Love Burns Read online

  “Fine. Where are we going for breakfast?” I would deal with my friend’s sullen disposition in an unexpected way.

  “The Pancake Cabin, of course.” He cocked his head and rolled his eyes in response as if I just asked him a rhetorical question because the answer was completely obvious.

  Cam and I are heading to the Pancake Cabin. It would be great if you would join us. “Okay. I just invited Charlie to meet us there.”

  Okay. Be there soon. She responded just as quick as her brother does to text messages.

  “She’s on her way,” I explained to Cam, and he grinned as big as the Cheshire Cat.

  We arrived at the restaurant before Charlie, so we were already seated in a booth when she walked in. Cameron stood and greeted her with a hug when she approached us. I stood up next and hugged her as well. I may have held her for a moment longer than what was probably acceptable for a friend, but I couldn’t help it. I wanted to smell her hair and hold her close. I kissed her forehead and let her slide into the booth. I slid in next to her. It was just how I had envisioned it when the hostess led us to the table with the bench seating on each side.

  I had her trapped in the space right next to me. She was wearing shorts again today, so I sat next to her and imagined what her long legs looked like under the table. I had only caught a quick glimpse of them. I rubbed her knee when the three of us were looking at our menus, and she placed her hand on top of mine. What am I doing? I quickly tugged my hand away. She did as well and continued to look at the menu.

  No weird looks from her. No discussion of my intentions. She was being a little too easygoing. Maybe she was content with having whatever it was between us. Maybe she didn’t need anything more. I could handle that. Couldn’t I?

  The waitress appeared and took our order. The three of us remained quiet for several moments. Cameron was the first to chime in. He always had to be the one to keep the peace.

  “I saw Friday Furlough a few days ago.” His voice finally broke the silence we had surrounded ourselves in. Friday was a girl we had gone to school with. She was a little crazy and socially awkward. We were always nice to her, but she was odd.

  “What’s she up to these days?” I asked, but I wasn’t terribly curious.

  “She’s in medical school.” He didn’t seem very surprised by her matriculation toward being a physician. Maybe because he had already had a few days to absorb that information.

  “Wow!” Charlie piped in. “I knew she was smart, but I would never have figured she would be able to go into a career in medicine. She couldn’t even look at the stitches I got on my knee from that fall I took on those rocks at the beach freshman year.”

  “I had forgotten about that.” I found myself reminiscing about that trip.

  “I fell because I was chasing you,” she reminded me, and I pictured her running on those boulders alongside the ocean.

  “I’m pretty sure you never chased me.” I shifted my weight and turned toward her. “I was always the one chasing you.” I waggled my brows at her.

  Cameron’s eyes widened, and Charlie blushed. Yet again, he needed to resolve those awkward moments that had seemed to be occurring with more frequency lately. “He’s right. He was chasing after you and you slipped.”

  Charlie smiled and batted her eyelashes as if reliving the memory. “I remember now. You felt really bad about that.”

  “I did. It was all my fault that you had gotten hurt.” I couldn’t stop peering into her gray eyes. That magnetic pull she had over me reeled me in.

  “And you said you would never be the reason I got hurt again.” Her voice was merely a whisper, and I swear, if Cameron hadn’t been at the table with us, I would have kissed her then.

  A cough broke our connection when Cameron cleared his throat. “I am starting to feel like a third wheel you two.”

  Charlie and I exchanged glances with each other and then eyeballed her brother. We both laughed and soon Cam joined in our amusement. “I like that the three of us are friends again. But the two of you can really make a guy feel out of place sometimes.”

  “Out of place? You left me alone with Louis in a bar the first day I saw him in five years.” Reaching across the table with her long arms, she shoved his shoulder.

  “And now look at the two of you.” He waved his hand at the two of us. “Inseparable and totally in love with each other.”

  Charlie huffed out a laugh, but I saw the glare she cut in her brother’s direction. “It’s been fun getting to know each other again,” I managed to say. “But I am sorry to disappoint you and crush the hope you have about having me as a brother. We are just friends.” I squeezed Charlie’s knee under the table again and she visibly flinched.

  “Besides, Louis is going to be leaving in less than a week to go home. Who knows when we will see him again.” Her sorrowful eyes had that glassy appearance again. I could handle disappointment with Cam, but not from Charlie. I didn’t like seeing her sad.

  “Now that I have my friends in my life again, I think I will be back a lot more often.” I felt a squeeze on my knee then. I looked at Cameron. I didn’t look at her. I knew that was her way of letting me know I had said something that made her happy. I did want her to be happy.

  11

  Louis

  After breakfast, Charlie left the restaurant. I promised her I would see her around three. Cam and I went to the soccer scrimmage in an adjacent town. It was hot outside, and I felt the heat from the weather on the burn on my back. Once the game was over, I was more than relieved to head to the air-conditioned cab of Cam’s truck.

  Cam drove back to his apartment and got ready for his basketball game. I figured I could really use a shower and some wound dressing supplies, but all my belongings were at my parents’ house. Maybe I was just a coward because going shopping for clothes and dressing bandages seemed like a better idea than going to my parents’ house. I figured I had some time to kill while Cam was playing basketball and before Charlie would be home, so off to shopping I went.

