10. Charlie
10
Charlie
I could feel Ana’s shield slowly start to crack. I didn’t expect to tell her that I loved her, especially after our argument about her needing space. But when she stormed into the room, accusing me of feeling this way for others, something inside me snapped. I couldn’t hold it back anymore. It wasn’t about pushing or pulling—it was about telling her the truth.
When she looked at me with that mixture of frustration and uncertainty, I realized I couldn’t keep pretending I was okay with the distance. At least, the emotional distance. I loved her and I needed her to know, even if she wasn’t ready to say it back.
I saw the flicker in her eyes when I said it—the way her defenses wavered, just for a moment. And in that moment, I knew she felt something too, even if she wouldn’t admit it yet.
Thank God for Sloane and whatever the fuck she told Ana because it felt like we were finally moving forward. For the first time, it didn’t feel like Ana was about to bolt at any second. There was a shift, something subtle, but I could feel it in the way she looked at me—less guarded, like she was starting to let me in, piece by piece.
She didn’t ask me to leave again after that. As if I would anyway.
I made dinner up to her by offering to cook brunch. I wasn’t a gourmet chef but I wanted her to see that I could cook, that I could take care of her in those little ways. I wanted to impress her. I needed to impress her. It felt like I was always trying to prove myself, constantly wanting her to see that I was more than just some rockstar. I wanted to show her that this wasn’t just about sex; I wanted her to see who I really was. I wanted her to know I was serious about her—about us .
Offering to cook also gave me the perfect excuse to get her out of the apartment when I needed to pick up groceries. I wanted to see what it would be like for us to be somewhere other than the safe confines of the apartment, to feel her by my side in public, maybe sneak in a hand hold or two. It was something small, but it felt significant.
Being well-known in New York City had its perks—most New Yorkers didn’t give a shit about famous people. They’d let you blend into the background. But there was always that chance we’d run into a group of tourists who’d hound you, or secretly snap pictures.
The thought of being caught with Ana thrilled me. Maybe it was reckless, but part of me wanted to be seen with her. A big part of me. I wanted to show the world she was mine .
We bundled ourselves up against the cold January chill as we stepped out of her building. Ana didn’t need much convincing to go out with me, but she insisted on her bodyguard, Miles, trailing behind us. It was hard not to notice the guy, but I didn’t mind, just as long as he kept his distance. What mattered was having this time with her, without the constant reminder of the walls she kept up. If she was going to open up, I didn’t want anyone getting in the way of that.
I was a little disappointed to find that the small market was only around the corner, but it was something. It was a chance to be out with her, even for just a short walk. We stayed close enough that our arms brushed, and I took the opportunity to place my hand gently on her back as we wandered through the produce section, a small basket hanging off my forearm. She would steal glances at me and smile as I talked her ear off, my constant need for her attention running rampant. I couldn’t help it—every time she looked at me, I felt like I had to say something and to keep her focus on me.
After we rang up, I realized I wasn’t ready to head back yet. I wanted more time outside with her—more opportunity to be seen. I remembered a local coffee shop nearby, a small, private spot where we could be alone but still out in the world. It was perfect.
“Hey,” I said, glancing over at her as we stepped out of the store. “There’s this coffee shop a few blocks over. It’s quiet there. How about we grab something warm and sit for a bit?”
Her eyes flickered with curiosity, and after a brief pause, she looked back at Miles. His face was stoic and unreadable. I could tell she was weighing whether to indulge me or not, but then she glanced back at me and nodded with a smile. “Sure.”
It was a small word but hearing it felt like a victory. We started walking again and I felt that familiar thrill of just being outside with her. Then I noticed someone out of the corner of my eye; someone was holding their phone up, pointed right at us. My stomach dropped and I quickly looked away, hoping Ana didn’t catch it. I didn’t want this to end yet. This moment was too rare, too good, and the last thing I wanted was for her to retreat because of some random person snapping photos.
Then I felt it—possessive, protective, like a switch had flipped inside me. The sight of that phone aimed at us, at her , stirred something in me. My heart raced, and the need to shield her from the intrusion overwhelmed me.
Without thinking, I shifted closer to her, my hand resting firmly on her back. I wanted to keep her close, to make sure no one ruined this moment. She was mine right now and I wasn’t about to let some stranger take that away from us.
She glanced up at me, a confused and slightly surprised smile on her face, as if she’d sensed the shift. She raised her eyebrows but she didn’t pull away. Instead, her curious smile lingered.
“What are you doing?” she asked softly, her tone teasing but still unsure. “I wasn’t planning on running,” she added with a soft laugh.
I chuckled. “Good. I’d hate to have to chase after you.”
“I don’t know, I’d say you’re pretty good at chasing after me now.” Her smile widened as she looked up at me.
I laughed, though a part of me knew how true that was. “Yeah well, you make it worth the chase,” I shot back, leaning in a little closer.
And then, fucking Miles called out her name, stopping her in her tracks as she quickly turned around. His eyes pointed to a group now gathering, phones up, stopping to take pictures of us. I saw her eyes follow, narrowing in frustration as she muttered under her breath. “Let’s go. We’ll have coffee at home.”
Just like that, the moment we had shattered, and I felt the same surge of protectiveness rush through me again. I hated that something as simple as this had to be interrupted and taken away from us. I nodded, following her lead as we quickly headed down the street, her pace picking up, Miles close behind.
But as annoyed as I was, my plan worked. We were caught. Our pictures would be out in the world and now everyone would know she was mine. As much as I hated the intrusion, there was a twisted satisfaction in knowing that we couldn’t hide anymore. The world would see us together—see her with me .
