We step out onto the porch to watch the fireworks. There’s a cool breeze now that the sun has gone down and it feels great on my skin. My fever must have broken hours ago. I need a shower. I want to scrub the sweat sheen off of my skin.
The two of us stay silent as we listen to the folks out on the beach settling in.
“You know, you snore a little when you sleep,” Charlie laughs as he looks at me. He’s leaning against the railing.
My mouth drops open a little. “I do not,” I argue, playfully shoving his shoulder.
He nods. “I find it charming, actually, that such a small person can produce such a large noise.”
I cover my face in embarrassment just as the fireworks start. Shimmering, effervescent explosions of color light up the night sky. I have to admit, Driftbay knows how to put on a spectacular fireworks show. I watch them for a while and begin to wonder where Thea is watching them from. I make a mental note to text her when I go back inside and find my phone.
The faint smell of smoke lingers in the air and it tickles my nose. Charlie marvels at the fireworks and it’s like watching a little kid on Christmas morning. It’s endearing that he takes such delight in them. I catch myself watching him more than the actual fireworks.
We’re sitting in a comfortable silence watching the grand finale when I hear his radio go off — a jumbled rattling of a code I can’t understand. It instantly gets his attention.
Charlie looks at me with apologetic eyes as he radios back that he will be there as soon as he can.
“I’m sorry,” he says. It’s almost a whisper. He turns to the house.
“Don’t be.” I wrap my arms around myself as I shiver. “Duty calls. Besides, you spent all day over here taking care of me.”
We walk back into the house and I start toward the living room to grab my dirty dishes from earlier, but they’re already gone. I stick my head into the kitchen as Charlie pulls his sneakers on.
“I did your dishes earlier,” he says. “Figured you wouldn’t feel up to it.”
“Thanks,” I say as I stare at him. It’s been nice experiencing the domestic life with him today. I don’t know if it’s the sickness, or the dream about Caroline, but my mind is whirling and there’s only one thing I want —need— to say to him.
I know that if I don’t say it now, I never will. The words are coming fast and hard, ready to barrel out of me the second I open my mouth.
“I lied to you,” I say. It comes out quietly, my voice subdued by nerves and whatever virus is attacking my immune system.
“Hmm?” he hums. He’s fighting with his left sneaker in the doorway.
“I lied,” I repeat, growing more confident, “about your date.”
Charlie freezes and then slowly looks up at me. I know that whatever happens next has the ability to change the entire trajectory of our friendship forever.
“You…lied,” he repeats, the words heavy between us.
“I thought I could deal with it,” I say. “But I can’t.”
He rubs his face with both hands and sighs. I know time isn’t on our side, it never has been, but especially now with his work call fighting for his attention.
“So, when I asked you if you were okay with me seeing someone, you lied to my face?”
I pause, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. “Yes,” I whisper. I cross my arms in front of my chest as I look at him. “I want you to be happy, but I also don’t want to lose you.”
“You’re not going to lose me.” He steps closer to me, the seconds ticking away like a bomb about to explode.
“I didn’t want to lose our friendship,” I say.
He ponders this for a moment and I see a flash of anger in his eyes. “So, lying to me was the better alternative?”
“At the time, yes.” It’s a whisper again. “It meant keeping you in my life.”
“I can still be in your life and date someone else, Beth. The same goes for you. We’ve talked about this.”
Not hearing ‘Ann’ cross his lips feels like a slap to the face.
