Chapter 8 Charlie
charlie
When I decided to take a swim, illegally, because of some stupid checklist I’d created earlier, I didn’t expect the first guy I’d see to be the hot brother from my school.
After an exhausting first couple days of school, I had walked down to the beach, blatantly ignoring the “This beach closes at blah blah” sign, because what was the point of living across from the lake if I couldn’t enjoy the water?
My bucket list was filled with everything I wanted to do before my mom inevitably dragged me home to marry one of her friends’ sons.
It was infuriating, knowing she didn’t see my life as mine to shape.
She treated my future like a business transaction, as if it didn’t matter what I wanted, as long as it fit her expectations.
The frustration burned in my chest every time I thought about it.
I’d spent my whole life following the rules, being the obedient daughter who didn’t cause trouble.
The list was my way of pushing back against their control, of feeling like I actually had some say in my life.
I thrived on plans and routines, but for once, I wanted to experience freedom.
I wanted to make my own choices before I was pulled back in and boxed up again.
This list was my rebellion, my little act of defiance against a future I didn’t choose.
When I’d finally gotten down to the water, I was fueled by breaking the rules and letting free. I was on my own for the first time, and I was going to do whatever I could to feel everything. What I didn’t expect was the hot brother I’d helped earlier standing in the lake with me.
“Ms. Honey?” Hot Brother Austin asked, and I couldn’t help but laugh as I treaded water.
“My name’s Charlie.”
I was relieved it wasn’t some lake monster, trying to drag me under, and I finally got a good look at the guy in front of me.
The moonlight caught enough of his features.
He was taller than I’d remembered, and in the darkness, I could make out the chiseled abs.
He looked about my age, and I found myself shamelessly raking my eyes down over—
“Oh, fuck.” The realization hit me that his dick was hard and right in front of my face, and I slapped my hand over my mouth. In doing so, I lost my balance and slipped underwater like an absolute idiot.
Next thing I knew, there was a splash beside me, and Hot Brother grabbed me, pulling me toward the shore. He slid his hand around my waist, and I noted that he purposefully kept a grip along my mid-waist, avoiding my unmentionables as he guided me in.
“Are you nuts?”
“No.” I tried not to laugh too hard at the whole situation. “Just living out a wild dream and a bucket list.”
We swam a little more toward the shore.
“I can swim, you know.”
He huffed out a breath but didn’t loosen his grip. “No. You’ve made my heart jump a few times more than I can count tonight.”
I smiled as he continued to drag me until we hit the sandy bottom. “I can stand now.”
He dropped me carefully as I stood in the water, kneeling down so that I was still covered.
“You know it’s not safe to be out here with the riptides at night, at least not without a buddy.”
I smiled. “Next time I want to do something illegal, then you’ll come with me?”
He laughed, running a hand through his messy blonde hair, the moonlight highlighting the mischievous glint in his eyes. “Absolutely not, but if you want to skinny dip again, I’d be more than happy to watch.”
I splashed water at him, a teasing grin on my lips. “Perv.”
“Tell me about this list . . . Charlie.” He lowered himself until we were eye level, the water lapping around us as we stood feet away from the shoreline.
“I still don’t get why you call me Ms. Honey.”
He chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. His eyes held a secret, like he wasn’t ready to give up his reason yet.
“So, what’s got you running into Lake Michigan in the middle of the week after school? Your first week can’t be that bad, can it?”
I laughed. “No. It’s been long. It’s a new year with new kids and new places. I wanted to check something off my bucket list.”
I wanted to know what freedom tasted like. I wanted to know what it was like to not abide by the rules of whatever society my parents had confined me to. Coming here was an act of rebellion, so I wanted to continue the rebellious streak and know what it was like to bend the rules.
“What else is on that list?”
“Lots of things.” I moved my hands around in the water.
The one thing I hadn’t considered when I ran into the lake in the dark was how many different creatures could be lurking, and if I sat still for too long, that would freak me out.
“Fucking in the lake?” He splashed some water in my direction and chuckled.
I looked at him, my jaw dropping and my brain short-circuiting for a second. “I, uh—”
It was so crude and brash, and no one where I was from ever spoke to me like that . . . ever.
