Charlotte (Marked Heart #2)

by M. Sembera

  Charlotte's phone pinged with a text.

  T: Are you home yet, my lovely?

  Rolling her eyes, she texted back.

  C: Been home.

  T: It is Saturday night there.

  Charlotte thought, rub it in why don't you.

  C: Yes.

  T: ?

  C: Did you want me to have a date?

  T: I do not throw stones.

  C: Are you saying it's okay with you if I see someone?

  T: I am not a hypocrite.

  C: Maybe I will go out then.

  T: Are you angry with me?

  C: Do you want me to be?

  T: I want you to be ready when I come get you.

  Staring at her phone, Charlotte wondered what that meant.

  C: This non-exclusive thing goes both ways?

  T: Don't ask, don't tell works well for me.

  C: K

  T: I saw the perfect dress for you today. It will arrive next week.

  C: Here?

  T: To wear when I get there.

  C: Thank you ♥

  T: 10 weeks left.

  C: :) K bye.

  Well, that was a strange conversation, Charlotte thought as she got out of bed.

  Pacing back and forth, Charlotte couldn't shake the nervous energy that had been building inside her since her return. She didn't intend to go on dates or even mess around. All she really wanted was to hang out with someone. It was now a little after two in the morning and there was only one person she knew that would be up at this hour or even be willing to see her for that matter.

  ~

  Parked four houses down from Augustus Caffrey's house, Charlotte waited for his truck to pull up. It was now ten to three and she was getting sleepy. She could feel herself starting to doze off when the sound of his truck coming down the street gave her a second wind. She was actually excited. Reaching over she grabbed her purse, ready to wait for him to go inside before she got out of her car.

  A sudden wave of nausea hit Charlotte when she saw a woman standing by the bed of his truck. Convincing herself it was disappointment, she leaned forward to get a better look. It was dark but from the streetlight she could tell it wasn't Sheryl. Then, to her relief, the man that threw his arms around the woman and started kissing her wasn't Auggie. It was his brother Braden. Curious, she watched as the two of them dashed into the street before stopping in the middle of the road. Braden spun the woman around before they started making out. Smiling to herself, Charlotte thought that was sort of romantic. She couldn't help staring as Braden turned his back allowing her to hop on. He piggy-backed her a bit farther down the street before they reached what Charlotte assumed was the woman's house.

  ~

  Still shaking his head at Braden and Lily's inappropriate display of affection in the back seat of his truck, Auggie hoped his brother knew what he was doing fooling around with a married woman. Yea, she was separated because her muscle-head husband had beaten her up and gone to jail, but that didn't change the fact that she is married or that she left his brother to be with that steroid junkie in the first place. As he made his way to the kitchen and pulled a beer out of the fridge, there was a knock at his front door. Already thinking it was Braden, he was ready to say 'I told you so'.

  Opening the door, Auggie was confused. Not only by the sight of Charlotte, in tiny turquoise shorts and a black tank top, but by the instant enthusiasm he felt seeing her standing there.

  Appearing impatient, she blurted, "Can I come in?"

  "Who said what this time?" he griped, moving to the side allowing her to walk in.

  She stopped and looked at him before giving a slight laugh as she replied, "I'm sure lots of people are saying lots of things."

  Scowling at her as she set her purse on the floor and walked to his kitchen, he questioned, "Why are you here, Charlotte."

  Grabbing the six pack of Guinness with the bottle Auggie was holding missing from it, she headed back into the living room, answering, "I don't have a lot of options here and I'm tired of sitting around the house by myself with nothing to do."

  Somewhat appalled by the way she made herself at home in his house, he snapped, "What's that got to do with me?"

  "We're sorta stuck with each other while I'm here so why not make the most of it?" she replied, setting the beer on his coffee table.

  As he thought 'unbelievable' he honestly didn't know what to say.

  All he could do for the moment was watch her as she picked up a beer and walked back to her purse. When she bent over to rummage through it, Auggie just about lost his mind.

