24. Charli
CHARLI
After Gage's early breakfast surprise, I change and go see Mimi.
I need some advice. First of all he surprised the shit out of me when he knocked on my door so early.
I had been laying in bed feeling sorry for myself.
My hair was a wreck after going to bed with it wet from the shower and I pretty much flashed him since I was still in my PJs and no bra.
He really is so sweet. I should have said something to him a while ago.
That kiss was dreamy, and he definitely liked it since he was rock hard while I sat on his lap.
I wanted to take him back to my bed to spend the day there.
The pent-up frustration and desire for that has been brewing for weeks finally got an outlet, but nowhere near enough.
I put on sports shorts and a plain t-shirt, stuff my hair in a ball cap and walk to Mimi’s, a bounce in my step. I promised to help her prepare for the weekend. The guest cottages are fully booked, plus my cousins and brother will be staying in the house with them. I don’t want Mimi to overdo it.
The highlight of the weekend will be when Pop takes us out for a sail on the third to see the Seascape fireworks from the town beach. Our town puts their show on early so as not to compete with the big Port City extravaganza.
Mimi and I are heading upstairs when we hear a big thud and a loud, “Oh shit. God-dammit!” come from the basement of the house.
Mimi has a stricken look on her face. “Oh no, Randall,” she cries.
I grab her hand and we walk carefully, but quickly down to the basement. “Mimi, he’ll be fine. He probably knocked something over.”
The old wooden steps creak with our weight. Dust lingers in the air and the damp smell tickles my nose. “Pop? Are you okay?” I call from the stairs.
“No, my sciatica is acting up again.”
Mimi snorts. “Foolish man.”
“Margaret, I heard that.”
We turn the corner to see him sitting on the basement floor, the ladder askew and tools spread out across the floor.
Mimi claps a hand over her mouth. I squeeze her hand.
“Does anything else hurt, Pop?” I try to maintain my composure.
It’s awful seeing the man who has been my rock crumpled on the floor and needing my help.
“No, just my ego. It was only a lightbulb and look at me now.”
Mimi crosses the room to him and bends down. “You stubborn man, you need help around here just like I do. Now, let’s get to the doctor.”
He grunts at her. “Charli, can you find my glasses? They got knocked off.”
“Sure, Pop.” I begin looking through the mess and find them. “Do you have a spare pair? These are a little bent.”
“Son of a bitch,” he mutters under his breath.
Mimi pokes him.
“Ouch.”
Mimi fusses over him. “Charli, his extra pair is in the drawer in the kitchen. We can get them on the way out.”
“Oh, I’m coming with you two.”
They both look at me and roll their eyes.
“Thank you,” Pop concedes.
We spend the rest of the morning into the afternoon at Seascape Urgent Care.
I’m wiped by the time I return home after getting Pop his pain meds, then some dinner from the market, and seeing that they were settled.
Thankfully, he’s got an appointment with his practitioner for a follow-up and the doctor at urgent care said he might need to do some physical therapy and limit his activities.
This is turning into a complete shit holiday.
Andi and Sam are blowing up my phone about our grandparents.
No, they do not need a retirement home, or a home health worker.
Old people fall, it happens. I’m right down the street.
But it does make me worry. I can’t imagine not having them nearby. They are my people.
Once I’m home I text Gage.
Me: My Pop fell and had an accident.
Gage: Shit. Do you need help?
Me: No, they’re settled now. I’m going to bed early. Miss you.
Gage: I’ll figure something out to see you soon.
Me: XOXO
Yes, for sure, a sucky long weekend. I just want it to be over. I want it to be Monday. I miss my family, but I know they’re going to be grilling me about Gage this weekend. What I need is to be alone with him.
The way his lips moved over mine was perfect.
That and how his body reacted to me was heady.
A few kisses and he was completely hard.
He was demanding, but gentle. And if he can be half as patient with me in bed as he has been while we got to know one another, I think I’ll be extremely satisfied. I get a shiver thinking about it.
In the morning, I’m glad I’m not at Mimi and Pop’s when Andi and Sam get here.
They’ve got Pop worked up and he’s in a sour mood.
He even calls me after I close to pick him up and drop him off to see his friends at the pub.
He says that my cousins and Mimi are bossing him around and that he’s a grown man. I sit in my Jeep and text Ian.
Me: Are you sure that you want to come down here? It might be a terrible holiday.
Ian: Yes- I’ll still come. Mimi called me and you know I can’t tell her no.
Me: You’re a good grandson.
Ian:
Andi and Sam are also in a tizzy trying to figure out how to handle Pop and still have a nice holiday together.
I, on the other hand, am overwhelmed. The shop is busy, the heat is oppressive, and there’s little to no chance of me seeing Gage anytime this weekend.
I mope, going out for a quick swim at Seal Rock Beach after work to try and calm my mind.
When I get back on the beach, my phone is buzzing from deep in my bag. If it’s my family one more time, I’m going to scream. It vibrates again as I fish it out from under a sandy towel. Aw, it’s Gage.
Gage: Hey my charter canceled for tonight, their kids have the stomach bug. Want to come out to watch the fireworks? Bring everybody.
I get a surge of happiness and suddenly feel lighter.
Me: Thank you! I’ll tell them. I can't wait to see you.
I’d rather be able to go out on the boat alone with him for a romantic sail, but he just invited my whole family. I can’t even. So freaking sweet.
