Crossing The Grey

N i n e

Disorientated and confused, I gaze around the room. I see the note on Four Season's notepaper on the bedside next to my watch - which tells me it's just before 10 am. I haven't slept this late in years.

Had an early morning appointment and didn't want to wake you - you looked so peaceful! Thanks for last night.

And thanks for not snoring!

See you later - Cx

Guess I was destined never to wake up with Charlie. Suddenly my cell rings loud, vibrating on the bedside. I reach over to pick it up even though I don't recognise the number.

"Grey," I croak.

"You're awake," her voice is different over the phone. Huskier. My groin vibrates.

"I am now," I smile.

"It's almost ten. Late night was it?' I can hear her smile.

"You could say that..." I rub my hand over my eyes to dislodge the sleep. "Anyway. Good morning," I smile.

"Hi," She says sounding shy. "I feel guilty for abandoning you."

"You should."

She laughs softly. "I'm sorry, I forgot to mention I was meeting a client this morning for breakfast. I got a little distracted last night." I hear her smile again.

"You did? With what?"

"Are you fishing?"

"I've always been terrible at fishing. I never catch anything."

She giggles. "Ahh, so you aren't good at everything? What a relief. So... I wanted to ask you something..." She pauses and I hear her take a deep breath.

"Go on," I say tentatively.

"What you said last night, about wanting to cancel your plans for the rest of the month. Did you mean it?" she sounds nervous, uncertain.

"I did mean it. I do want to."

"But..." She fills in.

"But I don't think you'd want me around for an entire month Charlie. I'm hard work. Controlling, unreasonable, dominant." I smirk.

"Good self-awareness. I'm impressed. But don't deflect. If you can't or you won't or it was something you said in the spur of the moment then just say that please." Her tone is a little colder. "I just need to know."

"I wish I could." I turn my head to see the outline of where she slept next to me last night. I actually slept next to her. And it was nice. How did that happen?

"I understand." She says. "I just wanted to make sure. Ok, I have to go. I'll see you later ok? I'll be there around 6."

"Ok. Charlie, I'm sorry..."

"Don't be. I totally get it." She says goodbye and hangs up. I sit in bed for a moment and play over her words, and mine. Spend a month with her. Here in New York. I couldn't. I'd love to but I couldn't. Yes, I had competent people who could carry out the daily tasks required to run it properly until I got back but abandon my company for a whole month.

Impossible.

Yet last night, in the quiet darkness I'd worked through how I could do it. It wasn't impossible. Last night it hadn't been impossible.

I stare at Charlie's side of the bed a moment longer before throwing the sheets back and climbing out of bed. In the bathroom, I reach in and turn on the shower before catching a glimpse of it in the large mirror over the sink. My ass. Just as I'd thought, there across both cheeks were three red lines, about 5 centimetres in length. They were faint and fading. They'd be gone in a few hours. Yet she'd marked me. Not even Elena had done that. Elena had always been far too good at it to leave evidence. The sight of Charlie's marks makes me smile though, and I climb under the powerful hot spray with a stupid grin on my face.