Chapter 8 - Charlie
T he adjustment to small town life has been a bit easier than I expected and I've fallen into a rhythm with everything. Each morning I get ready and head down stairs to Beans for my coffee. I've tried everything on the menu so every day I ask Nova to surprise me with whatever drink she feels like making. I have yet to be disappointed by her creations.
I spend my days with Mila and Dante, making sure she's looked after in every way I can. I love her and my job, but the shift from a bustling ER to having one quiet and polite patient has been an adjustment.
Not once have I come home with blood on me and I think I'm starting to miss the unpredictability of every shift, as well as Dimi’s surprise visits.
I've been thinking about asking Porter if I can fill in at the bar every now and then, just for a change of scenery. He wouldn't even need to pay me. It's just that I'm no longer physically or mentally simulated; however, the amount of her romance books I managed to get through is impressive. I’ve read more than I have in the last ten years and I’ve discovered a particular fondness for monster romances. The idea of a 12-inch, ribbed, blue alien cock with barbs and sparkly blue cum is far more appealing to me than it probably should be.
Pushing open the door to Beans, the warm air and the smell of freshly roasted coffee is heaven. I can feel my mouth watering, only moments away from indulging in one of life's greatest pleasures. The coffee shop is blissfully empty and the dim lighting in Pages; Nova’s adjoining bookstore makes me want to curl up in one of the comfy armchairs and spend the day reading alien smut.
“Good morning, beautiful,” I say to Nova, standing behind the counter with Ace not far from her, perched on a stool near the display cabinet.
“Charlie, I don't mean to be that guy but I'm the only one who calls Nova beautiful alright?” His brow furrowed but the small smirk he's trying to control is clear that he's just attempting to get a rise out of Nova, one that she's walking right into.
“Ace, don't be a dick. Charlie can absolutely call me beautiful.” She says with a frown as she walks to where he's sitting, giving his shoulder a swipe. Instantly, he pulls her in between his legs and wraps her in a hug, her arms flailing for a second before she gives in and relaxes her arms around his waist. You can see them both visibly slacken in that moment and not for the first time, I wonder why the fuck are they not a couple.
“It’s okay Ace, she's all yours. Let's just say I'm a fan of lumberjacks but not of axe wounds, if you get my drift. I've sampled more than one kitty cat but prefer a pork sword if you catch my meaning. Eaten at the restaurant a-la-minge but just prefer a cum gun. I can go on or is that too much for 8 a.m. on a Tuesday?”
Nova whirls around to face me, still wrapped in Ace's arms and they both say no so loudly that I'm glad there’s no other customers in here to bear witness.
“Charlie ...” Ace says, his voice breaking slightly as he says my name. Clearing his throat and practically whispering he continues, “Charlie, have you eaten pussy?”
The small moment of silence that surrounds us builds tension as they wait with bated breath for my answer.
“A few times. It's not that bad but just not my thing. My experimental phase in exploring my sexuality lasted a bit longer than most. A few years longer, I guess, but if you haven't already I recommend you try it, Nova. Can't say you don't like something unless you try it first, right?” I say, shrugging my shoulders and inspecting what pastries are on offer this morning.
“I wanna watch. I wanna watch if you do.” Ace yells out, as he scrambles to his knees before her. Holding both of her hands in his like a desperate proposal. “Nova, if you ever decide to taste the delicious nectar of the puss-say , I will be your spirit guide. I will take you on a journ—.”
“Why is he being weird?” Nova asks, cutting him off and looking at me confused.
“Please Nova, I beg you. Let me watch you eat pus—.”
“Okay, fine. Whatever, but just stop being weird about it. I promise if I ever decide to, you know,” she says, waving her hand around, “be with a woman. We will all talk about it and if everyone agrees, then you can be my spirit guide.”
Ace pulls her into his arms, mumbling thank you over and over as he nuzzles against her. Their size difference makes it nearly impossible for him to avoid her breasts with him kneeling on the floor.
“Have you two ever?” I question, waving a finger between the two of them. Surely they have a casual thing on the side. Two people can not have that much chemistry and not be touching bits. Nova pulls away from Ace and he lets her go, a look of longing flashes across his face as he moves to sit back on his stool.
“So just your surprise me drink then?” Nova says, changing the subject, her face so blushed you would think she had sunburn.
“Yes, please. Shower me in your frothy cream, Nova,” I say laughing, as her blush deepens.
The door to Beans rings out as it’s pushed open and I turn to see a man I've not seen in town before. He's about my height, with solid shoulders and straight dark blond hair that falls to just above his ears. He's like a young Leo in Titanic , except in his 30’s and with far more muscles. Smiling at him, he locks eyes with me and grins in return, his eyes lighting up like it's the 5th of November.
