Losing Charley

Chapter 10 Part 1

The ride back is filled with a few tears, fear, anxiety, and happiness. I am beyond terrified that Dylan is keeping tabs on me, but I'm not going to let him get to me. That is what he wants. I rub my fingers around the anchor of my necklace. I've got Cash, my family, the Kluft girls and Joe. I will be fine.

I arrive on campus to find everyone has gone out to eat. I unpack and take a few minutes to relax.

Joe: U back yet?

Me: Yeah

Joe: Wanna go grab a bite to eat? I've missed u!

Me: Sure c u in 5

I grab my purse, keys, take a quick look into the mirror and head out.

"Hey, Squirrel! How was home?"

"It was great. I forget how much I love it there."

Joe doesn't say much about that comment. We walk to his Jeep, hop in, and go eat Chinese food.

As we sit at the table, we talk about the weekend. Undoubtedly, I missed a hell of a party in Foot, and Hank's was rocking as usual.

"Yeah, Hank's was crazy this week, but I have to say those girls can't dance like you, Char."

"Whatever."

He smiles, "It just wasn't the same."

*****

The next month goes by in a hurry. It's like I'm on repeat—practice, class, text Cash, meet with Joe, party on Friday, Hank's on Saturday, and recoup on Sunday, only to do it all over every week. It remains the same until the middle of October. Homecoming is this weekend. It's a weekend of games, parties, alumni, Homecoming Dance, and of course, Hank's Tavern. I haven't heard a peep from Dylan; so hopefully, he was just being an ass.

I am absolutely beat from practice Wednesday night when I get a knock at my door. When I open it, no one is there. Really? I notice a box with an envelope on the floor. I literally start to hyperventilate. Georgia is coming from the shower and stops when she sees my reaction.

"Char, are you okay?" I nod my head.

"That's crap, and you know it. What's got you freaked out? It's just a box... oh, do you think it's from Dylan?"

"Um, I don't want to talk about it."

"Are you gonna see what it is?" I nod again.

As I turn toward my room, I see Joe peeking around the corner. Oh, thank the lord! I can feel all the tension leave my body. It wasn't something else from Dylan.

"Squirrel, are you gonna open it, or just stare at it all day?"

"Oh, sorry. I just, um, never mind."

I unwrap the box to find a little squirrel charm with a tag attached to it that reads, "Dance with me?"

I look up at him and smile.

"Dance with you? Like at Hank's?"

He puts his hands into his pockets like he's nervous, and shakes his head no.

"No, Squirrel. Dance with me at Homecoming. Go with me, please?"

I take a minute to act like I'm going to have to think about it. I love to watch him sweat. It's sexy as hell.

"You think you can handle this for two nights of dancin'?" I ask as I get all Vanna White on him.

"Oh, I believe I can handle it all right."