Kiss me if you dare [ENGLISH]

Chapter 12

Charmey

Fleur's jacket was unexpectedly fresh as she once again let her fingers glide over the rough fabric it was made of. It was made of a certain kind of cotton that people in the middle class often bought, but it gradually wore out in the wash. So far, however, it was still acceptable to wear, but Charmey was considering replacing it with one from Louis Vuitton that Fleur could spend days being grateful for.

It hadn't surprised her that she had forgotten it in the apartment after last night. Anger is an uncontrollable emotion and always disrupts the patterns people normally follow. But Charmey didn't blame her for her non-verbal outburst either. She was aware that Fleur had taken offense after letting her believe that the moment would lead to something more. Because it could have. Just as anger, desire is also dangerous territory to visit.

Charmey was still surprised that she had dared to kiss her, even though the act could be justified by the chaos around. When a relationship meant more than friendly trust, it was essential to be very vigilant. Charmey was indeed a master of manipulation, but what had happened yesterday had not been part of the plans. She repeatedly convinced herself that her presence at the funeral and the invitation home had been deliberate choices, but it was a selective truth.

Charmey sat up straight in bed and inhaled the scent of the jacket through her nose. She had a hard time putting into words what it reminded her of, but it felt familiar. A scent that someone else associated with home.

Her hand reached for the comb on the nightstand and began to untangle the knots. The silk robe was nearby and hung on a hook by the sliding door, which she carefully wrapped around herself. She didn't have any specific plans for the day, but after the eventful evening, she needed some fresh air. Perhaps the quiet, peaceful surroundings would clear her mind and give her enough space to figure out what to do now that the address Fleur had found didn't yield what she had hoped for. Was there even a slight possibility that her friend Gabriel had any suspicions?

The low position of the sun indicated that it was still early in the morning, and she had just enough time to take a quick shower before heading out into the cold. Only two cars passed her as she walked along the sidewalk towards the square. Most shops didn't open until half past nine, which gave her plenty of time to explore the area before it became crowded with people.

Some people suggested that bird songs in the morning brought calmness, but that wasn't the case for Charmey. She required absolute silence to clear her mind. That's why she made a brave attempt to shut out the communication between the birds perched on the long gutters of the houses. The trickling water circulating the fountain fortunately put her in a comfortable state of mind, and she allowed herself to relax. Unfortunately, she didn't get to enjoy it for long before the sounds of shuffling footsteps approached.

"I thought you looked familiar. You were at James's funeral yesterday if I remember correctly."

Charmey studied him for a long moment before finally falling into character. What were the odds that she would meet Gabriel here and now? "Yes, that's correct. Mella Artin," she greeted and politely extended her right hand.

"Gabriel," he replied, smiling, but beneath the facade, Charmey could sense a certain suspicion.

"Fleur mentioned that you two have been spending time together since the accident. You work as a police officer, right?"

She nodded, tilted her head, and stuffed her hands in her pockets. At this distance, they were almost the same height. "James and I were colleagues, and after his death... It just felt right to be there for her."

Gabriel's shoulders slumped. "She probably appreciates it."

Charmey was starting to get impatient. She hadn't decided to take a walk just to bump into Fleur's friend and engage in meaningless conversation with him.