Chapter 15
Complete peace. Charlie hadn’t felt it in a long time, but as she rolled over, reaching for Demi, she felt nothing less than comfort in her soul.
His wrinkled, cold side of the sheets convinced her to open her eyes and when she registered the smell of food, she crawled out of bed.
Charlie went to the master closet. It was filled with clothes in her size.
Everything from new lingerie to expensive shoes had been meticulously organized for her.
She chose a silk robe before following the smell to the kitchen.
The place really was beautiful. Decorated in blue hues, gold, and black.
Their favorite colors combined, and she was sure it was intentional.
To her surprise, Bails sat at Demi’s feet, eating out of a monogrammed dog bowl.
Demi had not missed a single detail and the fact that he had planned for Bails too warmed her because she knew he hated animals.
He stood over the stove shirtless, wearing hoop shorts and socks with slides.
Her eyes studied the tattoos before she walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his strong waist, and tucking her hands in the front band of his shorts.
“I woke up different today,” she said, feeling him tense.
He didn’t question it because he knew what she meant.
The moment he opened his eyes he had felt the same.
Different, blessed, endowed to a girl named Charlie.
She made a man feel brand new. “Relax, Demi. My dirt is your dirt,” she whispered, kissing his strong back and feeling his dick stiffen in her hands. “So, you cook?”
“Not really,” he snickered. “I don’ burnt these eggs twice.”
Charlie eased between him and the stove.
“Here, let me help,” she said. This time, it was his arms around her waist. His dick pressed into her and she quivered a little as he reached around, grabbing her neck.
Morning sex. Demi forced her head against his shoulder and then turned her to the island, lifting her silk robe and bending her over.
They burned another pan of eggs as they made love on the countertops. This was an overdose of pleasure. They were gluttons for one another. This was a sin, a bigger one than Charlie realized, but even in her ignorance, she could tell this was too euphoric to be good for you.
“I want to see where you come from, Demi. Who else is in your life? Meet your mama. I just want to know the person that has come into my world and made it about him. If my every waking moment is going to be about you, I want to know you,” Charlie said as she sat on the kitchen counter with Demi standing between her thighs, picking grapes off the bunch he had laid out.
One for her, one for him. That’s the kind of man he was.
He fed a woman’s soul first, filling her up before catering to his own.
He fed her casually as he answered, “I don’t talk to my parents.
My daddy ain’t really shit. Never been shit.
My mom has some handicaps. She had a stroke while giving birth to me, kind of fucked her up.
My dad blames me for that. Never really treated me the same as my other brothers and sisters.
Used to beat my ass for the smallest shit but the rest of my brothers got away with murder.
The last time he touched me, I fought back, broke his jaw, and then took off.
I ain’t really had a good relationship with him since. ”
Charlie saw pain in Demi. The kind that had taken years to build.
“And your mom?” she asked.
“I speak to her every Sunday. She calls. I haven’t seen her since I left home, though.
She won’t leave my daddy. She loves him.
She put me out for fighting him back. He ain’t shit but she worships that nigga.
I can’t see her without seeing him, though, so I just ain’t seen them,” he said.
“My brothers or sister either. I don’t fuck with none of ‘em.”
“Have you always had OCD?” she asked.
“Not always,” he said. “My ma, she ummm...” he paused, searching for words as he scratched his temple.
“She can’t really move around like that.
She’s dependent on my dad. He used to take off all day, drink, fuck around with other women or whatever and she would sit in the same spot.
Sometimes, for days. Sometimes, she would be a mess.
Soiled, you know? When I was little, I couldn’t help her to the bathroom, couldn’t bathe her, couldn’t help her when she needed to relieve herself.
I would have to clean her up with a rag and a bucket.
My other brothers and sister were too young.
I was the oldest, so it was on me. Cleaning up urine and feces just gave me a complex, I guess. I just don’t like no dirty shit.”
Demi’s heart ached with every word. He had never told this to anyone. Not even Lauren or DJ knew about his past. He had never planned to revisit it, so what was the point in talking about it?
“She’s disabled? I’m so sorry, Demi,” Charlie said.
“She has Parkinson’s,” he revealed. He hadn’t spoken about it in years.
