nick and charlie: love is the strongest force

chapter eighteen

Tw: Talk of mental health, talk of sex, b*n h*pe

A couple of days had passed since Nick’s latest therapy session with Geoff, and he felt the weight of their conversation lingering in his mind. The evening was quiet; Nick and Charlie were curled up together on Nick’s bed, the gentle hum of a playlist softly filling the room.

They were watching a movie, but Nick’s mind was elsewhere, replaying his talk with Geoff and the events of the previous days. Charlie noticed Nick's distraction and gently squeezed his hand.

"Nick baby, is everything okay?" he asked softly, concern etched on his face.

Nick turned to face Charlie, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, it's just... I’ve been thinking a lot about what happened the other day and what Geoff said."

Charlie’s expression softened further, and he nodded encouragingly. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Nick hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I do. I mean, I feel like we need to talk about it. About... us, and sex, and how I’m feeling."

Charlie shifted slightly, giving Nick his full attention. "Of course, Nick. Whatever you need."

Nick took another deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "I know you’ve been really patient with me, and I’m so grateful for that. I just... I still feel scared sometimes. It's not that I don’t want to be with you in that way, it's just... what Tyler did to me, it really messed me up. And even though I feel safe with you, my mind can’t help but go back to those memories."

Charlie's grip on Nick’s hand tightened reassuringly. "Nick, you don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for. Your feelings are completely valid, and I want you to feel safe and comfortable, no matter what."

Nick felt a surge of gratitude for Charlie's understanding. "I know, and that means a lot to me. Geoff suggested that we make sure we’re doing things safely and that we’re communicating openly about it. I guess what I’m trying to say is... I want to be with you, but I need to take things slow. I don’t want to rush into anything and end up feeling like I did before."

Charlie nodded, his expression earnest. "We’ll take things as slow as you need. There’s no rush, and I’m here for you every step of the way."

Nick’s eyes welled up with tears, and he quickly wiped them away. "Thank you, Char. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

Charlie leaned in and kissed Nick’s forehead gently. "You don’t have to thank me, sweetheart. I love you, and I’m always going to be here for you."

Feeling a bit lighter after their conversation, Nick decided there was one more person he needed to talk to. "I think... I think I need to talk to my mum about everything that’s been going on. I’ve been keeping a lot from her, and I feel like she deserves to know."

Charlie nodded supportively. "I think that’s a good idea, Nick. She loves you and will want to support you too."

Later that evening, Nick found his mum, Sarah, in the living room, reading a book. He took a deep breath and sat down beside her.

"Mum, can we talk?" Nick asked, his voice a little shaky.

Sarah looked up, immediately sensing the seriousness in his tone. She closed her book and gave him her full attention. "Of course, Nicky. What’s on your mind?"

Nick took a moment to collect his thoughts, then began to explain everything that had happened over the past few months, from his relationship with Tyler and the abuse he suffered, to his current struggles and how Charlie had been helping him through it all. He spoke about his therapy sessions with Geoff and his fears about intimacy.