“Hi. Sorry, I don't mean to come off excited but you’re the first people around my age that I've met since I got to town. Everyone else has been quite old, or a kid.” He says confidently to me, the warm woollen sweater he wears makes him look like he's just come from a fishing vessel.
“Oh, that's … well to be honest that's probably the weirdest way to introduce yourself but that's okay. I'm Charlie, this is Nova and Ace, and this is the best coffee shop in town so we’ll no doubt be seeing more of you. Have you moved here or just on holiday?” I ask, trying to be friendly.
“Sorry, I do that sometimes. All social manners go out the window when you get used to your own company. I'm Tristan. I'm here for the winter, studying the fault line that runs through the valley. Seismic activity has been happening at breakneck speed and my office has set me up here for the season to keep an eye on things.”
He’s rather excited when he talks, the enthusiasm rolling off him in waves but there's something about him I'm just not gelling with. He’s giving me Chad vibes , in that he is so consumed by his own work, he takes what he wants and expects you to be grateful for the scraps he leaves behind.
“I didn't realise there were even earthquakes in Hidden Valley, I'll have to look that up,” I say. Making a mental note to actually research that because the last thing I need to deal with is a natural disaster.
“Oh, um, it's a new fault line so there might not be any information out there but I can update you on my findings. I could take your number and we could get a drink sometime.” A smooth smile spreads across his face as the intention of this chat reveals itself. I'm just about to let him down gently when a warm arm wraps around my shoulder and Ace's hulking frame appears next to me.
“My girl Charlie here is taken, and Nova is too,” Ace says, jerking his thumb over his shoulder where Nova stands behind the counter. His demeanour is still friendly but there’s a threatening undertone. I love that he feels the need to rescue me even if I didn't really need it. I have no problem turning down a guy but you can't always control their response, so it's nice to have Ace here with me.
“Well, this just got a little awkward,” he says under his breath. Straightening his shoulders he feigns confidence and says, “I'm sorry if I overstepped. I really was just asking for a drink and good company. If it came off that way I apologise.”
Snorting at how wrong we’ve all been, I pull out from under Ace's arm and take my coffee from the counter. Patting Tristan's shoulder as I leave, saying how lovely it was to meet him and that we should definitely meet for a coffee soon.
Heading out to spend the day with Mila, I’m starting to get worried about the amount of weight she’s losing. I've been here just over a month and she is still barely keeping anything down. I've had to keep a permanent IV line in her arm ready to go in case she needs medications or fluids. She’s made it to fourteen weeks and I can tell her spirits are dropping because if anything, the hyperemesis is getting worse as she becomes more and more dehydrated. She keeps saying that all the pregnancy books note that morning sickness should ease around the twelve week point, but as each day passes with no change to her condition, it chips away at her strength. I need to talk with her OBGYN tomorrow, and see if we can come up with a better plan than what's being suggested.
A bit of sickness is fine, it means the baby is doing great .
The way I grit my teeth when that was the medical advice given, I was surprised I didn't crack a tooth. Dante is hovering around her any chance he gets and Ace pops in every now and then to see if he can help, not to mention I've almost tripped over Ragnar twice now because he insists on being physically next to her. I keep telling them all the same thing, that she needs rest, to keep her fluids up and any food she can eat is a bonus.
They’re both so out of their element having a pregnant woman around that I'm glad I came so I could manage everyone. They must have brought out the local supermarket with the amount of crackers and ginger that’s packed away in the pantry, but Mila won't touch them anymore. She said it didn't help and also hurt her throat so would rather eat ice cream.
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“How you feeling, hon? Want to watch a movie or try to listen to an audiobook?” I say to Mila curled up on the couch. She's spent a few hours lying here, staring out into the room watching us as we go about our day. She still likes to be a part of things, even if it's just sharing the same space for a while. When a bad day hits, even the smallest movements exhaust her or trigger a round of vomiting, so I'm careful not to push her too much.
“I think I'd like to go back to bed now, please.”
Mila’s voice is barely a whisper, no longer soft, but has turned rough and hoarse from all of the vomiting. If she's willing, I get Dante to move her to the living area for a change of scenery but more often than not she prefers the comfort of a dark room.
In less than a second Dante has moved from his observation post in the kitchen and has her cradled in his arms, carrying her up the stairs to their bedroom.
Following them, I see his tenderness as he places her back in the bed, making sure the water on the bedside table is fresh and her sick bags nearby.
“I love you, sunshine. You're doing so good, growing our baby.”
His gravelly voice is low but clear in the quiet room as he strokes her hair from where it’s fallen across her face, her eyes closing to his touch as I slip out of the room giving them a moment.