Chapter Sixteen
“Oh my God. I can’t even imagine.” Maddie’s voice was filled with shock and concern in Charlie’s ear. Donnie had been quiet on the ride back from the hospital and then promptly gone to lie down, saying his headache had returned. Not knowing what to do, she'd called Maddie and told her everything.
“I know. It’s horrible and I don’t know what to do to help him. The last time I saw him like this was, well, when Nate died,” Charlie said. She was sitting out on the balcony, not wanting to disturb Donnie.
“You can’t blame him for being depressed. And just like when Nate died, it’s probably shock, too. I’m sure just being there is helping.”
“I hope so. I hate seeing him like this. If he can’t work again, he’ll be devastated. He’s so close to his team.”
“Sounds to me like you need to distract him. Give him something else to think about.”
“And how am I going to do that. He won't go out. He sits staring at a blank TV screen.” Or lying in bed. Alone. Like he was now. It damn near broke her heart.
The phone buzzed in Charlie’s hand, and she glanced at it, seeing Mackie’s name.
“I have to go. It’s Mackie, one of Donnie's teammates, calling. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you.” Not giving Maddie a chance to respond, she ended the call and answered Mackie.
“Hi.”
“Hi, Charlie. Sophie filled us in.”
“Oh, she did?”
“Yeah. Sounds like he didn't take the news too well, even though it was positive. Look, we just got out of a briefing. The team are going to come over so we can talk to him.”
“Oh. Right. Of course. I can leave.” She had no idea where she would go but she didn't want to intrude.
“You don't need to leave, but Sophie thought you might like a little break.”
“Sophie? As in Dr. Summers?”
“Yes.” She heard the smile in Mackie’s voice. “She’s finished her shift and is getting together for an early dinner with Diane, Kelly, and Mira. We spoke about them last night?”
“Yes, of course, I remember.”
“Good. You’re invited to join them. Give us boys some time with Donnie, and you some more cheerful company. What do you think?”
Charlie was quiet. Sophie had been lovely at the hospital, and she was kind of intrigued to meet the other women. Between what Donnie and Mackie had told her, she felt like she knew them already.
“I don’t want to be a burden to anyone. I mean I can go out by myself for a while.”
“You won't be a burden. Trust me, you’ll love these women. We’re a tight knit bunch and now you’re a part of that, whether you like it or not.”
Charlie smiled. She liked the idea. Other than Maddie, she didn’t have friends. This might actually be fun.
“OK. That sounds great.”
“Good. We’ll be there shortly. I'll introduce you to the team, then Sophie will come and pick you up.”
“Wow. You got it all planned already.”
“Yeah, well. The ladies don't tend to take no for an answer.”
Charlie laughed. “Good to know. I’ll go check on Donnie and see if I can persuade him to get up.”
“If he doesn't want to, don't worry. We’ll drag his ass up.”
They might have to. He was so down today. Broken.
“Charlie?” Mackie brought her back to the present. “Are you alright? How much of a pain in the ass has he been today?” His voice was soft, concerned.
“He hasn’t really. I’m just worried about him. He seems even more down than before,” she said honestly.
“He’s going to be OK. Trust me. He’s got us and he’s grateful you’re here, even if he doesn’t show it.”
“I’m not really doing anything. I’m not sure he even wants me here anymore. He’s been in his room since we got back.” It had been over three hours and not a sound from him.
“He wants you there. If he didn't, you wouldn't be there,” Mackie said, giving her some reassurance. “I’ll see you in about half hour. Stop worrying. We got this.”
“OK. See you soon.”
Charlie got up and slid open the balcony door to find Donnie in the middle of the room.
“Donnie? Are you OK?”
She frowned. He was staring straight at her, not that he would know that.
He was still wearing the jeans he had worn this morning, but he had removed his T-shirt.
Unable to help herself, she let her gaze roam over his body.
Damn, he was fit. All hard muscle and defined lines.
His skin smooth but for the scars, with a couple of small tattoos.
She’d seen them in Toronto but had been a bit too distracted to really study them.
One was on his right pec and another on his upper left arm.
She was tempted to step closer to get a better look, but before she could, Donnie spoke.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Who were you talking to?”
“Oh, Mackie called.”
Donnie nodded but stayed quiet.
“How’s the headache?” she asked, tearing her gaze away to close the balcony door.
“Fine.”
Mmm, so not in a chatty mood then. Well, she wasn't about to be defeated.