  Snapping him back to reality, Charlotte stood upright, announcing, "Got it," as she waved a bottle opener at him.

  Gritting his back teeth, Auggie fussed, "You got a lot of nerve walkin' in here makin' yourself at home."

  Giving him a look as if he was being silly, she said, "Oh please, I'm not wanting us to be best friends. I'm tired of having nothing to do. You don't even have to talk to me. Just do whatever you normally do and it's not going to hurt you one bit for me to be here."

  If she only knew how increasingly painful it was for him, having her there.

  Pulling a bottle opener out of his back pocket, Auggie opened his beer. Before he could make his way over, Charlotte sat in his chair. With a loud frustrated exhale, he sat on his couch.

  "I know you don't like sitting next to me," she said, crossing one long leg over the other.

  "Yea," he mumbled, knowing his comfy oversized chair would smell like her when she left.

  They sat in silence for a few minutes before something occurred to Auggie.

  "Isn't your boyfriend going to wonder where you are?"

  "Nope," she said before tipping her bottle back and finishing her beer.

  "You might wanna slow down."

  With a lash fluttering eye roll, she shared, "I was planning on staying over."

  "What?"

  Charlotte leaned to the coffee table and replaced the bottle she pulled out of the six pack with her empty one, saying, "A responsible bartender wouldn't let me drive after drinking."

  "You can't expect me to let you stay here!"

  "You make it sound like I hired a moving van. I just tossed a toothbrush in my purse."

  Shaking his head at her, he fussed, "Look I don't need some a-hole douche bag coming over here mad 'cause I let his drunk girlfriend stay the night."

  "A-hole?" Charlotte laughed before saying, "I seriously doubt he would fly all the way from Europe to confront you, even if he did care."

  "What kinda man doesn't care about that?"

  ~

  Realizing Auggie may have been right about drinking that first beer too fast, Charlotte slowly sipped on her second beer, thinking, 'Yea why doesn't he care?'.

  Leaning her elbow on the arm of the chair, she rested the side of her head against her hand, explaining, "We aren't exclusive until he proposes."

  "Y'all are getting engaged," he questioned, as she nodded he fussed, "What kinda man wants to be with someone enough to get married but still see other women?"

  Charlotte snapped, "You're being awfully judgmental."

  Offended that she was taking offence, he assured, "Everyone judges other people."

  Sliding up to grab her third beer, she stated, "Not me."

  "Sure," he said in disbelief before sharing, "People can't help it. Deep down inside everybody thinks their better than everyone else. It comes from self-pride."

  Changing her mind about that third beer, Charlotte leaned her head on the cushiony arm of the chair, saying, "I don't have that."

  "You don't have any pride in who you are?"

  Feeling herself drift off, she gave a lazy smile, swearing, "I know exactly who I am...and trust me, it's nothing to be proud of."

  ~

  Auggie sat on the couch looking at her. He wasn't sure if she had passed out or simply fallen asleep. It was already after four in the morning. Glancing down at the beer in his hand, he gave a slight laugh
realizing he only had two sips to her two beers. Guessing he would be nice and get her a blanket, he stood up and walked to his room.

  Returning to Charlotte, asleep in his chair, Auggie started to toss the blanket from his bed over her when he stopped. Twisted in an odd feet still on the floor and head leaned against the arm of the chair position, her tank top revealed a small section of her back. Leaning closer, he saw a wide scar about four inches long and two smaller ones right beside it. Without being able to help it, he carefully lifted more of her top to find the pattern repeated itself several more times across her back.

  Out of nowhere, Auggie became angry to the point where he almost shook her awake to demand knowing who did that to her. Charlotte sighed and he jumped back a little knowing she would think he was trying to check her out in her sleep like some sort of pervert. When it was clear she was still asleep, Auggie covered her with the blanket and walked to his room.

  8

  Scars

  Reaching to grab his cellphone, off of the table next to his bed, it sounded unusually loud vibrating against the wood.

  "What?" Auggie griped into the phone.

