He blushed and his grin morphed into a brilliant smile.
“And I really appreciated your note,” I added.
When he yawned, I disentangled our hands and sat next to his bed. “Sorry,” he murmured.
“Nothing to it. Go ahead and get some sleep.”
“Don’t wanna. I’m afraid you won’t be here when I wake up.”
The door opened and Clay stepped into the room, paper bag in hand. “Well, it’s about damn time you woke up,” he teased.
“Hey, Sheriff.” Charlie yawned again.
“Looks like you’re ready for another nap.”
Charlie nodded, his head lolling to one side. “Don’t let him leave, okay?” he mumbled. “Matt needs to be here when I wake up….” His eyes closed.
“We should let him sleep,” Clay said, putting a hand on my shoulder and guiding me toward the door. “I’ll take you home.”
“But he said I should be here,” I protested, trying to look back at Charlie.
“He’s been asleep pretty much since they brought him in. He’s probably going to sleep through the night. His sister should be here tomorrow, and she’ll take care of him.”
That had been why I came. Charlie would be leaving, and there wasn’t a guarantee he’d come back. The thought of not seeing him every morning upset me in ways I couldn’t even describe. He’d come into my life and wedged himself in, nice and tight.
“I don’t want him to go,” I told Clay, watching Charlie as he slept. He looked so peaceful and innocent. Did I really want to drag him down with my crap?
“I know. I don’t either. But he needs someone to help him out. The doctors say he’s going to be needing help for six weeks or more, and then there will be physical therapy for his hand and maybe his leg. He’s got some things to deal with down the road.”
Charlie’s words came to me again:It takes courage to ask for help.
“I want to help him,” I said, my voice far stronger than I expected.
Clay patted my shoulder. “That’s nice, but you’re not really in a position to help out.”
I faced Clay, determined for him to see how serious I was. “I want him to stay with me. I want to be the one to help him.”
Clay stepped back and gazed intently at me. “Matt, this isn’t something you can just spring on me. You’ve never wanted anyone in your house. Do you know what help he’s going to need?”
“I’ll ask,” I replied, jutting out my jaw. “I don’t want him to go. I need him here. I need him… to stay.”
Clay shook his head. “I don’t know if this is a good idea.”
Now I was pissed. “Why not? You’re the one who said I had to get to know him. Well, I did. And I like him.”
“I like him too,” Clay stressed. “But I’m not able to take care of him. We’re not family—we’re just friends. You’re already under a lot of stress. Look at you down in the lobby. Be honest, can you take care of Charlie? Can you have him in your house for weeks on end? And with winter coming up, what happens if you get snowed in like you did two years ago? You’d be trapped in the house with another person. Do you really think you’re able to handle that?”
When he said it like that, I had to pause. I had created a fantasy in my head, one where Charlie would stay with me, in my home, and I’d take care of him. But the reality of the matter had stepped up and slapped me in the face.
“Matt? Do you understand what I’m asking you?”
And until that very moment, I thought I had.
