I had more to drink than her, she was so much smaller than me. She easily weighed eighty or ninety pounds less than me. I thought maybe I should let her lean on my shoulder while I guided her into the bedroom, but I reconsidered that idea and took to just watching her hobble to her room on her own accord, safely, even with the drunken ambulation. Helping her to her bedroom was not a smart idea if we truly wanted to preserve the ground rules.

  So I took to cleaning up the board games, cards, beer bottles, and putting away leftover pizza when I heard her call my name. I gingerly shuffled my feet down the hall toward her voice and opened the door to her bedroom. “You okay?”

  She was beneath the covers on her bed, and she peeled back the comforter on the side opposite where she lay and patted the mattress with her hand. “Come lie down with me.”

  “You’re drunk.”

  “You said we could sleep together.” Her eyelids were drooping as she spoke. Whether I stayed or retreated back to the living room, I was convinced that she would be asleep very quickly.

  “Okay. I will lie down for a minute.” That decision was probably not a good idea, but I couldn’t think of why not at that moment. So I scooted beneath the covers and faced away from her. She slid down further between the sheets and draped her arm across my waist. Yep, definitely not a good idea.

  But as I suspected, I heard soft snores escape from her within a few moments. I debated getting up and going to lie down on the couch, but I couldn’t figure out why I should. This had to be the most comfortable bed I had ever lain on. And soon, I was no longer able to keep my eyelids from falling shut. As the pull of a warm, calming slumber overtook me, I drifted into a dream about the girl that was once my friend and the woman she had become.

  I opened one eye to examine where I was. I knew by the floral smell of the sheets, I wasn’t at my apartment. I wasn’t at my parents’ house, either. I opened my other eye and rolled over onto my other side. There was a wrinkled spot where Charlie had slept, but it was currently empty. Then as if I wished for her to appear, she entered the bedroom.

  “Hey, sleepyhead.”

  Was she always this cheerful in the morning? “What are you doing up so early?”

  “Early? It’s eight o’clock.” Has she always been a morning person? “You promised to go for a run with me, remember?”

  I had to think back to when that would have happened. “When did I do that exactly?”

  “Remember? You said you didn’t feel like running yesterday, but you would today.”

  Maybe I did remember something like that. “Fine.” But I still moaned and whipped the covers over my head.

  She playfully pulled them back down. “Come on. We can go out to breakfast after our run. I know my bed is super comfortable, but it’s time to get up.”

  Now she was just being annoying.

  After a glass of water and some ibuprofen, I managed to change into some mesh shorts and tie my sneakers. I had my shirt off when Charlie entered the living room. “Put a shirt on, Coleman.”

  “Does this really violate the third rule?” I watched her nod in agreement. “What about when we go swimming? Will I have to wear a shirt then, too?”

  She huffed and turned on her heel away from me.

  Again, it was adorable when I got her riled.

  It was a long and silent five-mile run. She still doesn’t talk to me when she runs. So she remained focused, and I just followed alongside her. We ran through the park today instead of through our old neighborhood, which I was especially grateful for. I didn’t want to have an inadvertent run-in with either of my parents.

  “Hurry up and shower. I’m starving,” she said to me once we returned to her apartment.

  “Fine, but no more breaking the third rule. No sneaking in while I’m in the shower this time.” I raised my eyebrows up and tossed her a suggestive grin before walking down the hall of her apartment toward the bathroom.

  Once we had showered, we went out to breakfast at the Pancake Cabin again. I was pleased with her suggestion. I had forgotten how good their food was until we had eaten it yesterday.

  “When are you planning to talk with your mom?” she asked in between bites of her French toast.

  “Maybe tomorrow.” I still didn’t exactly want to hear what my mom was going to say. But at least now I thought maybe I could hear it and not explode. Charlie had a way of calming me.

  “I have to work tonight, but you are welcome to stay at my place.” She took a sip of orange juice and then those gray eyes darted directly at me. “I’m pretty sure you like my bed.”

  “It is more comfortable than Cam’s couch.” Although I was pretty sure her bed was so comfortable because she was in it with me. Pretty much anywhere I slept, next to her was the most comfortable place I had ever slept.

  She fumbled with something in her purse and then slid a key across the table to me. “You can have my spare key.”

  I stared at the key in front of me, but I didn’t move or speak.

  “It won’t bite you, Louis. Take it.” She picked up the metal object and reached for my hand. Then she faced my palm up and placed the key in it and closed my fingers around it. “Are you going to say anything?”

  I wasn’t sure if I could speak at that moment. She basically gave me access to not just her place, but to her whenever I wanted. That could be extremely dangerous.

  “Geez Louis, you act like I just asked you to move in with me. I am just letting you have a key in case you ever need a place to crash.” My hand was still curled around the key, and she was still holding my hand in hers. “I can take it back if it makes you uncomfortable.”

  I quickly retracted my hand with the key from her hold. “Thanks.” I cleared my throat for no reason, other than in an attempt to clear the air that was thick with awkwardness. “It would be great if I could sleep there tonight.”

