Chapter Eleven #2
“Have fun,” she says as she walks to the door. “Get a good story to tell Judith!” she adds before she ducks around the corner. I hear her giggle as she makes her way to the front door.
I can’t help but roll my eyes as I turn to my dresser and select my perfume. I spritz it onto my neck and wrists before spraying some in my hair for extra measure.
At ten to eight, I take a deep breath and leave the house, after getting confirmation from Thea that she made it safely to Raquel’s.
The drive to Regiano’s is just a few minutes; Driftbay isn’t that big.
I meet Charlie right at eight, butterflies fluttering through my stomach the entire drive there.
I park beside his SUV and get out of my vehicle. He’s leaning against the hood of his car. His eyes slowly travel down my body and I can’t help but blush at the attention. It makes me feel confident, knowing that after all these years, I can still draw a man’s gaze.
“Beth Ann,” he whispers as he looks at me, “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I drink in the sight of him — he’s wearing dark wash jeans and my favorite gray button down, the one that makes me go weak in the knees. Gray is his color. It makes his skin look tan and his dark blue eyes pop.
“You don't look too bad yourself,” I add.
He reaches a hand out toward me and I take it. He gently spins me around so he can get the full view before he pushes off the car and pulls me into his side. I catch a whiff of him; he smells luxurious, like pomegranates and sandalwood.
“Is that a new cologne?” I ask as we walk toward the restaurant entrance.
He shrugs. “I save it for special occasions. Thanksgiving, Christmas, dates with my girl.”
“Your girl, huh?”
“Is that cheesy?” he asks as he opens the door for me.
I pretend to ponder it. “Little bit.”
We walk in together and I swear that I see a few heads turn. Everyone in town knows us, the diner owner and the sheriff. This is also what I’m afraid of — everyone knowing about us. And the rumors that will swirl if we don’t get this right and this…whatever this is, fails.
His hand finds the small of my back as our waitress leads us out onto the patio, per his request. It’s a beautiful summer evening; the setting sun paints the sky a stunning mosaic of colors.
The air is warm but not stifling, and the patio is inviting and cozy.
Fairy lights twinkle above us, casting a soft glow across the patio, and there’s potted plants all around.
Charlie pulls out my chair at the table, a true gentleman, before he sits in his own.
“You have to admit, this is a little weird,” I say, trying to break the ice. “I mean, us…here…” I gesture between us.
He laughs. “It’s different, yes, but it’s a good kind of different.” His eyes linger on me for a moment and I feel my cheeks start to burn.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I warn him.
“Like what?”
“Like you’re undressing me with your eyes.”
Charlie looks at me innocently, a smug smile on his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
It’s not lost on me how extraordinarily handsome he looks tonight. He undoes the buttons on his wrists and rolls the sleeves up, exposing his muscular arms. I hadn’t really noticed before how chiseled he is.
Or rather, I didn’t let myself notice.
Either way, I’m noticing now.
I lose myself in looking at the menu before my face gives my thoughts away. I bite the corner of my lip as I imagine those tan arms sliding along my skin—
“Beth Ann,” he repeats.
“Yes?” I ask breathlessly, shaking my head to get rid of the fantasy within. I feel the flush creep down my neck.
Charlie cocks his head slightly and smirks as he narrows his eyes.
“White wine or red?” Our waitress asks. I hadn’t even noticed her arrival.
“Red is fine,” I say, blinking rapidly.
The waitress nods and says she’ll be back with our drinks in just a moment.
I settle in my chair and look at Charlie. “What are we even supposed to talk about? We’ve known each other for so long, I mean, we know everything about each other.”
He leans back in his chair, settling his elbows on the armrests. “I guess that means we’re free to talk about anything. You nervous, Beth Ann?”
“Maybe a little,” I admit.
Our waitress returns with two glasses of red wine, breadsticks, and salad. She arranges the table nicely before disappearing again.
Charlie raises his glass in a toast and I do the same.
“To old friendship and a new beginning,” he says. I echo him and we clink the glasses together. I’d forgotten how good the wine is at Regiano’s. I don’t get over here often, but it’s a nice treat every now and then.
Through salads and entrees, we rehash the glory days, laughing over inside jokes and the woes of being broke college kids.
The wine flows as easily as the conversation does, making me feel as light as a feather.
Charlie and I laugh and laugh; edging into something more than just friends.
It’s so much easier than I thought it would be.
Why did I fight this for so long?
He orders a piece of Italian creme cake for us to share. Our forks scrape against the china plate and we take turns devouring it. I make a mental note to ask Thea to add it to her menu of baked goods at the diner.
“You can have the last bite,” he says.
I shake my head. “I’m okay. You can have it.”
“No, you.”
“Fine.” I swipe my fork at the last bite of cake and scoop it into my mouth with a smile.
I can feel the smear of icing at the corner of my lips, but before I can lift my napkin, Charlie reaches across the table and wipes it off with his thumb.
He doesn’t break eye contact as he brings it to his mouth and licks it clean.
My breath catches in my throat.
Other couples disappear from the patio one by one until we’re the only table left. I recognize the song that has just started playing softly on the radio overhead and I start swaying in my seat to the melody. Charlie smiles as he watches me before standing up and holding out his hand.
“May I have this dance?” he asks.
I stare up at him for a moment before deciding to let go of my inhibitions.
I stand and offer my hand to him. He grasps it and I notice how perfectly they fit together. He pulls me in close enough that I can smell his cologne again. I breathe him in; his scent and the wine in my system making me dizzy.
His other hand returns to the small of my back as we dance. We sway wordlessly under the twinkling lights. I don’t want anything to disrupt this moment and I don’t trust myself to not say something stupid.
My cheeks are flushed from the alcohol and I lean my head against his chest as we dance. I hear his heartbeat and for the first time in my life, I realize that home isn’t a place — it’s a person. Charlie’s been my home for years now, it just took me a long time to find my way there.
The song ends too quickly, but we don’t stop. We keep swaying as another one comes on, and another after that. It’s only when our waitress returns to the patio, looking perturbed, that we finally return to the table.
Charlie throws a hundred dollar bill down on the table and tells her to keep the change, all the while still holding onto my hand.
We stagger through the restaurant like giddy teenagers.
He’s pulling me toward the door as I notice we are the last couple remaining.
They must have been waiting on us to leave so they could close.
A wave of guilt washes over me; I know exactly what that’s like.
“Sorry!” I yell over my shoulder as we exit. I giggle as we make our way back to our cars, digging around in my clutch for my keys.
“Oh, no,” Charlie says, reaching for my hand. “You’re not driving. You’ve had too much wine.”