What About Charlie?

by Haley Michelle Howard

  WHAT ABOUT CHARLIE?

  By

  Haley Michelle Howard

  PUBLISHED BY:

  Julie N. Collis

  What About Charlie?

  Copyright 2011 by Julie N. Collis

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive.

  --Anaïs Nin

  Between men and women there is no friendship possible. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship.

  --Oscar Wilde

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  The night was cold. A bitter wind blew from the north, and thick blankets of fresh snow, white and sparkling, covered everything in sight. An old gnarled oak, stripped of leaves, stood strong against the unforgiving, relentless north wind, just as it had done for countless years before. Despite the starkness of it all, there was something intensely beautiful about the scene.

  Evan Collier stood in his den, deep in thought, looking out a window overlooking his front lawn. His heart felt as cold as the window glass he was touching with his fingertips and as battered as the oak’s barren limbs. He wished the stark beauty outside would somehow lift his spirits and warm his heart like it sometimes did. But his wish did little good.

  Today was March 18. To him, another day on the calendar. To her, their three-month anniversary of the day they first met. He hadn’t remembered, nor had he cared. Their relationship wasn’t serious enough to have an anniversary.

  But she thought otherwise.

  Three months? Where had the time gone? What had possessed him to keep seeing her beyond their first date?

  Tonight he’d taken her out for dinner at one of the best restaurants in St. Louis. The food had been good, as usual. The company had not. He simply did not enjoy her company.

  He sighed.

  After all these years, why were women still such a mystery to him? At the very beginning, upon first meeting her, he had made the boundaries of their relationship very clear – nothing serious, no commitment. And she had agreed.

  But only after seeing her three months, tonight out of nowhere she had started talking about commitment, marriage, children. Of course, she hadn’t exactly spoken those words. She had been too careful to say the actual words. But, nonetheless, as she talked throughout dinner the implication was there, leaving no doubt in his mind what she expected from him and their relationship.

  “If we were crazy enough to have one,” she suddenly began, laughter in her voice, “what do you think our children would look like, Evan? I think our son would have your green eyes and light brown hair. Our daughter would have my hair…”

  Evan hadn’t thought it funny at all. He’d nearly choked on a spoonful of hot soup in the ensuing coughing fit. After wiping his face and drying his eyes with his cloth napkin, he took a large gulp of water out of the crystal goblet in front of him. Before he could utter a word, she pressed on.

  “When will I get to meet your family? I’d really like to meet them.”

  By this time, he’d set his soupspoon down and had taken a badly needed sip of brandy. Her question this time, however, did not take him by surprise. He’d been asked the same question many times in his life. When she finished, she waited expectantly for his answer, and he gave the same answer he’d always given: a firm, resounding, “You won’t.”

  She had blinked in surprise, wrapped her red-tipped fingers around her wine goblet, took a sip, then dared to ask yet another question, though this time, there was a hint of nervousness in her voice.

  “What do you think about living together? We’ve been seeing each other for three months and get along so well…”

  He had to admit that particular question did catch him off guard, more so than the first one. During the years, he’d heard different versions of the question, but no one had dared be so direct.

  He took another long sip of his brandy after she had asked the question, purposefully letting the tension between them rise, taking ungentlemanly pleasure in her nervous fidgeting.

  By now he was angry, angry that she had pressed him about this even though by his answers to the previous questions she should have known to stop. And he was even angrier at himself for continuing to see her when he had suspected early on that she was expecting more than he was willing to give.

  Ever so carefully, he set his empty glass down, feeling a sense of tightly coiled control envelop him. Evan looked directly at her, his eyes hard and cold.

  “I have never lived with anyone, and the only time I will is when I marry,” he had told her, his low but firm voice like chips of ice.

  Her eyes had widened in surprise and she’d looked away from him. Then she excused herself to go to the ladies room. When she returned, she acted as if nothing had been said. But he could not forget. His evening had been ruined.

  Several hours later, Evan still felt that anger. Truth be told, her questions had scared the living hell out of him, knocking him off balance. One only asked those type of questions when involved in a serious relationship. Their relationship was not serious and he had no intention of going any further.

  Had he said anything, done anything to lead her to believe they were on the track for something more? Thinking back, he could recall no moment. In fact, he had always made it exceedingly clear what he expected and what he was willing to give. He felt a fool to think she would actually keep their relationship a casual affair.

  Why had he kept seeing her? The question kept nagging him. Was it because she was good in bed? He definitely didn’t think himself that shallow, but what other reason could there be? Even though she was great on her back and on top of him, she was barely tolerable company. Actually trying to sit and discuss topics of interest with her was impossible. She was not particularly bright or witty or remotely interesting. She was definitely not a woman he would even think about marrying, let alone have children with. Yet, he had kept on seeing her for ninety days as she had pointed out tonight. To tell the truth, it had been eighty-nine days too long.

  If he had felt this way, why was he dragging out the inevitable?