I glanced over at Ana as we hurried along, feeling a small smile forming on my lips. She had no idea how much I wanted this, how much I craved the validation of being seen with her, making it official in a way neither of us had quite admitted yet.
* * *
I completely fucked up our omelettes. I tried to turn the omelette over, but as soon as I did, it fell apart in the pan. It was scrambled eggs now more than anything. I cursed under my breath, staring at the mess I made. I was too distracted, my eyes constantly drifting towards Ana as she scattered around the apartment, making calls, sending emails as she sat on the floor in front of the couch, completely restless. I couldn’t stop watching her and couldn’t focus on anything else. Every time she brushed her hair back or shifted positions, my attention was gone.
The ruined omelette was just the consequence of being completely consumed by her.
“Scrambled eggs are ready,” I announced playfully, bringing the mess of a brunch to the dining table, trying to make light of it. I set the plates down with a grin, hoping the disaster in the pan would be forgiven.
Ana glanced up from her phone, eyebrows raised, and then smirked when she saw the scrambled eggs instead of the omelettes I promised. “Well, at least you tried, my sweet boy,” she teased, standing up and heading over to the table.
The words hit me like lightning, igniting something deep inside. I hadn’t expected her to call me that outside of anything sexual. My chest tightened and I swallowed hard, trying to play it cool. She said it so casually, yet it carried so much weight for me. Too much. My cock began to harden and I had to walk away. This was such a nice, domesticated moment, and the last thing I wanted was to turn it into something sexual.
I gathered myself as I poured coffee for each of us, then made my way back to the table where she sat, waiting expectantly for me.
“I didn’t realize you were so domesticado ,” she teased playfully. “Thank you,” she added, her gaze softening as she looked down at her plate.
She was so sweet at that moment and it hit me—how disarming she could be. One minute she had me completely wound up, and the next, she was soft and unassuming, making me fall for her all over again.
“De nada, mi diosa, ” I said just as playfully as I sat down across from her.
Her eyebrows lifted, a look of impressed surprise crossing her face. I lived for that look. “ ?Hablas espanol? ”
I shook my head, smiling. “No. But I’m a great student. I’d love for you to teach me,” I replied, leaning in slightly.
Her smirk grew, her eyes gleaming with that spark I craved. “We’ll see,” she said teasingly. The way she looked at me in that moment, half intrigued, half amused—I’d do anything to keep earning that.
We sat in silence for a moment as we ate when Ana’s phone began vibrating on the coffee table. She glanced back at it, the screen lighting up, and then looked at me hesitantly.
“You can take it,” I said with a nod, secretly delighted that she considered me before answering.
She went to fetch her phone, but when she saw who was calling, her face fell. She picked up the phone, her voice soft as she answered. “Hey.”
I watched as her eyes darted around the room and she began to slowly pace, listening intently. My stomach twisted with an unfamiliar sense of jealousy. Someone was taking up her attention and it wasn’t me.
“Okay. Just keep quiet about it. We don’t need to say anything,” she said quietly.
Then it hit me—it was about the pictures. Excitement bubbled up inside me, but I kept it contained. She was too serious, too focused on keeping this contained for me to show how much I reveled in it.
“Yes,” she went on, suddenly glancing up at me with a spark in her eye. “We are.”
We are what?
My curiosity spiked, but before I could piece it together, her tone shifted. “Not every detail in my personal life needs to be shared with you, Marissa.”
I love seeing her feistiness come through and I could see her defenses kicking in. She was standing her ground, that edge to her voice coming out, and I felt a strange sense of pride at her protectiveness. But still, I was desperate to know what she was defending so fiercely and why I was starting to feel territorial all over again.
She sighed, turning her back to me. “Okay. Bye.” With a quick toss, she threw her phone onto the couch and faced me again, her expression a mix of frustration and resignation.
“Those pictures are all over the internet. My publicist went crazy,” she said, putting a hand to her hip.
I nodded, trying to keep my expression neutral, but inside, that flicker of excitement returned. All over the internet. It was hard not to feel some kind of satisfaction. “I figured it wouldn’t take long,” I said, leaning back slightly. “How bad is it?”
She sighed again, crossing her arms. “It’s everywhere. People are already speculating things…you know how it is.”
I tried to stay calm though my mind was racing with the thought of us being out there, visible to the world. “Well,” I said, giving her a small grin. “That just means we’re official now, right?”
Her eyes flickered and I couldn’t tell if she was more annoyed or relieved. Probably both.
“Charlie, you don’t know what this means. It’s serious,” Ana snapped, her voice full of frustration. “I just dealt with that stupid fucking scandal with my stupid fucking ex-husband six months ago, and now I’m being thrown into the spotlight all over again.”
I could see her anger surfacing and the exhaustion in her eyes. This wasn’t just about the pictures. It was about everything she’d been through, everything she was trying to move past.
I stood up and stepped closer, keeping my voice soft. “Ana, I get that. I know this is the last thing you wanted right now, especially after what happened. But you’re not in this alone.”
She looked up at me, a flash of skepticism crossing her face, but I kept going. “I know you’re tired of the spotlight, of dealing with everyone’s opinions, but I’m here. And this time, you’re not dealing with it by yourself.”
She stood there for a moment, her frustration still simmering. But slowly, I could see her defenses start to crack.
I should have felt guilty because, in a way, I caused this. I wanted to claim her as mine, to show the world we weren’t some secret. But looking at her now, that desire to have her known as mine was stronger than any guilt I felt.