Chapter 21~
I’ve spent the better part of the last 4 hours consumed by thoughts of Bea and the little bit of herself she shared with me. Right after I sent her the last question, Charlie showed up, dragging in his bags and tactical gear; his favorite guitar bag slung across his shoulder.
It took us a bit to get him settled back in, and then I made dinner; momentarily forgetting that I never saw if Bea answered my final question. The guys and I sat around the table; eating in uncomfortable silence.
After leaving Bea’s two weeks ago, the drive home was stupidly silent. Charlie vibrated with barely concealed tension, and the others were just as high-strung.
Once we walked into the house, though, Charlie exploded. He revealed that he had been meeting with her through some video streaming service a few times a month. He didn’t realize it was her until he entered her bedroom and saw the vinyl records displayed on her wall. Something about Prince that I didn’t fully understand. Apparently, she wore a mask when they were together each time, and he had his face concealed in darkness. But, when she rounded the corner, he saw the flower tattoo on her arm and officially knew.
And that sent Stu into a whole other spiral. He just came out for an actual meal two nights ago. He plopped on the couch next to Danny and me, silently picked up a controller, and joined us in playing COD for almost three hours while munching on some pizza.
Charlie had been missing in action since the day after everything happened at Beatrice’s. Danny and I drove him back to La Porte to pick up his bike; he mumbled something about tying up loose ends and rode away without a backward glance.
When he showed up tonight, he didn’t even tell us anything. Just walked in with his stuff, unloaded, ate dinner, and locked himself in his room.
Now, Danny and I are alone and snuggled up in bed. I take out my phone to share what I learned and to let him know she’s doing well. I know he’s been silently pining after the strong, gentle, yet scared woman he met just a few weeks ago. All of his protector instincts have kicked in, and he’s been slightly more brash with me than usual. But I get it. I’ve been a little distracted, too.
Reading our messages aloud, I feel Danny relax fully into the bed. That is, until we read the response to her biggest fantasy. Danny’s whole body lights up like a Christmas tree and a hopeful gleam sparks in his eyes.
I still haven’t responded to Bea; not yet. I know she’s probably been overthinking my lack of response since she sent it, but I need to think about what to do next. I also need to have a conversation with Danny and the others before making a decision.
I texted the guys around 9 this morning, asking them to meet me in the living room. The others made their way here in about ten minutes. But we’re still waiting for Charlie.
Stu’s leaning against the bar cart in the corner. Heavy, black bags sag underneath his eyes, and his hair appears flatter, greasier than normal. I can only assume he hasn’t heard from Beatrice since she kicked us out. My heart aches for him, but Danny and I have a plan. Well, the makings of one. And, if we’re going to pull this off, we need to do it together.
Charlie ambles in with his hair tousled from sleep and a pair of low-hanging navy sweatpants and seemingly falls onto the couch. For the first time, maybe ever, Stu doesn’t try to sneak a look or make a humorous comment about his trouser snake. Instead, he stands still, his breathing barely perceptible, as appears to become one with the bar cart.
Clearing my throat, I stand in the middle of the room, garnering the attention of my best friends; my family.
As I share the “rough draft” version of what Danny and I came up with, I watch Charlie and Stu for their tells. Stu’s whole body has become tense, his slim, lean muscles rippling with barely contained anger and lust. Conversely, Charlie is completely relaxed, leaning against the couch with his legs spread and his arms resting on the back of the couch. However, the tenting of his sweatpants tells me he’s very interested.
After a tense silence, Stu’s resolve snaps. “Are you out of your fucking mind!” He’s across the room, standing in front of me, with four strides of his long legs. Spittle hits my face as his rage boils over. “You want to trick her? She kicked me out, kicked us out. She doesn’t know who you actually are! You think me letting you see her little dungeon and letting you into her home hurt her? Do you have any idea what this could do to her?”
As he finishes his rant, he turns and paces, pulling his fingers tightly through his scalp and letting out a sound that is pure agony. I can almost hear the tears filling his eyes, and he truly shows us for the first time in days, just how much losing Bea’s friendship broke him.
Stepping forward, I grasp his shoulder and quietly assure him, “I get it. I do. But, she wants this. In fact, I know she wants you, me, and Charlie…and I know she would love Danny. But her walls, man…” I shake my head as I think about the fortress this amazing woman has built around her. “She needs help breaking down those walls. And we’re the ones to do it. She craves dominance in the bedroom but wraps it tightly in BDSM practices. That way, she’s still in control.”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I pat his back softly, letting my words sink in. Then, I step back and address the room: “She’s already told me that it’s her greatest fantasy. And, if we can give that to her, I know it will work out—for all of us.”
With a final look around the room, I nod my head and retreat to the gym. I know this could work. And, technically, it’s not lying if she agrees to it.
But first, I need them to agree; then I can work on her.