  Braden's voice was pleading as he replied, "Lily's mother in law is on her way."

  "Thanks for wakin' me up to share," Auggie snapped before hanging up on his brother.

  Slowly getting up, he'd slept in his pants so he grabbed his shirt off of the floor and put it on. Stumbling to the bathroom, he knew Braden would be over whether he invited him or not. It only took a few minutes for him to wake up enough to remember Charlotte was asleep in his chair. He was going to have to do something with her. No way he'd hear the end of it if Braden found her there. Hurrying into the living room, he stopped halfway to her.

  The blanket he had laid over her was on the floor and her whole body had shifted in a different position than when she fell asleep. She was on her back with her legs folded on top of herself. Her head was turned towards him with one arm tucked under her legs and the other hugging her knees against her chest. For the first time the way she smelled matched her appearance, sweet and beautiful. He couldn't take his eyes off of her until there was a loud knock on his front door.

  ~

  Startled awake, Charlotte's eyelids popped open. Someone was knocking on the door. Rolling out of the chair she fell asleep in, she stood up and shook her head at Auggie, who was standing right in front of her.

  "It's Braden," he informed.

  "I don't want anyone knowing I'm here."

  Slightly offended but in complete agreement, Auggie reached down and grabbed her purse and shoes before shoving them at her as he urged, "Down the hall, my room's on the left, I'll make sure he doesn't stay long."

  She didn't appreciate his bossiness but did what he said.

  Hardly considering it a hallway it was a square with three doors. Looking away from what used to be William's door, she opened the one to her left and stepped inside the room. Closing the door, she stood inside Auggie's room listening through the door.

  "Took you long enough," Braden blurted.

  "Call Brooks and have him come get you." Auggie griped.

  "Nice hospitality brother. Thanks by the way. Lily said Keven's crazy jealous and keeps sending his mom to the house to check up on her while he's locked up."

  "Wonder why."

  "Don't get all judgy on me, she was mine first and besides they're getting a divorce."

  There was a short break in the conversation giving Charlotte a chance to glance around the room. 'Figures his comforter would be plaid', she thought before hearing Braden's voice again.

  "Dang man, your chair smells good!"

  "Stop molesting my chair and call Brooks," Auggie griped before Braden asked, "Alright. I'm texting him. You're actin' really frickin' weird, you got a girl here?"

  "No, I don't."

  "Speakin' of girls...wanna know what I heard?"

  "Nope."

  "Bet ya do," Braden insisted before informing, "And it's not gossip."

  There was no response.

  "'Member that guy at the bar with Charlotte? He's some kinda businessman from Spain and he's loaded. Looks like she..."

  Before Braden could finish, Auggie griped, "I shoulda shut his mouth for him."

  "You're still mad about that?"

  "I was letting her have it and she was giving it right back. She was handling herself. She didn't need him to jump in and correct her. He apologized for her."

  "Never thought I would hear you defending Charlotte. Thought you hated her."

  There was a long pause before Auggie replied, "I don't give a damn about her. I hope I never see her again. It's the principle."

  Nodding at the door, Charlotte assumed that's what she deserved for eavesdropping. She thought for a moment that he was defending her too. With hurt feelings and not wanting to hear anymore, Charlotte stepped away from the door and sat down on the edge of Auggie's bed.

  ~

  Irritated with his brother, Auggie didn't even mean what he was saying, except for maybe the principle part of it. He didn't feel that way about her. He used to, but he was getting to where he didn't mind her that much.

  "Alright, alright, you know you really should learn to let things go. So did you hear, Sophia's havin' her shower at the bar?"

  Grateful for the subject change, Auggie replied, "And we're supposed to go."

  Shrugging, Braden shared, "It's some fancy somethin' or other, you gotta wear a suit." As Auggie scowled, Braden said, "Brooks is here." when they heard a horn honk.

  "Be careful," Auggie advised.

  Branden laughed, "Always man," as he walked out of the door.