Gage: Same. Meet me at 7:30 at the docks.
I text the group the new plan. Ian says that he’ll meet us at the pier and he’ll bring some beer. Andi and Sam want more details about Gage. Mimi and Pop are going to watch from shore, but we should have fun without them. I dash home to change before the barbecue and boating.
After a shower and full blast apartment AC, I struggle with what to wear tonight.
I want to be sexy for Gage, but not too sexy in front of my family.
I go for short white shorts, a cropped blue tank top and sandals.
I apply light makeup, leave my hair down, and put on some silver earrings and a necklace.
I throw Gage’s sweatshirt in my bag, grab a cooler for later on the boat and head out.
After we eat, Sam and Andi come with me to stop at the store to buy drinks for the boat.
“Spill. What is happening with you and your new guy?” Andi exclaims as soon as we shut the Jeep doors.
“We finally kissed.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Sam squeals.
“Me too,” Andi adds sincerely.
“I like him a lot. It’s so different than with Tyler.”
Andi snorts. She flips the visor down to check herself in the mini mirror. “You’re different, babe. Good different too.”
“Come on, let's go. We need to get back to the docks to find a parking spot,” Sam tuts.
I navigate the throngs of tourists milling around town to the liquor store. Andi and Sam chat about beach plans for tomorrow, and all the while, my stomach is in knots.
And squeezes my knee. “Don’t overthink this. You two like each other, just go for it now that you’ve had your moment.”
“Tell him how you feel first,” Sam says from the backseat.
I blow out a breath and ignore them both. I park in the alley by my café and we walk to the wharf. Ian is waiting for us at the pier, and I show them where Wanderlust is tied up. Ian and I pull ahead of the girls, and he can tell I’m jittery. “What’s with you tonight?”
“Nothing, why?”
“What friend of yours are we meeting?”
I huff a sigh. “His name is Gage. He’s running his uncle’s charter boat for the summer. And, his uncle is actually friends with Mimi and Pop.”
“And, what else? Are you with him?”
I roll my eyes. “Um, we’re friends.”
“Yeah, friends. And you dress up for your friends?”
“Shut up. Behave, please. And fine, I do like him.”
“I knew it.” He swats my arm. “I’m happy for you, really.”
“Thanks.”
“I won't be a dick to him.”
Gage is sitting in the cockpit waiting for us with Harvey when we arrive. He steps up onto the docks to greet us, he’s changed out of his crew shirt and is wearing a plain gray t-shirt, fitted just right. “Hey, glad you could make it on short notice.”
I laugh as he pulls me into a big hug, his strong arms wrapping around my waist. His hand splays across me, his fingertips brushing against my skin, lighting me up as I close my eyes and relax into his embrace, kissing the side of his neck. “I missed you so much,” I whisper.
Andi clears her throat loudly. “Good to see you both again,” he says over my head to my cousins.
When we separate, he keeps his hand on my lower back and puts his other hand out to Ian. “Hi, I’m Gage, nice to meet you.”
“I’m Ian, Charli’s little brother.” He’s actually not little.
He’s almost as tall as Gage, but a little bit broader.
Ian looks a lot like a younger version of Pop, with brown wavy hair and hazel eyes.
They kind of size each other up before Ian continues, “Thanks for taking us out tonight. I appreciate it.”
“This is my buddy, Harvey.”
“Hey, what’s up?” Ian asks as they shake hands.
“Let’s head out,” Gage says as he and Harvey begin untying the lines from the dock.
This is the turning point in the weekend and my shitty mood disappears.
We’re out on the water, everyone except Gage has a drink, and I’m starting to see new possibilities in my life.
I sit on the foredeck with my cousins and lean on the cabin as we motor out of the harbor to find a good spot to view the fireworks show.
The guys are in the cockpit talking about the solar panels or some other technical stuff.
I scooch over to Sam and ask, “How’s Brendan? What’s he up to?”
“Nevermind my brother, we want details about you and your new man,” she hisses.
Andi starts in on me, “Oh my God, he’s so into you. I can’t believe you’ve only kissed once. What have you been waiting for?”
“I told him I just wanted to be friends earlier in the summer.”
“Stay to help him when we get back tonight and we’ll leave you two alone,” Andi fires off.
“Yes, we can totally do that,” Sam adds quietly.
“Won’t it be so obvious?”
“Who cares, you’ll probably get some,” Andi says, waving her hand in my direction.
“Be quiet!” She is so loud. “I’ll think about it. Just get Ian to leave with you.”
Sam sips her seltzer. “No problem, he wants to go to the bonfire.”
Gage picks a spot in front of the town beach where they’ll set off the fireworks and Harvey drops the anchor. Crowds of people congregate on shore, all vying for a good view. I hope Mimi and Pop have a good night I’m worried about them slowing down with their age.
Other boats stop closer to our spot and anchor as well. A party atmosphere is in the air, but I miss my guy already. I tiptoe back up to the helm where he’s at and wind my arm around him. He tucks me into his side and gives my hip a pinch. I whisper, “Thanks for bringing everyone out.”
“I wanted to, I’m glad it worked out.”
“Still, I wish we were alone instead.”
He glances around seeing what everyone else is doing before he presses a quick kiss to my lips. I slide over and wedge myself between him and the wheel. He cages me in with his strong arms and I slip my hands around his waist. It feels right to be held by him.
“Me too,” he says on a sigh, “but we’ll have time later.”