  A satisfied smile crossed her lips. Crap. I was in trouble for sure.

  12

  Louis

  I spent the rest of the morning with Charlie, but when she went home to take a nap before work, I texted Cam. He invited me to the local college football game with some of his friends, so we went. Afterward, we grabbed a burger and returned to his apartment to watch another football game on his television.

  “So what’s the plan with your mom?”

  “Thinking maybe I will go talk with her tomorrow.” I opened Cam’s refrigerator and saw the only beverages behind the door consisted of beer and water. “Would it kill you to have some soda in here?” I grabbed a water bottle and unscrewed the cap before taking a long swallow of the cold liquid.

  “Next time you decide to crash, I’ll make sure I stock my fridge with cola.” A low rumble of a laugh erupted from him. “Hey, I’m planning to do a coffee run for the ER nurses tonight. You wanna come with me?”

  I contemplated what to say. I wouldn’t mind seeing Charlie again, but I certainly didn’t want to smother her, so I reconsidered. “Nah. Thinking I will get to bed early. Tomorrow probably won’t be much fun.”

  “Need a place to crash? You’re welcome here as long as you like.”

  “Thanks, man, but I’m just going to stay at Charlie’s. She’s working tonight, so I will have her place to myself.”

  “Um. Okay.” He changed his position to face away from me, but I knew he was hiding a smirk. He knew something, or he thought he knew something. I felt the need t
o explain my relationship with Charlie to him for some reason. But then again, what was going on with his sister and me was between her and me. I didn’t owe him any explanation, especially when I wasn’t entirely sure myself.

  The faint smell of coconut tickled my nose. And I felt a comforting warmth wrap around me. I managed to open my sleep-filled eyes and saw Charlie sliding under the covers next to me. “What are you doing?” My voice cracked and whispered from being dragged out of a peaceful slumber.

  “What does it look like?” I peeked under the covers and saw she was wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

  “It looks like you are climbing into bed with me.”

  “Duh.” Her head shook playfully. “I have been up all night, so it’s time for me to go to sleep.” Our bodies were lined up facing one another as we took refuge lying beneath the covers. “You can stay, but you are breaking the third rule.”

  In my half-asleep daze, I tried really hard to remember what the third rule was, but when I glanced at my chest and noticed it was bare, I recalled which rule I broke. “Are you really going to make me put a shirt on?”

  “Breaking one rule may lead to breaking others…” Her face remained uncovered but she fumbled beneath the blankets for a moment before she pulled out her shorts. When she tossed them onto the floor, a scratchiness from within my throat developed. I found myself speechless as I thought about her nakedness beside me, only hidden by a mere sheet and comforter. “Don’t look so surprised, Louis. I have underwear on. If you are going to sleep in what you are comfortable in, then so am I.” With a quick flip onto her opposite side, she faced away from me causing her hair to fan out over her pillow. She snuggled up against me with her backside, though. She knew exactly what she was doing.

  I lay there completely awake and aware that her bottom was nestled on top of my crotch. I kept imagining what her panties looked like, and on impulse, I rubbed my fingers along the silkiness of her bare leg.

  “Now you’re breaking the first rule.” Her voice was sleepy, yet sexy, even mixed in with the yawn I heard.

  Damn those rules. I slid my hand around her waist and followed the smooth skin of her bare arm to find her fingers. “Nah. I was just trying to find your hand, so I could hold it.”

  She sighed and within moments, I could hear her breathing even out. I inhaled her coconut scent and fell back to sleep for an additional hour, spooning her with my arm still draped around her midsection.

  I awakened in the same position. I stayed in my position next to her for several minutes, but figured it was time to get up. It was difficult to leave the warmth of her body and the coziness of her bed, but somehow I managed to crawl out from the cocoon of covers I was enveloped in.

  It was almost nine, so I texted my mom that I wanted to meet with her. She asked for me to come by the house, so I showered and changed. I kissed Charlie gently on the cheek before I left and she didn’t stir. I still watched her for several moments before I left. Having the key to her apartment made it easier to leave somehow. I guess because I knew I could come back anytime I wanted.

  Both of my parents were sitting at the dining room table in their home when I entered the house. It was ten o’clock on a Monday morning. Why aren’t they at work?

  “Thanks for coming by to speak with us, Louis.” My mother’s voice wavered slightly when she glanced in my direction and then directed her gaze to my father.

  My father sat at the table in his dark gray suit, but a bright red tie caught my attention. I wondered who had picked out that tie. It was way brighter than his usual, neutral, low-key ones.

  “Sit down, son.” My father motioned for me to join them at the table.

  A wave of nausea hit me in the gut. A similar scene played out when they told me my grandmother…my father’s mother had died. Did someone die? Why were they waiting until now to tell me? That would definitely be a reason for them to miss work. My father never missed work.

  I finally took a seat next to my mother, across from my father. I always thought he was such a massive presence, but as I sat across from him, he seemed smaller. His sullen demeanor made him appear like he lost some of the gumption he used to have.

  “Louis, I don’t know how to tell you this.” The solemn look my mom displayed had me concerned. Her eyes followed my dad at the other side of the table, and he nodded for her to continue. “Your father and I are getting divorced.”