He sent money and paid for care but he never called and he never went home.
“She lives in Cali. That’s where I’m from.
We don’t really talk. The shit with my dad…
I don’t know, he was a mean drunk and she defended it. I haven’t gone back in some time.”
“You should check on your mom, Demi,” she whispered. “I’ll go back with you. Help you face it. I’m sure she misses you.” He kissed her shoulder. His sweet Charlie. She was so much more than a casual fling.
“You’re comfortable this morning,” she said, smiling, changing the subject intentionally. He was grateful for the shift.
“Your dirt is my dirt. That shit makes so much sense in my head, Bird,” he said, speaking into her neck because he was kissing her there now too.
“It doesn’t burn?” she asked.
“It does,” he whispered. “I don’t care, Bird, I can’t stop. Shit with you feels good than a motherfucka. So good it hurts a little. I know I’m not making sense.”
“It makes sense,” she replied. She leaned back to stare at him. “You should check on your mom. My mom’s dead and I would give anything to get one more day with her. It’s been years since you’ve seen her face.”
“I can’t, Bird. I would love to introduce you to her, but I can’t go back,” he said.
“You won’t go back, Demi. I can’t see my mom. You won’t,” she replied. “That’s two different things, and one day when you really can’t see her… When it’s not even a choice anymore… When she is gone… You’ll wish you had,” she said.
She could tell her words landed hard. She could practically see the thoughts running through his mind.
“Yeah, I hear you,” he said. “I’ve got to get to the studio. You want to meet me there later? Day would kill to lay down something for you. He’s been talking about the girl who stole the showcase non-stop. I can make that dream a reality, Bird.”
“I can’t. I have my dad’s anniversary dinner and then a set at the club,” she said.
“Like you, I have my own issues with my father. He’s an asshole, but I kind of have to show up.
Stassi will kill me if I don’t. Would you want to come?
I mean, I’m not big on introducing people to my family, but if I’m going to be here with you, they should meet you, right? ”
Demi grimaced as the idea of meeting her folks turned him off.
“I mean, you don’t have to; I just hate the way my dad’s wife picks me apart. I never have an ally at that table,” she said chuckling. “Stassi’s too afraid to stand up to her mom and my dad is too far up her ass. Just thought you could keep me company, but it’s cool. I get it.”
“How about you do your family thing and I handle my business and we link after that?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yeah, that’s cool.” He heard the disappointment in her voice, but Demi couldn’t be out here meeting parents.
They were already crossing lines. What should have been low-key was becoming very blatant.
He would have to remind himself that Charlie wasn’t his home.
He was playing pretend with her, investing in something he knew would eventually end.
“What about my old place, Demi? I’m in a lease. I can’t just...”
“You telling me a lot about what you can’t do, Bird,” he answered. “Unlearn that shit. You can do whatever you want to do. Whatever is in the way can be removed. I’ll pay out your lease on the other spot. Do you want to live here?” he asked.
“With you? Or by myself?” she asked. “Is this our place, Demi? Or mine?”
“It’s whatever you want it to be. Your name is on it, Bird,” he replied.
She paused, thinking. It was crazy to move in with Demi.
Charlie liked her space. Her solace. Her old apartment was her piece of safety.
She had designed it to be exactly that, a refuge from harm.
This new place was luxury, but it was cold.
It was too perfect. Too clean. Demi would want it to stay that way.
Charlie needed to dirty it up a little, live in it, for it to be her new safe haven.
“Can it just be mine for a little while? I just don’t want to rush into living together. I need my own space,” Charlie answered. “Is that ungrateful? I don’t want to seem ungrateful.”
“Whatever you want,” he said. He pulled back. “I got to get dressed and get out of here. Enjoy your dinner with your people. I’ma call you later.”
Lauren felt her life slipping from beneath her.
If Demi had never been anything else, he had been consistent.
Lately, inconsistencies had been his routine.
She had never had to wonder where he was.
She had never stayed up late at night questioning his intentions, his fidelity, but as she watched Demi walk through the front door, she could feel the shift.
“DJ! Your dad is here to take you to school!” she shouted.
“Yes!” DJ shouted as hurried steps echoed through the house.
“Lo,” Demi started.