Shit. I can’t say I hated it.
“I’m kidding,” he laughed and then held up his hands. “I’m going to get out because it’s getting cold as fuck sitting in the water, but when I get to shore, I’ll turn the other way and wait until you tell me it’s safe to turn around.”
“Oh, uh, okay. Thank you.”
Yeah, I was definitely still short-circuiting, completely unable to form a coherent sentence.
He started walking out of the water, but before stepping away completely, he glanced at me. “Don’t go back out there because I’m way too cold and soaked to be rescuing you again. You promise?”
I laughed lightly. “I swear.”
“Good,” he muttered and continued out of the water.
He stood on the sand, dripping wet, with the moonlight casting shadows across his frame, and turned the other way.
I began to make my way out of the water, but then he reached for his waistband, shoving his wet boxers down his legs.
I froze. His ass was right there, perfectly sculpted and illuminated by the moonlight.
I stopped and stared, unable to look away.
It was amazing—firm, toned, the kind of sight that made me forget everything else.
When had I last seen a man like this? A man who looked this good?
I couldn’t remember. I hadn’t had sex since I left Georgia, not since college when I dated a guy my parents approved of—some nice, well-mannered boy who fit their expectations perfectly.
His ass never looked this good, even in broad daylight, let alone in the dark with the moon casting shadows.
Hot Brother? He was on another level.
“I don’t hear you walking out. Did you drown or something?”
As I opened my mouth to respond, he chuckled. “Quit staring.”
My embarrassment spiked, and a flush crept all the way up my neck. I wanted to launch myself out of the water.
“I was not staring,” I said in protest, trying to cover up my lie.
I darted across the sand to where I’d stashed my dress and underwear.
I yanked on the dress, grateful it was a long linen maxi, and then grabbed the underwear and shoved it in between my boobs.
The only benefit of being busty on top was the fact that they could be used to carry things if I needed a purse.
I grabbed my wallet, keys, and phone, making sure nothing was stolen before I looked up. Hot Brother was a few feet away, now tugging on his shirt after pulling on his pants.
I walked over and tapped him on the shoulder. “I wasn’t staring. I was looking at your tattoo.” I nodded toward the ink covering the center of his chest—dark black swirls with the sun shining upon it.
“Oh.” He glanced down and palmed it. “It’s new-ish. I got it a couple years ago.”
“What is it?” I took a step closer, trying to figure out the design.
“Just a design.” He splayed his hand over his chest to cover up whatever it was. “Can I walk you out of here before we get arrested?”
I laughed. “Yeah. That’d be nice.”
“Do you live nearby?”
“Yeah. How about you?”
“Close-ish. I live about half an hour away in an apartment, but my mom and her husband are nearby—that’s why I was at the beach.” He laughed and rubbed the nape of his neck. “Sorry, that was way more information than you needed.”
I smiled. “No, it’s nice to have someone aside from a five-year-old to talk to . . . and also runs into the lake because he thought I was flailing around.”
“It was the riptides. I was worried about the riptides.” He nudged my shoulder playfully, laughing along with me.
When we reached the edge of the park, I glanced to the right. “I’m a little bit farther that way.”
I didn’t want to show him where I lived. I didn’t really know him or what he did, and I was trying to be smart about not giving a stranger my address.
“I can walk you there.”
I shook my head. “Thanks, but I’m okay, really.”
“Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow at pickup?”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He looked down and then back up at me, a smile illuminating his face. “It was nice saving you out there, Ms. Honey.”
“Thank you for checking an item off my bucket list . . . Hot Brother.”
I turned to leave, not wanting to embarrass myself anymore, but when his laugh echoed through the night, everything felt warm inside me.
I never imagined that running into the lake illegally and naked would lead to standing next to a guy, laughing under the moonlight.
When I came to Chicago, I promised myself I’d keep my guard up—that I wouldn’t let anyone in too far because nothing in my life ever seemed to last. But I couldn’t deny the fun and lightness I felt tonight.
Still, that’s all it could be—a fun night. He wasn’t going to be my always. This was a moment in time I’d carry with me, but not something I could keep.