What He Left Behind

Twenty One

We spend all of the afternoon swimming. I've always loved swimming and Charlie seems to enjoy it more than I thought he would, especially once we adjust to the temperature. There is a lot of bickering and childish competition involved, including who can swim the furthest distance or who can swim fastest, and who can jump from the highest point on the bridge or hold their breath underwater for the longest. I also manage to convince Charlie we should try to do the jump from Dirty Dancing. Unsurprisingly, it doesn't go very well at all, since my balance is not great to say the least.

By the time it starts to get dusky, we are exhausted and freezing, so we come out of the water and I take off my wetsuit so I'm in just my swimsuit and pull my towel around my shoulders and flop into the front of Charlie's van, sprawling across the driver's seat and the passenger seat.

"Oi, don't get the seats wet," he orders.

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Stop arguing with me," he demands as he stands outside the passenger door, having dried himself off slightly. "Sit up."

"I'm too cold to move," I whine dramatically. He exhales loudly, grabbing my wrists and pulling me into a sitting position. He uses the towel round his neck to dry my face and shoulders and I gaze intently at him, noting how the droplets of water resting on the ridges of his collarbones glisten in the light of the setting sun.

"It's so cold," I complain.

"I know." I scoot forward on the seat and pull Charlie between my legs, wrapping my arms around his bare torso. He's cold too but I can still feel his body heat and it's a relief to regain feeling in my limbs.

"Any excuse for a hug, huh?" he teases and I blush, wondering if he's figured out yet that I've caught feelings. He must have; I'm not exactly subtle. Then again, Charlie's used to having girls all over him so maybe he doesn't think anything of it. This is just the norm for him.

Before dinner, we go to this pretty desolate street in the middle of nowhere and Charlie gives me my first driving lesson. I've never driven a car before, but I'm a quick learner and Charlie's surprisingly good at teaching.

Once we've eaten, we go back to Charlie's and he says I can stay. I wake up in the night absolutely dying for a drink, so I go downstairs to get some water and then come back to bed. Charlie is still fast asleep. I know I shouldn't but I can't help but stare. I really like him. Even with all his flaws and his temper and his nasty addiction, he makes me happier than anyone. I've had the shittiest week in a long time and now, after spending just one day with him, I feel like everything in the universe is going in my favour.

Charlie fidgets and then his eyes open. He blinks a few times and stretches and notices that I'm awake.

"Are you okay?" he asks in his raspy tired voice. He reaches for his phone and checks the time. My eyes are temporarily blinded by the sudden brightness but I can make out the figures which read 3:27am.

I nod and smile.

"What are you thinking about?"

I shrug and then smile a bashful smile before daringly admitting, "You."

Charlie grins and even though it's dark in the room, I can't help but notice how his eyes light up the way they always do when he smiles a genuine smile.

"Come here," he orders, shifting onto his side and pulling me close to him so that I'm facing into his chest. I bring my arms in front of me and hesitantly link them around his neck, a move which I know I'll probably regret in the morning. There's a strange energy between us all of a sudden. It's intense, and puts every nerve in my body on edge.