  I drove my car to the clothing outlets that were about thirty minutes away. The drive was too quiet. I hadn’t been alone since I returned to the eastern shore. I was used to being alone back home, but it felt strange to be alone here. I increased the radio volume in the hopes that the feelings I was having of loneliness would dissipate.

  Once I arrived in the parking lot, I quickly busied myself with visiting stores and grabbing enough clothes to last me the next few days. There was a Target in the same area as the clothing outlets, so after dropping off the bags of clothes in my car, I visited Target for underwear, socks, toiletries, and bandage supplies. I even purchased a duffel bag to carry all my newly purchased items.

  Feeling confident that I had everything I needed, I returned to Cameron’s apartment to shower and change. He was already home when I arrived. I guess I had been gone longer than I thought.

  “Honey, I’m home,” I said, entering his apartment using the key he had given to me.

  “You bought a lot of stuff. How long are you planning to avoid your parents?”

  “I’m not sure yet, so I wanted to be prepared.”

  “After tonight, you’re welcome to stay here as long as you like.” He was sitting on the barstool at the breakfast bar that separated his kitchen from his living room.

  “Thanks for letting me crash here last night, but I think I’m good. I will find somewhere else in town. Or I can always go back home to my apartment.”

  “I am sure Charlie would let you crash at her place.”

  I pretended not to hear him as I walked toward the bathroom so I could shower.

  I arrived at Charlie’s apartment at five minutes to three. I would have rather arrived at five minutes after three. Then I wouldn’t have looked so obvious. Because by now, she must have figured out how much I want to be with her. She must know that being with her is the only thing that truly makes me happy. Honestly, being with her is the only thing that seems to make sense in my life right no
w.

  The door swung open as I raised my fist to tap at her door. “Hey.” I was pretty sure I hadn’t knocked yet, but there she was, standing at the threshold of the entrance into her apartment.

  “Hey,” I eagerly returned. She opened the door farther and motioned me to walk inside. Her apartment wasn’t as big as Cam’s but it suited her. It was small and practical. “Didn’t you and Cam live together when you were in college?”

  “Yeah. But we need our own space now.”

  “Really? Why?”

  She huffed and gave me a dramatic eye roll. “I wouldn’t want to have to leave my home every time he had some girl over.” Her annoyance turned to indifference quickly. “And it would be weird if I ever brought a guy back to the apartment.”

  Something about her last comment didn’t sit well with me. I didn’t want to picture her bringing some guy into her apartment, unless it was me. I had no right to be jealous, yet here I was, feeling possessive as hell. I tried to appear as if the statement she made didn’t knife me in the gut as I casually set my duffel bag down on the floor in her living room. “What do you feel like doing before dinner?”

  “We could go bowling or watch a movie.” Her eyes lit up at her own suggestions.

  “Or we could eat ice cream and walk along the boardwalk.” I would love to stroll alongside her holding hands.

  “I’m in for ice cream, but have you forgotten how the boardwalk is littered with Junebugs this time of year?” Junebugs are what the locals referred to as the summer tourist population.

  “Okay. Let’s go get ice cream and go for a walk along the docks at the marina. I’ve been thinking of mint chocolate chip ice cream since the other day.” And the strawberry cheesecake ice cream I tasted when she kissed me that same day.

  “Sounds good. Let’s go.” The light in her eyes sparkled as she grabbed her keys and headed toward the door that led out of her apartment. She turned her head back toward me once and motioned for me to hurry. I didn’t want to hurry. I wanted to enjoy every last second of our night alone together.

  After our ice cream was finished, we went for a walk and held hands. It still felt completely natural, even though we weren’t a couple. I was pretty sure she reached for my hand first, but I was happy to offer mine to her. We talked and walked with our fingers intertwined and after some time had passed, we agreed to head back to her apartment.

  We ordered pizza and sat on the couch next to each other while eating several slices of pizza. It felt like old times when we ate pizza on the couch at her house. Yet it felt different, too. I felt different toward Charlie than I used to. She was the same person, but my feelings had changed.

  I still loved her for her sense of adventure. She was unlike any other girl I had ever known. Cameron had hit the nail on the head when he said every guy would love to have a girl like his sister. She was never afraid to try something new. She was never worried about messing up her hair or nails, and she was confident. She didn’t worry about how anyone thought of her looks. I thought she was beautiful no matter what she wore. I loved seeing her with a ponytail in those shorts when we ran together, in her nurse scrubs with her hair in a long braid, or in a T-shirt and shorts and her hair pulled up into a messy bun piled on top of her head. And of course, I loved seeing her in those tight jeans and low-cut shirt with her hair left down in waves around her shoulders. I couldn’t think of anything that she wore that would make me see her as anything other than beautiful.

  However, sometimes things between us seemed so comfortable and easy, and other times, there was some crackling chemistry. I knew that I felt it, and I thought she felt it, too. It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy with her desire toward me, but I was not sure what would happen if we moved in to the seeing each other naked category.

