Chapter Nine
Charlie held the glass of wine, aimlessly trailing her finger around the rim as she stared out the window.
The view didn’t register. The last couple of hours she had shed more tears than she thought possible.
Things had not been great between her and Simon but tonight had been frightening.
If Donnie hadn't been there, Simon might have hurt her.
Really hurt her. How the hell had things come to this?
At some point, the tears stopped, and she’d gotten up and changed into leggings and a T-shirt and opened the bottle of wine in the mini fridge. She raised the glass to herself.
“Here’s to being single again.” Men were assholes. All they did was break your heart. She was done with relationships. Maybe she’d try the one-night stand thing. Scratch the itch and then move on. Seemed like a much better idea.
Taking a sip, the beep of a text message got her attention. Simon probably. He'd sent several texts, begging her to talk to him. She’d ignored them all and instructed the front desk not to let Simon up if he tried. Picking up her phone she glanced at the screen. It wasn’t from Simon, it was Donnie.
Hey Charlie. Just checking in as promised. If you need anything let me know. I’m here for you.
A silent tear rolled down her cheek. She swiped at it in frustration. God, she needed to get a grip. She needed some girl time with Maddie. A call would have to do.
“Hi, Charlie, how’s Toronto?” Dave answered.
“Oh. It’s fine. Is Maddie around?”
“She’s actually asleep.”
Charlie glanced at the time. Eight-thirty.
“I know it’s early, but the kids ran her ragged today, so I made her take a bath, put her to bed, and confiscated her phone so she would rest.”
“You’re a great husband and father, you know that?” Charlie could picture Dave ordering Maddie to bed. Dave was not an asshole. He was one of a very tiny minority.
“I try. She had them all day while I pulled a Saturday shift. The least I can do is give her a break. Everything OK with you?”
“Oh, yes. I was just calling for a catch up. Nothing urgent. I’ll let you go.”
“OK. I’ll tell her you called. Talk soon.”
Charlie sighed as tears threatened again.
Her life had just been turned upside down.
When she’d told Simon they were done, he had been livid, and she’d been scared he might actually hit her.
Initially, he’d tried the charm. When that didn't work, he turned nasty. Criticized her weight and told her he was the best offer she would ever get. Eventually, a staff member had come into the room from another door and asked if everything was alright. Charlie had said yes and that Simon was just leaving. She’d been surprised when he left without further argument, but she assumed she hadn't heard the last of him.
Whatever was going on with Simon, she couldn’t defend him anymore. She had been frightened. Really frightened. If Donnie hadn't been there...
Donnie. The man had not asked her any questions, not lectured her, or gotten angry. He had simply held her and walked her back to her room. He had been the friend he promised he was going to be. She needed a friend.
Charlie picked up her purse and keycard, slipped on her runners, and headed down to the fifteenth floor. Outside Donnie’s door, she hesitated, looking down at herself. Dear God, she looked a mess. What was she thinking? She turned to leave but the door opened.
“Hey. I thought I heard something. Are you alright?” Donnie stood in the doorway in the same jeans and snug white T-shirt he’d been wearing earlier. Seriously, the man could be on a billboard.
“Yes. Sorry. I just came to say thank you and let you know I’m OK.”
“No thanks needed. Would you like to come in? Or we could get a drink?”
Charlie glanced down at her clothes. “I’m not exactly dressed for getting a drink. I don't usually dress like this.”
“You don’t? Sweats and a T–shirt are my go-to when I’m lazing around at home. Nothing wrong with it. But we can have a drink here. If you’re comfortable with that? No pressure.”
She hesitated for just a second. “OK. A drink would be good. If you’re sure?”
He stepped aside to let her in. “Make yourself comfortable.”
The room was identical to hers and she settled herself in one of the chairs by the window. It was dark out now and the city lights had come to life.
“What would you like?” He sat in the chair opposite. “Have you eaten?”
Her stomach answered for her. She hadn’t had anything since the salad and fajita at lunch. “No. But that’s OK. A drink for now will be fine.”
“Wine?”
“That would be great. Thank you. Can I use your bathroom?”
“Of course.”
Closing the door, she stared at her reflection and winced.
Her eyes were puffy. Her hair was flat where she’d been laying on it.