  Those words hit me harder than a punch in the abdomen. A choking sensation wrapped around my throat, and I couldn’t breathe. The air that occupied my lungs had escaped and couldn’t be retrieved. I tried to suck in a deep breath, but I couldn’t inhale forcefully enough. Dizziness swept in, and images became fuzzy.

  “Grant, go get Louis a glass of water. He looks ill.” Gee, thanks Mom. I must look as bad as I feel.

  My dad quickly returned with the water and sat it on the woven placemat on the table in front of me. I lifted the glass to my lips but it felt heavy in my hand. My body shook as I attempted to swallow the water, while also concentrating on not choking.

  When I finally found that deep breath I craved, I drew in some air and exhaled slowly a few times as I attempted to digest the information I was provided. “What happened?” My parents exchanged glances, but my dad was the first to speak.

  “We grew apart years ago.” He combed his hand through his thick dark hair that was just beginning to gray at his temples. I hoped I got his hair.

  “Honey, we separated a few years ago.” I could hear my mother’s voice, but I couldn’t seem to look in her direction. So I stared at the water glass in front of me while she spoke. “We wanted to tell you in person rather than over the phone, but you came home so infrequently and for such short periods of time, it just never seemed like the right time.”

  A flash of anger seeped out of me. “So this is my fault!” I shot up from the table and paced the carpeted floor.

  “Son, that’s not what your mother is trying to say.” Why was he even talking? He was hardly ever home anyway.

  “You two just blindsided me. I had no idea your marriage was even in trouble, and today I find out you’re getting divorced. How long has this been going on? When did you get separated?” I halted the pacing, but the volume of my voice had increased from a surprised to an angry octave.

  “Almost three years ago.” My mother hung her head after her statement.

  I couldn’t help but scoff at her admission. “Three years? Three years? Three years! This has been going on for three years, and you two didn’t think this was something that you should let your only child know something about?” Both of my parents stared at me with blank expressions. Their nonverbal communication was not sufficient for me. “Well?”

  “We wanted to tell you, son, but we didn’t want to upset you.” My dad’s words seemed so matter-of-fact. His calm and casual attitude had me wondering if he was dating someone, too. I also began to question if he knew my mom was with someone else.

  “You didn’t want to upset me? Well too bad! I am upset. You were right. You did upset me.” My blood was boiling and anger seeped out of my pores. “So, separated. Dad doesn’t live here anymore?” They both shook their heads. “So where are you living, Dad?”

  “In a condo on the south side of town.”

  “Are you living by yourself?” I had to know.

  “I live by myself, but I am seeing someone.” I wished I was still at the table so I could throw the glass of water somewhere. “I know you saw your mother with Marshall the other day.”

  What the hell was wrong with the two of them? They had gotten separated and started dating new people without ever telling me. “I have to get the hell out of here.” I dug my keys out of my pocket and headed for the door. I was glad my parents didn’t try to stop me. I needed some air.

  I didn’t know where to go. I was so angry that I probably shouldn’t be driving. Some idiot blew through a stop sign, and I began following him. I wanted to snatch him out of his car and beat the crap out of him
for his reckless behavior. Somehow, I managed to get that thought out of my mind and abandoned the ambush I planned in my head.

  I drove to the marina and parked my car. When I began a stroll to calm my frayed nerves, I stumbled into the wake of a couple’s cigarette smoke, and I blurted out, “You assholes don’t need to poison everyone’s air.” I was prepared for the man to turn around and threaten me, but they just laughed and continued to puff on their nicotine-filled tobacco sticks. I could have totally kicked his ass and enjoyed doing it. I was itching for a fight. I needed to get a grip. I was going to get myself in trouble if I didn’t find something to calm me quickly. So I headed to the only place I knew might help me compose myself.

  I knew she hadn’t been asleep for very long, but I needed her. She wouldn’t mind, that’s what I told myself as I drove to Charlie’s apartment. She gave me a key to her place, so I figured she expected me to use it. I drove faster than I probably should have, and I stormed into her apartment as soon as I unlocked the door.

  13

  Charlie

  The door being shoved open forced me awake. I was grateful the masculine body storming into my room was Louis and not a criminal. But he didn’t look like himself. His breathing was noisy and his nostrils flared. I had never seen him like that before. His clenched fists swung at his sides while he stomped forward. A suppressed rage skimmed just beneath the surface, and I was fearful that he might explode at any moment. His tightened expression made my muscles quiver.

  “What’s wrong, Louis?”

  “My parents are getting divorced. They have been separated for three years and decided now was the time to finally tell me.” The tone of his voice was deeper than usual and his face was flushed.

  With passion and intensity marring his facial features, he bounced onto the bed with me causing the mattress to shift beneath me. Those blue eyes were dancing before me for only a moment when his lips assaulted mine. He kissed me hard and frantically as he devoured my mouth with deep sweeps of his tongue. The betrayal he was feeling soaked into my soul. He was lonely and hurt, and I knew he needed me. Screw the second rule.