  I guess I could finally understand the dilemma Charlie had felt she was in when I’d confessed my feelings to her all those years ago. Right now, I felt like I was getting to know her again, and I certainly didn’t want to screw that up. I would just keep our touching to holding hands and maybe a kiss or two. There would definitely be no sex. I felt like I would probably have to tell myself that several times in the future.

  “You want to watch a movie on Netflix?” With the gentle smile she was flaunting in my direction, I couldn’t think of any place I would rather be or with anyone else for that matter.

  “Sure. You pick.” I adjusted my weight on the couch while she reached for the remote on her coffee table. When she leaned back on the couch, she lifted my arm and snuggled against me. Crap. I was in trouble.

  The movie ended a few minutes ago, but she was sleeping so soundly, I didn’t want to move. It was still early, but she had fallen into an easy slumber. With it only being eight thirty, I wasn’t sure how that happened, considering she worked night shifts and didn’t even start her job until seven at night. She must be tired. I certainly felt tired, too. Sleeping on Cam’s couch last night left me exhausted. I never managed to get comfortable on that thing. But sitting on Charlie’s with her head leaning on my chest was so incredibly comfortable. I had my eyelids almost closed when the chirp on my phone startled me. I reached for it on her living room end table and saw a text from my mother.

  I know you are upset, but it’s been two days. Can we talk? I had never been anything but respectful to my mother, for my entire life, but I couldn’t talk to her right now without exploding. I still needed some time to let my anger settle down.

  I’m not ready yet. You need to give me some time to digest things first. I didn’t want to respond to her, but I needed some space. And she would give me space if I asked for it. She always respected me, too.

  Okay. I love you. Call me soon. Charlie began to stir, so I kissed her head and stroked her hair.

  “Sorry, I fell asleep on you again.” Her sleepy voice caused me to be instantly aroused.

  “I’m beginning to think you find me boring.” I snickered while she looked up at me. Her sleepy, gray eyes locked me into that alluring gaze. I knew that moment I was going to kiss her. I wasn’t going to be able to stop myself. So that’s what happened.

  My lips barely touched hers when she gently parted her own soft lips, allowing me access to the inside of her mouth with my tongue. So much for no open-mouthed kissing. She tasted delicious and a cocoon of warmth enveloped me as I probed every part of her beautiful mouth. While I nibbled on her bottom lip, she tugged me closer toward her. Her graceful arms snaked around my neck, and I guided her down onto her back so I could position myself on top of her. We didn’t break our kiss for what seemed like several minutes.

  All the emotions I had been having for her over the last five years of my life was poured into that kiss. The passion, and lust, and love for her was expressed in our interlocking lips and intertwined tongues. When I heard a moan escape her throat, I knew I was going to be sorry for what I did next.

  I pulled myself away from her and took in the sight beneath me. Her breathing was fast and frantic. Her lips were swollen from being freshly kissed, and those passion-filled gray eyes were pleading with me to continue.

  “I really like kissing you.” I realized my own breathing was labored as I spoke. “But I finally understand what you must have been feeling that night all those years ago.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I’m just getting to know you again. I like what we have, and I want to give us a chance as friends. Now that you are back in my life, I don’t want to lose you again. And this…” I bounced my finger toward us lying on the couch. “is what caused us to lose our ability to be friends.”

  “I understand, really I do.” Her chest heaved a prolonged breath before she spoke again. “But I really like kissing you, too.”

  I pulled myself into a seated position and grasped her shoulders, leading her to sit upright as well. Then I wrapped my arms around her torso and embraced her hard. There was so much I wanted to tell her. There was so much I wanted to show her. I pulled her into a tighter squeeze so I could feel her wa
rmth radiate through me. Then I released her and placed my hands on the smooth skin of her upper arms and peered into the pair of eyes staring at me through long, curled eyelashes. Her gray eyes were shimmering as if glazed over with unshed tears. “So maybe we can kiss…every once in a while,” I offered.

  A fist struck me in the shoulder with a resounding smack. She hit harder these days than she did when we were kids. “Maybe we need some ground rules. You know, so we don’t cross the line between friend and…you know.”

  Damn, she was cute. “Okay. First rule. Holding hands is okay. But massaging each other with our hands probably isn’t a good idea.” Having our hands roaming each other’s bodies would lead to temptation for sure.

  I could tell she heard what I said because she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, but she tried to act indifferent to what I had just stated. “Second rule. Closed mouth kisses are acceptable.”

  “That probably depends on where or what we are kissing.” I arched a suggestive eyebrow up at her.

  “A quick kiss on the lips is okay, but no lingering. A kiss on the head, or cheek, or hand is okay, too. But absolutely no open-mouthed kissing.”

  I wasn’t sure I liked these ground rules very much. “Fine. Anything else?”

  “Yes. Third rule. We are to keep clothes on whenever we are in each other’s company.”

  Now she was just trying to kill me because by her stating that rule, I was doomed to think of her naked now for sure. “Fine. I just thought of another rule.” She cocked her head to the side in curiosity. “Fourth rule. Sleeping together is okay, but sleeping together is not.”

  A pink glow instantly illuminated her cheeks. I swear she didn’t used to get embarrassed so easily. “Fine.”

  “So now that’s settled, what’s next on the slumber party agenda?”