I gave him another look that told him how much I cared about that opinion. He smirked, shook his head and closed the door.
Annoyingly, Charlie was right about the whole shower thing and I felt decidedly wobbly about a minute and a half in. I slid down into the bath and opted for a sit-down version. Hardly ideal but it did the job and even if I didn’t feel relaxed and invigorated, I did at least feel clean, which was a start. Taking advantage of every surface I could, I managed to get myself out of the bath without falling over, and into clean pyjamas. I sat for a moment, recovering from the effort of it all. A drip escaped from the towel wrapped around my head, and I shivered as it chased its way down my spine. Five minutes later, I’d blasted my hair into a state of semi-dryness, without any consideration of styling, a fact soon confirmed by a quick glance in the mirror. Had I had more energy, and felt less rotten, I might have been bothered. But I didn’t, and the only person witness to it all was Charlie so it didn’t really matter. It seemed that, as far as Charlie was concerned, I could spend two hours or five minutes on my hair and, to him, the result would be much the same. Which was just as well. Especially today. I picked up my dressing gown and made my way back towards the living room, shoving my arms in the sleeves as I did so. I got one in, but the second was proving impossible to find. Charlie looked up as I entered, making annoyed squeaks and getting crosser by the minute. I decided that it was probably a good thing I’d lost my voice just at this moment, as I yanked off the dressing gown and glared at it.
‘Wow. Little flash of redhead there.’ Charlie laughed, getting up off the sofa and bending down to pick up the dressing gown.
I gave him a look but he missed it as he was studying the clothing. He fiddled for a second and then held it out to me, ready to put my arms into.
‘You had one of the sleeves inside out.’
I hesitated for a moment, but, despite the heatwave-temperature weather outside, I was beginning to feel a chill.
‘Come on. Stop being stroppy and put it on.’
I gave him another look, making sure he saw it this time. He just laughed it off and nodded his head at the dressing gown.
I slid my arms in and Charlie tucked it over my shoulders before turning me around and tying the belt for me.
‘You really are feeling rotten, aren’t you?’
I shrugged, and pulled a fed-up face, showing that my hissy moment was over.
He gave a smile and steered me towards the duvet, which he’d neatened up and now sat looking all snuggly and inviting on the sofa.
Two minutes later, I was tucked in, sitting up and awaiting the soup that Charlie informed me he had warming up on the hob. He ignored my protests of not being hungry and of being tired and said I’d feel better for having eaten something. Plus, he added, I was due medicine and it was best not to take it on an empty stomach. Sensible Charlie. I loved him, of course, and I was so grateful for him coming round today, especially after everything with Alex. But right now, I didn’t want soup. I wanted painkillers, and I wanted sleep. Both of which he was denying me until I ate something.
Once again, Charlie’s rational, steady plan was, of course, correct. I actually did feel a little better for eating, and the cold and flu liquid medicine he’d got from the shops was soon kicking in and reducing the thumping headache to something in the more bearable range.
‘Why don’t you try and get some rest now?’ Charlie said, after he’d taken our bowls out to the kitchen and stacked them in the dishwasher.
I nodded, and then stopped as it made the headache flare. Instead I scooted down inside the duvet cocoon and pulled it around me. Charlie crouched down next to me. I moved a little so that I could see him properly.
‘I’m going to head off now.’
I’d been reluctant to let him in, but now a part of me wished he wouldn’t go.
‘I’d already made arrangements for this evening. It’s a work sort of thing and I can’t really cancel.’
‘I’m OK. Thank you for everything.’
Charlie nodded almost imperceptibly, and pushed a tendril of hair I’d been trying to blow away back from my face. He seemed to be considering something.
‘But if I can catch them, I might be able to rearrange—’
I stopped him by putting a finger to his lips. Which suddenly felt way too intimate for what I was going for. I quickly moved my hand and instead squished his lips together with a finger top and bottom, holding them closed. There. Much better.
Charlie didn’t move. Admittedly, my having hold of his lips made that difficult. His blue eyes were focused on mine.
‘Just go,’ I croaked, smiling.
He made a noise that sounded as if it might have been an ‘OK’ so I let go.
‘I was just going to say—’
I grabbed again.
‘Mmmmnnnnnmnmn.’ He held his hands up in surrender.
I let go.
