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It’s Monday and I haven’t heard from Charley.Did she decide not to come?
No, she wouldn’t just not show up. She would at least call.
I glance at my watch. I asked her to come earlier than Drew, so we could have a few moments alone before I have to leave.
Where is she?
Charley is always on time. It’s one of the things I always admired about her, and not for the same reasons I was punctual as well. She wasn’t brought up on waspy cotillions and “proper etiquette classes.” No that was me, and the thing about being someone that grew up with that chain around your neck disguised as an eighteenth century social construct was you always recognized when someone else had the same past.
No, Charlotte was on time because she genuinely cared about people’s time and not because she had some deep instilled fear of bringing shame to the family name.
God, no wonder I drink.
The sound of a key in my front door snaps me from my thoughts and I stand up as I prepare to see the love of my life for the first time in two days.
Please God, don’t be Drew.
She appears in the doorway like a vision and my heart stops. Her brown hair is wild, like when she showers and lets it air dry, giving her a beachy look. Her skin is completely clear, and free from makeup and I wonder if it’s because she’s worried that she’ll cry. Her eyes are red and already a bit glassy. My eyes trail down her body, fixating on her stomach as if in the last two days there would have been a change to show her pregnancy.Ourpregnancy.
“Charley,” I whisper and it’s as if it sparks something inside of her because she runs towards me. I meet her halfway, scooping her into my arms as she breaks down. Her legs immediately wrap around my waist as her face presses into my neck. I wrap my arms around her tight, feeling her sobs against my chest. “Shhh, baby. Please don’t cry. I’m sorry. I fucked up,” I whisper in her ear as I lift her into my arms and carry her to the couch.
She doesn’t say anything just continues to cry against my chest, the sobs wracking her body. I pull her head away and cup her face gently, wiping the tears away despite the constant flow of fresh ones and her continuous hiccups. She’s straddling my lap, and despite this position, there’s nothing sexual about it. I rub her back gently as her sobs subside, before pulling her back to look at her.
I see the love she has for me underneath all of the pain in her eyes. “Thank you,” I whisper at the same time she whispers, “I’m sorry.”
“No. Charlotte, don’t be sorry.” I stroke her face gently. “You did what you had to do,” I tell her. “It knocked some sense into me. I needed a wake-up call. I was spiraling.” I shake my head. “I know the signs. I could see the signs but I ignored them.”
The tears are sliding down her cheeks as she sniffles every few seconds. “I am so proud of you.”
“You are?” I don’t even attempt to hide my shock. Her feelings and opinion of me mean the world to me and hearing her words makes my heart soar.
“Yes. So proud. You’re the best man I’ve ever known, and loving you has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I don’t regret one second of our story.”
I narrow my eyes slightly as I recall everything that’s happened in our relationship. “Not even one?” A low chuckle escapes me and she rolls her eyes at my dark humor.
A frown finds her perfect face and I regret being the one who put it there, making her think about the past. “I regret anything I’ve done that’s hurt you.”
“You did what you had to do for all of us. I understand, Charley. I’m sorry about keeping this from you for so long. For my behavior the last two weeks…all of it. I let you down.”
“Don’t say that.” Her words waver, the emotions running through her, affecting her voice. She looks down at her stomach. “We both love you so much.”
I touch her stomach gently, the first time I’ve done so since she told me we were having a baby. “I can’t believe we’re having a baby.” She shivers as I reach under her shirt and stroke her bare skin and the feeling of her trembling in my arms sends a spark to my cock.
She must feel it too because she gives me a shy smile. “I’m assuming we don’t have time for…”
“Maybe if you were on time,” I tease. God knows I want to take her upstairs and have my way with her, but Drew will be here any minute, and I’m due at the facility at nine am. My heart begins to race as I think about being away from Charlotte for another seven days. Not making love to her for yet another week.I can’t wait until this is all over.I feel like the hurdles that Charlotte and I have had to jump over have been endless in our quest to be together.
But it’s worth it.
It is worth it.
“Sorry, I was late. I was…a mess this morning.”
I bring her head back to my chest as her lip begins to tremble. “It’s going to be fine, baby,” I whisper in her ear. “I see you brought your stuff?” I look at the small bag she took with her that first day when she left.
“Yes.” She follows my gaze and clears her throat. “I thought I could…stay here while—.”
“Yes,” I interrupt her. “Stay here.”