  The second Braden was gone, it occurred to Auggie, he'd sent Charlotte to his room. Quickly locking his front door, he wondered why he didn't just tell her to hide in the bathroom. He didn't want her in his bedroom.

  When Auggie walked into his room, Charlotte was sitting on the foot of his bed with her shoes on holding her purse in her lap. Recalling the way she came in and made herself at home the night before, he was surprised she wasn't rummaging through his belongings.

  "He's gone," Auggie shared.

  Without a word, Charlotte stood up and walked right past him. She looked mad.

  Thinking she was tired from just a few hours of sleep, he offered, "You wanna stretch out on the couch and get some more sleep?"

  "No."

  "Want somethin' to eat?"

  Whipping around to face him, she snapped, "I'm leaving."

  "You don't have to."

  Holding her head high, Charlotte declared, "I don't want to be anywhere near you and I hope I never see you again."

  Refusing to admit he didn't mean it or take back what he said to Braden, Auggie fussed, "I knew you were just lookin' for a way out."

  "A way out?"

  "I knew you wouldn't keep your promise or our agreement."

  With a loud huff, Charlotte turned towards the door. Swiftly walking out of his house, she held her hand above her head and with a flick of her wrist she gave him the finger before slamming the door closed behind her.

  Thinking to himself this is why relationships were a bad idea, Auggie sat down in his chair. He wasn't even in any kind of relationship with her but because of their agreement, she had tried to befriend him or something. Still unsure why she showed up at his house the previous night, that had to be it. She wouldn't understand of course, but he didn't have or need friends. Auggie had his family. Sinking back in his chair, Charlotte's scent, although muted because his brother sat there, still lingered. Closing his eyes, he thought about how she looked curled up in his chair as he fell asleep.

  ~

  Sliding into the car, Charlotte had parked in front of a for sale sign a few houses down from Auggie's. She had just taken the morning after walk of shame without the benefit of having done anything shameful. It was good to know where she stood with him and how he felt about her. Convincing herself, it was simply the disappointment in thinking he was something t
hat he wasn't, she started the car and drove home. He should have just said it to her face instead of behind her back.

  ~

  Shivering as he stepped out of the shower, Auggie hadn't taken an ice cold one since he was a teenager. Falling asleep thinking about Charlotte had definitely, among other things, messed with his mind. Drying his hair with a towel, he threw his clothes on. Stepping into his boots, he pulled his beanie over his head and walked out to his truck.

  Since he didn't feel like going anywhere, Auggie was glad everything was already in his truck. Assuming Charlotte would be a no show after this morning, at least he could work on the week's tallies from home. After grabbing the envelope of receipts and ledger out of the passenger seat, he closed the door. Turning back toward his house, he was surprised to see her standing there.

  Instantly aware of the effect seeing her wearing a grey v-neck dress had on him, it might as well have been a t-shirt that barely covered the tops of her thighs.

  Auggie griped, "Don't you ever wear real clothes?"

  Giving him a dirty look, she followed him to his door, saying, "It may surprise you because you don't like looking at me, most men enjoy what I wear."

  "I didn't say that."

  Curling the un-scared side of her mouth into a curious smile, she asked, "So, you like looking at me?"

  "I didn't say that either."

  "What are you saying then?"

  Auggie scowled as he changed the subject, "I didn't think you were coming."

  Fluttering her eyelashes as she rolled her eyes at his avoiding her question, she replied, "We shook on it."

  Nodding, he opened the door for her, saying, "Let's get started then."

  ~

  With receipts spread out on Auggie's kitchen table, Charlotte was growing just as frustrated as Auggie. She had showed him an easier way and even watched him carefully and still nothing balanced out. When she worked it out on a separate paper all the totals were perfect. 'What was he doing wrong', she thought before glancing between her paper and the ledger.

  Looking over at him, Charlotte asked, "Are you dyslexic?"

  "No," he blurted, looking at her like she was the rudest person on earth.

  "Are you sure?" she asked before placing her paper right next to the ledger, saying, "You see this?"