Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Charlie
Iwoke up to a very large body wrapped around my entire body. A thumb lightly grazes across my stomach as the rest of his fingers sprawl out. I'm in my own Hayes cocoon that I never want to get out of.
His breathing is even, but I know he's awake. Moving my butt closer into him and wiggling, his thumb stops moving and he lets out a small chuckle.
"Good morning, Sunshine."
I grin into his other arm and roll over with a pouty face. "You fell asleep on me."
He nods as he scans my face, like he's trying to memorize every detail. "I did. You wouldn't let me shower with you, and the second my head hit the pillow and I knew I had you back, it was lights out."
"I had things to take care of. Surprising a girl like that is romantic and all, but I didn't have any time to prep. My leg hair alone would have rivaled Bigfoot."
Grinning, he tickles my ribs. "I've always wanted to go 'Squatch hunting. Now, I've got my very own."
"Har har. When you got back from the first deployment, I had spent days waxing, tweezing, and pampering. Guess you get what you get this time."
He kisses me with a long, slow kiss. "You're perfect. Seeing you yesterday almost took my breath away. You've only gotten more beautiful."
"I love you." It's the first time I've said it since he's been back. I'm done beating around the bush.
His hand engulfs my cheek as he kisses me. "Music to my fucking ears. I love you so much, Charlie. Not a day went by that I didn't love you. Even when I was pissed at you, my heart still only wanted you."
"So there wasn't anyone else?" Not sure why I'm trying to ruin the moment, but with every other card on the table, we might as well throw this one out too.
He shakes his head and laughs. "Hell no. Even if there were options, I wouldn’t have wanted to or been able to."
A sigh of relief pops out and my shoulders instantly feel lighter.
"How 'bout you?" The hesitancy in his voice is almost cute. For a split second, I think about teasing him but I’m not sure he could handle that right now.
"Nope. Celibacy was the easiest part of the entire nineteen months."
He laughs, "Same."
"Guess we have a lot to make up for then."
His returning smirk is enough to send a shiver down my spine. "Oh, we definitely do."
His kiss can only be described as feral.
The man devours my mouth, pressing his body into mine as he takes control.
In a blink, he has my bralette and shorts thrown across the room.
The assertive Hayes I missed is officially back.
Controlling in the best way, sexy as hell, and sporting a confidence that is irresistible.
We spend the rest of the day making up for lost time.
It isn't until the evening that I realize I haven't checked my phone or even thought about the outside world.
Hayes has a way of consuming my attention completely, and I'm not complaining one bit.
I should, however, call Drew and explain my side of things and then check in with Olivia.
She texted me last night and told me that Dan told her all about the diner run-in.
Drew takes priority, though; I've been shutting out my brother for far too long.
Hayes has been softly snoring for a few minutes, so I go in search of my phone.
Finding it, I walk out to the porch and sit on the steps.
The phone rings and rings, and right when I’m about to give up hope, he answers.
“Hello?”
“Hey, big brother—” I try to sound casual, but my voice cracks with emotion.
"Fucking hell, Charlotte." There isn't an ounce of anger in his voice, only concern.
"Heard you've been looking for me?" I try to joke but it comes out weak.
I know that he knows where I am. Hayes told me he called him last night while he was following me out to my house.
"Yeah, Hayes called me. Shit, Charlie. I'm so damn sorry." His tone brings tears to my eyes instantly. He sounds as heartbroken as I felt. "I’m an asshole for brushing you off like that. You deserved more from me."
"You're right, I did. From both of you. However, you can both stop blaming yourselves for my running away.
That was all on me; I needed to get as far away from South Carolina as I could.
I was terrified of Carter getting out; terrified he wouldn't let it go; terrified he'd only escalate the situation. "
"I don't blame you. I should've been there to protect you."
"You couldn't have been there, and you know it. The only person to blame is the one who did the stalking. Carter isn’t just crazy; he’s dangerous. There isn't anything you or any of us could've done differently."
"That doesn't make me feel any better."
"Me either, but you talking to me wouldn't have changed anything. You and Hayes would have lost your shit and either gotten kicked out of the Navy or killed because you were distracted."
"Probably right. Hayes would have come unglued at the seams, not being able to protect you. Thought he was going to go insane when he couldn't find you."
"Yeah, he mentioned that. So we're all good now? I'll stop hiding in plain sight and you'll stop guilt tripping yourself.”
"We're good. I'm glad you two worked it out. He's been a miserable asshole for the last couple of years. Yesterday was the first time I heard him genuinely laugh since before everything happened. He loves the hell out of you, Charlie."
"I love him, too. That never changed. I was only waiting for y'all to get back and come to your senses."
He sighs, but he doesn’t deny it. “You’re going to move back home, right?”
“This is my home. I love it here. I work for a woman named Olivia, and she’s the best—”
He cuts me off. “Charlie, are you serious? You just told me you were done hiding up there!”
Scoffing, I go right into defending myself. “It’s not hiding now that you know where I am! I have family, friends, a career!”
“Family? We’re your family..” I lose all steam at the sound of his voice breaking with sadness.
“Yeah, Drew. You are and you always will be. But I love these people like family as well.”
“Okay. I don’t know what to say here, Char.”
“Me either. I know things will be weird for a while, but I hated not talking to you. Let’s just see how things go for now.
He agreed and after thirty more minutes of catching up, we ended the call with promises to start talking more. Actually, he made me promise I'd text him every day and if I didn't, he’d kick my ass. Siblings.
The next call is to Olivia; she answers on the second ring with a squeal. "Tell me everything! I heard he carried you out of SnowPeak over his shoulder, fireman style. Then again, I also heard you slapped him across the face."
I laugh, setting the town gossip straight. "It wasn't quite like that, but it was definitely eventful. Dan cuffing him will be forever ingrained in my memory."
Olivia listens eagerly as I recount the whole story.
From when I first saw him sliding into the booth, looking every bit as sexy as I remembered him.
To him falling asleep in my bed while I tried to make myself presentable.
Looking back, I probably shouldn't have cared as much, considering Hayes has never once cared about stuff like that.
I think I just needed the time to wrap my head around everything happening.
"Does this mean we forgive him?"
I chuckle at her use of “we.” "Yes. He asked me to move back to South Carolina with him."
I hear her gasp through the phone, but she doesn't say anything.
"Don't worry, I told him no."
"Dammit, Charlie. You scared me! So, do you think he'll stay?" Million dollar question.
"I don't know. I hope so." Thinking about him leaving again makes my heart physically ache. I know that I can survive without him, but I don't want to. Nor do I want to leave Three Sisters.
My heart belongs here.
Hopefully, his decides it does too.