Caught In The Mission

Twenty-Two

"Julia! I'm upstairs!" Charlotte shouted me from her room. Charlotte had text me early this morning to stop by at hers for late lunch. Just before I was mean to leave she text me to let myself in. Any person would have thought that leaving your front door unlocked was a bad thing, however the people of Lexington thought otherwise. You shouldn't trust everyone you know.

I closed the door behind me and made my way upstairs. If my memory's serves me well from that dinner party we had a few days ago, Charlotte room was the last one on the left. I mentally cheered to myself when I walked in seeing her sat on her bed clipping her heels in place. "Hey!" She sang standing up. She was awfully cheery today. Her hair was a down and curly, she wore a white strapped play suit covered by a long beige cardigan and matching heels. One thing Charlotte knew how to do was was dress.

"Hi." I said smiling as she walked over to hug me. "You're very happy today."  She pulled away slightly looking at me with cheerful eyes.

"Can't a girl be happy?" She let out a chuckle then grabbed my hand leading me out the room. "Come on I've prepared lunch for us all." All? I thought to myself. I didn't ask what she meant I followed her down the stairs, through the hallway, through the kitchen to the garden. She had set out four empty plates with four empty wine glasses at the outdoor garden table. Her garden was spacious and just amazing with the pine trees and large koi pond it screamed nature. Their swimming pool was to the left of the table along with sun loungers. While their pool took an oval shape ours took a more rectangular shape.

"Four plates?" I asked as we reached the table. I was thankful I had warn wedge heels instead of stilettos, I would have been sinking in the grass.

"Yeah, Alex, Cole and us." She said as if it was obvious it was going to be us four. "I told Cole to bring Alex round seeing as I knew you were coming." Funny how you can be pretend married to someone and you have to find out you are having a double lunch date with them through someone else. "I like hanging out with you two, you're the best thing to happen to Lexington. Believe me." She said taking a seat on the right of the seat I was about to take.

"I don't know what you mean, you have amazing people like Ruby here." I joked earning an eye roll from her.

"That old cougar is what's wrong with this town." Charlotte voice became low and harsh. I couldn't help but laugh. "You know at my dinner party she wouldn't stop throwing that stupid ring at my face."

"You too?" I asked as we both rolled our eyes and began laughing. "She told me not to be jealous that I don't have one." I said laughing even more. Ruby was a character, I may not like the woman but she sure made me laugh.

"Bitch!" Charlotte shouted, throwing her head back. "That whole group of cougars! This is why we have to join forces." She joked, I nodded my head in agreement. "We have to stand against them and protect our men, god forbid they will eat them up." Again we fell into our laughing fit. I liked Charlotte, I liked her company, I could be myself around her even if this was a mission I felt like myself around her. I was certain her and Zoe would get along. Her carefree, funny and sarcastic personality made her likeable. While she could be bubbly at times I didn't mind it. It did sadden me that after this mission I would have to leave her behind, it was forbidden to have any form of relationships with people from missions. It put them and us at risk. I would have to savour the moment with her before the mission was over.

"Wine?" She asked pulling me from my thoughts. I smiled at her nodding my head. She stood up reaching for the summer berries rosé at the end of the table and only poured a glass for me. I raised my eyebrow staring at her as if she had two heads. Why was I the only one drinking? I was silent for a few seconds before it hit me.