Why oh why had she not looked in the mirror before coming here?
Splashing water on her face, she straightened her hair as best she could.
Not much more she could do. Sighing, she opened the door.
Donnie had poured two glasses of wine and handed her one as she sat. She took a sip, and they sat as she stared out at the city lights.
“I’m sorry about earlier. I really wish you hadn’t seen that,” she said, breaking the silence.
She felt his eyes on her but kept her gaze on the view.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“He wasn't always like that,” she whispered, her lip trembling.
Donnie placed his glass on the table and leaned forward. She turned to face him.
“Charlie, there is never a time when it is OK for a man to place his hands on a woman like that. He was hurting you.”
“I know. It’s over. I ended it.” She thought she was cried out but apparently not. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Donnie handed her a box of tissues.
“I’m sorry. Not sorry you ended it because it was the right thing to do, but I am sorry that you’re hurting and upset.”
She wiped her face and blew her nose.
“Can we not talk about him right now?”
Donnie gave her a small smile. “You bet.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes. How she wished Nate was here. Wished he would sit on the end of her bed and make her laugh. Tell her everything would be alright.
“Do you ever think of Nate?” she blurted.
Donnie didn’t answer right away.
Finally, he said, “Yes. Not as much as I used to. But I’ll see something that reminds me of him. Hear a song on the radio. It happens. Especially around that time of year.”
She nodded. “Yeah, me, too. I can go weeks not thinking about him and then boom! He’s in my head every day. I know lots of brothers and sisters fight, but we rarely did. Some nights, he would sit at the end of my bed and tell me funny stories. Especially if he sensed I’d had a bad day at school.”
“He loved you very much.”
“I know. He was a great brother. I was lucky to have both of you watching out for me. School was hard, but it was a little easier when you guys were there. I wish he was here.”
“I’m sorry I haven't been there for you, but I am here now. I mean it, Charlie. You can talk to me.”
She gave him a weak smile. “Thank you.”
“Did you speak to Maddie?” he asked softly.
“I called, but she was asleep. Rough day.”
“You two have a great friendship.”
“The best. I don’t know what I would have done without her all these years.”
A few minutes of silence, then Charlie asked what she’d been wondering for ten years. “Do you ever think about what might have been? If that phone call hadn't come that night?”
Donnie met her eyes. His gaze intense.
“All the time.”
***
DONNIE WANTED TO FUCKING cheer when she said she’d ended things with Simon, but he kept himself in check.
No wonder Simon was angry when he left the hotel.
Fucker got what he deserved. Donnie was damn glad he’d been there.
The guy had been off his head and who knows what he might have done if Donnie hadn't interrupted them.
“Do you?” he asked, getting back to the question Charlie had asked.
She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Sometimes. I don't think much would be different. I mean I would have still got my degree. I love my job. Maybe I’d still be in Albany. Nate, too. He might be married, with a child. I would babysit.” She gave him a sad smile.
“And what about us?”
“Maybe we would have dated, but it probably wouldn't have worked out. Perhaps I would still have dated Simon. Who knows, right?” She drank some wine, averting her gaze. She was lying, but he wasn't going to push her. She lowered her glass. “I told you mine, so tell me yours.”
Donnie sat back. “I imagine we would have dated. Fell in love, got married. You would have got your degree. I would be a cop. In Albany. We would have a little house, close to our families, Maddie, Nate. Nate would be our kid’s godfather, obviously.
Maddie godmother. We would be madly in love and surrounded by people we care about. ”
He lifted his glass and took a drink. It sounded pretty fucking wonderful to him. Charlie was looking at him open-mouthed. Her cheeks flushed. He waited until eventually she took a sip of wine.
“You’re just trying to make me feel better,” she said with a little laugh.
“No. I’m not. It’s the truth.” The Donnie from back then would have been very happy with that life. Sadly, he wasn’t the same Donnie.
“Well. It doesn't really matter now, does it? Nate died. You left. So, I guess we’ll never know.” She looked away.
He wanted to say so much, but she had just ended her relationship with Simon. It was too soon. He cared for her. A lot. The attraction was still there. Even in leggings and a T-shirt, no make-up, messed up hair and puffy eyes, he was drawn to her.