“Great. How about a drink and we can sit on the balcony. It’s beautiful out.” She moved to the kitchen to get them both some water. “Come on, let’s go outside.”
“No.”
Charlie walked back to him with two bottles of water. “Yes. You heard Sophie this morning. You need to relax. Sun helps with that. I’ll get your sunglasses. Where are they?”
Donnie let out a terse breath. “Should be in my bedroom on the dresser.”
As soon as she stepped into Donnie’s bedroom, she stopped, staring at the rumpled bed.
His T-shirt strewn across one pillow. It seemed oddly intimate to be here in his personal space.
The room smelled of Donnie. It was simple, masculine, with plain white walls, a black duvet.
The only splashes of color were the pictures on the wall.
Some kind of abstract patterns in bright colors.
For a brief moment, she wondered how many women had been in this room.
How many Donnie had slept with in that bed.
Shaking her head, she grabbed his T-shirt and the sunglasses from the dresser.
Donnie hadn’t moved from where he’d been standing, but he was rolling his head, stretching out his neck.
The muscles in his back flexed and Charlie’s thighs tensed.
Jesus. “Here.” She placed his T-shirt in his hand.
“You should put that on.” Because she couldn't focus properly with all that naked flesh.
He took the T-shirt and fumbled to find the bottom. Charlie resisted helping. After a couple of attempts, he had the T-shirt on.
“Come on. Let's go outside.” She took his hand and guided him out onto the balcony to the lounge chair where she had been sitting before and handed him his shades.
“What did Mackie want?” Donnie asked, opening his water.
“He mentioned that he was going to come by shortly.”
Donnie said nothing.
“Does it feel any different? Being out here, in the sun.”
“It feels warm. But as for my eyes, no different.”
She studied his face. His jaw was tense, his mouth in a straight line. This foul attitude was beginning to piss her off.
“Why are you in such a bad mood? You got good news today.” She failed to keep the annoyance out of her voice.
“How is possibly losing my team good news exactly?” Donnie said. His condescending tone made her think of Simon. No. She wasn’t taking that from him.
“Jesus, Donnie, will you listen to yourself? You got blown up, could have died. You can't see right now, but you were told today you will get some if not all your sight back. Do you have any idea how many blind people would love to be given that news?”
“You don't understand!” he snapped.
“No, I don’t. You have a team that you consider family.
Even in the remote chance that you cannot operate again, you still have them.
Even I know that and I’ve only met Mackie.
There’s no way they would abandon you. The fact that you think you might lose them is insulting to the bond you obviously have with them. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Her voice had risen and she was breathing hard. Donnie’s face remained stoic, like her words had no effect. He didn’t speak. She got up, picking up her water bottle.
“I thought you were better than this, Donnie. I get this has been hard. I get that you’re worried, and no, I don't know what it’s like to not be able to see.
But you have wonderful people around you, supporting you.
Your team, the ladies you told me about, your folks.
If you would let them in. And you have me.
But I’ll tell you, my patience with this negative attitude and your mood swings is wearing thin on me already.
Maybe it’s time you started appreciating everything you have, rather than dwelling on a worst-case scenario that might never happen.
Because even if you could see, if I were one of your teammates, I’m not sure I would want someone with this piss-poor attitude on my team. ”
The balcony door slid open. Mackie looked between her and Donnie.
“Everything OK here?” he asked.
Donnie remained silent.
“It’s fine. But you were right. I need to get out of here.” She moved past him, stepping inside.
And came face to face with five large men. The condo was already small, but it felt like it had shrunk. The men completely filled the room.
“Erm, hi,” Charlie said, embarrassed. The balcony door closed behind her and then Mackie was there, making introductions.
“I’m guessing Donnie was being a moody bas—” Mackie stopped himself. “Sorry.”
Charlie sighed. “Don’t apologize. You’re right. He is being a moody pain in the butt.”
The men chuckled.
“Leave him to us, Charlie. We’ll sort him out,” Dex said with a smile.
“Good luck. He’s an impatient asshole right now.” She shook her head.
Sam stepped forward. “It’s a SEAL thing.
If he had been told he would have his sight back in full in seven days, he would have been fine.
SEALs tend to like things instantly. They want results, and they want them now.
The uncertainty of not knowing is hard for anyone, but for men like him it’s worse. Patience is not their strong suit.”
Charlie relaxed a little. Clearly, these men knew how to handle him much better than she did.
“Hey, boss, you were a SEAL once, too.” Tyler grinned.