Love Bites

Chapter 29 - You're Gonna Miss Me

- Look, luv, - Duff mumbled, rolling over so he would be lying on his stomach. He was holding a cigarette between his fingers and his face showed he was tired but happy. He reached out to touch Charlie and tickled her back. She giggled and turned her face to him.

- What?

- What if we have a kid, too? - he asked musingly, staring in the space. He could feel Charlie shudder. She frowned, making an angry face he found especially funny and hit him on the shoulder with her fist.

- Are you, like, fucked up in the head? - Charlie squealed, annoyed with Duff's laughter. She immediately felt weird and uncomfortable down in her stomach and a couple of shivers ran down her spine.

- No, - Duff replied with all his seriousness. He liked to tease Charlie from time to time, partly because it made him feel like he had a great sense of humour, but mostly because Charlie was very cute when she was irritated.

- Stevie would say you are, and he would be right, - Charlie grumbled, covering herself with a blanket, - you're mad. Crazy. Insane.

- Not now, of course, - Duff corrected himself awkwardly. He didn't know why did he feel such an urge to talk that to Charlie. Maybe because he was so damn impressed with Axl and Elle - in fact, both of them were. Maybe because he has always loved kids. - I mean, not tomorrow or anything. I am like, not ready at all, and it would be hella uncomfortable. I was trying to say...one day? Sometimes?

Charlie arched a brow. She felt a little bit uneasy discussing stuff like that. She discovered recently that her life was getting too serious and adultlike for her and it was scary.

- Ugh, I don't know...I have never thought about that, - she confessed, burying her face in the pillow. She could hardly imagine herself with Duff tomorrow because everything was so complicated and changeable. Were they going to be together in a two years time? What about five years? It was a little  comical to picture her and Duff as a grown-up couple. 

- I think I could be a good dad, - he added lazily, sitting up and looking around for his pack of cigarettes. He had a habit of smoking in bed that Charlie secretly found very sexy. She picked the pack from the floor - it must have fallen out of his jeans when he was taking them off - and handed it to him. Duff lighted a cigarette and continued: - I am rather kind, aren't I? And funny, too. Kids like me.

- Very funny, - Charlie confirmed sarcastically, - especially that socks joke you told Steven thinking I wasn't listening. And that one where two Italians hit it to the bar...

- Nah, stop! I beg for mercy! - Duff hid under a pillow, - I realize it wasn't my best. Come on, Chuck, - he grabbed her by the waist and held tight, - say you think I'm funny!

- Don't called me that!

The mention of that nickname alone reminded Charlie of Scott and made her cringe. She thought of how bluntly she could have finished with him and how she didn't. The things between them were so undecided it hurt. She also remembered he called her up a couple of times and she just hung up when she heard his voice. She decided she should go and visit him to put an end to the story.

She freed herself from Duff and sat up, neatening her hair. She recently gave herself a haircut and her hair now was short and messy all the time.

- What are you up today? 

- Nothing much, - Duff shrugged, shaking ashes off his cigarette into the cup of cold coffee standing on the table, - rehearsing, hanging around, maybe we will drop into the studio. Why are you asking?

- Just in case you needed me.

 - You work today?

- Eh, sorta. I should spend a couple of hours to create an illusion of work so I won't get the sack, - she explained, also drawing heavily on her cigarette. She did not smoke a lot, but it helped her think so she took one from Duff.