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Onthemorningofmy 31stbirthday, sunlight peaks through my window and I wake up with a smile. Garrett let me sleep in instead of waking me for the morning run. I stretch and toss the covers aside to use the restroom and brush my teeth. I return to my room and grab my phone from my desk. A hollow thud outside my window gets my attention and I find Charlie unloading wood from the farm truck.
He returns to the truck, where more wood waits to be unloaded. Before he grabs another bundle, he readjusts his work gloves and removes his ball cap. He crosses his arms and grabs the hem of his shirt to lift it over his head. I watch him reveal each divot and curve of his torso in slow motion.
He tosses the shirt over the side of the truck bed, then puts his hat back on and grabs another pile of wood. His muscles glisten with sweat and he moves with fluid grace and efficiency. Lost in the trance, I have a vague awareness of walking down the stairs. I blink, and I’m outside, my bare feet soaking up the chilly morning dew of the grass. The cool air makes my skin pebble, but I keep walking. My vision tunnels to my task and I stop next to the work truck as Charlie approaches.
He stops short and his eyes widen. His gaze travels over my bare feet, my tiny sleep shorts and tank. I’m attuned to every movement he makes. The tiny wrinkles that form between his eyebrows. The sweat that travels down his chest. His breathing picks up and the pulse at his neck quickens as we continue to stare at each other, my own pulse racing.
He curses under his breath and, like someone flipped on a light, reality forces itself into my consciousness. My eyelashes flutter as I stumble towards him like someone cut a rubber band that was stretched between us. He steadies me with a firm grip on my arms, the leather of his work gloves scratchy against my bare skin.
“Are you ok?” he asks.
I only blink at him and nod. He lets go and steps back, wiping sweat off his forehead with his forearm.
“Do you normally sleepwalk?”
I shiver as my nipples strain against the thin fabric of my tank top. I fold my arms over my chest and catch his eyes return to my face. “No. I don’t think so.”
“Well, I guess there’s a first time for everything.” His warm smile eases my concern.
“Hop in the truck.”
Feeling dazed, I follow his friendly command without hesitation. He grabs his shirt from the side of the truck and tosses it behind him, along with his gloves, as he settles into the driver’s seat. He hands me a blue hoodie from the back seat. I take it with a grateful smile and pull it over my head. It smells like dirt, leather, and a hint of fresh soap.
It’s huge, but I bunch the sleeves to free my hands. We ride in comfortable silence the short way to the barn. Did I really just sleepwalk? I didn’t have control over my actions. It was like something was guiding me towards Charlie, whether I liked it or not. He tilts his head towards the open door when we park, and I follow him inside.
He stops at the work bench and grabs a beat-up cardboard shoe box, handing it to me with a grin. “Happy birthday.”
Despite what just happened, a smile blooms on my face as I open the lid. A potted purple succulent, like the one I saw at the market a few weeks ago, sits nestled in bunched up newspaper.
“Garrett said you liked them.”
I nod and meet his gaze. “I do. Thank you. That’s very thoughtful.”
He lifts his arm and readjusts his ball cap. “You’re welcome.”
“You should come to dinner tonight. My uncle is making his famous ribs.”
“There you are!” Garrett calls from the door and it’s then I notice how close I’m standing to Charlie. I take a step back and hold the box against my hip. I brush my frizzy bed hair behind my ear and turn to face Garrett. The sleeve of Charlie’s hoodie dangles past my hand when I drop my arm and I bunch the fabric again.
Garrett approaches, a slow grin forming as his eyes scan my bare legs, Charlie’s naked torso, my disheveled hair, and my painful awkwardness. I look like I’m naked underneath Charlie’s hoodie.Great.
He stops in front of us with a shit-eating grin. “Well, looks like you’re already having a fun birthday.”
My face heats a thousand degrees and I avoid Charlie’s gaze. “Yep! Charlie gave me a gift. See?” I open the box and thrust it towards him.
Garrett glances at the plant, then raises an eyebrow at me. “Cool.”
“Yep. Super nice of him, right?” Why is my voice so damn high?
“Yea. Real nice of you, bro. Told you she’d love it,” Garrett says, not taking his eyes off me.
“I need to shower,” I blurt, then squeeze my eyes shut.
Garrett chuckles. “I bet you do.”
I face palm and glance at Charlie, who’s covering his mouth, struggling to contain his laughter. “It’s not what you think,” he says.