  She didn’t care about his wants or needs. She never asked him about things of interest to him. She never showed any concern or worried about him when he was tired or not feeling well. The only area in their relationship where she seemed to make any effort at all was in bed. Admittedly, she was very good. Evan sometimes thought that she believed if she were good in bed, she could hold onto him, and nothing else she did
would matter.

  How wrong she was if she did indeed feel that way! A woman that was good in bed was nice, but he’d lived long enough to know there was much more to life than sex. There was love, respect, kindness, and consideration for the ones you care for and love. None of those things were present in his relationship with her. They never would be.

  How he desperately longed for those things in his life. How he longed to find a woman who could love him for who he was, not for what he could give. How he hated the loneliness and emptiness he felt in his heart. He, a man who had everything, really had nothing.

  Evan sighed, dread filling him at the thought of having to spend the rest of the evening with her. It was time to end this relationship.

  “Evan.”

  His shoulders tensed. Her voice grated him like fingernails on a chalkboard. He took a deep breath, but instead of turning towards her, he kept staring out the window.

  “Hmmm,” he finally said after several long seconds.

  Through the reflection in the window, he watched her walk up behind him, her chestnut hair brushing her shoulders, her makeup perfect, her brown eyes intent on him.

  She put her hands on his shoulders, letting them slowly slide down his arms, coming to rest below his belt, gently massaging his fly and all that was underneath.

  “You’re so tense, Evan. You need to relax,” she purred.

  “It’s been a long day.” His voice was tight and the anger he felt seemed to intensify. Once again she was resorting to sex. But why was he so angry now? She had done this many times before and he didn’t seem to mind then. What had changed?

  His back still to her, he moved away, suddenly not wanting to even feel her touch or have her anywhere near him.

  She gave him a quizzical look, but it was quickly replaced by a pout. “There’s an art show tomorrow night. Why don’t we go? Roxanne told me Senator Johnson will be there.”

  Evan slowly turned towards her. He firmly shook his head. “I can’t. I’m going to a hockey game.”

  “Why don’t I go with you? That would be great fun.”

  There was no way he would ever take her with him to a game and let a perfectly enjoyable evening be ruined. “I have season tickets. My seat and the ones around me are taken.”

  “Are you going with Alan?”

  “No. I’m going with Charlie,” Evan said stiffly. He felt like he was being interrogated and didn’t appreciate it in the least.

  “Charlie?” she parroted through tight lips.

  “Yes, Charlie.” Tired of the probing questions, he turned cold eyes on her. “Do you have a problem with that?”

  “Damn right I do, Evan.” Her voice was an octave higher than a few moments before. “I’m not going to put up with you dating another woman while you’re dating me.”

  “Liza, I’m not going to argue about this again.”

  “I don’t understand why you want to be around her. What does she have to offer that I don’t? I’m ten times prettier than her!”

  “She is one of my best friends,” he answered, ignoring her question, “and I will see her when I wish to.” His voiced was as hard as granite. Evan gave her a pointed look. “No one is going to tell me otherwise, including you.”

  She pursed her lips into a thin line, narrowed her eyes into tiny slits. “Are you sleeping with her? Is that it?” She was almost screaming. “I would have thought you’d at least have chosen someone with class!”

  Evan clenched his fist to control his anger. “Get out of here, Liza.”

  His voice was low and calm, but it had an edge that made her take a step back from him.

  “If I leave, Evan, you’ll never see me again!”

  “Well, it seems I’ve made my choice. Now get out!”

  Evan turned back towards the window, looking out into the night, watching the snow fall. He heard angry footsteps cross the tile floor. He heard the front door slam. A few moments later, he saw her car bolt out of his driveway.

  He suddenly felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his chest, thankful the scene hadn’t lasted any longer than it had. He hated emotional turmoil. But he was glad the deed had been done. She was gone and out of his life forever. He looked forward to seeing Charlie tomorrow.

  Chapter 1

  Evan watched Charlie breeze into the hospital cafeteria, her soft dark blonde curls bouncing around her shoulders as she moved. She automatically looked towards their usual table, lifting her hand and giving him a small friendly wave. He smiled, allowing himself to relax.

  It had been five years since they had first met. She had rear-ended his car in a store parking lot. After that, they had become dear friends, best friends even, meeting for lunch every Friday, going to baseball and hockey games together, and often going out for pizza.

  She was now twenty-five and a confident, independent young woman full of life and energy. In the time since meeting her, she had graduated from college, rented a nice apartment, and had managed to find a good job.

  Today was Friday, their lunch day. Evan watched her weave through the sea of tables towards him. For some reason, he couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off her. With natural grace, she seemed to float across the room. Her green eyes were bright, her smile one of pure joy. Her vitality more than made up for her plainness in looks.

  When she neared their table, she gave him one of her wide smiles, a smile that could brighten the darkest of rooms. Evan rose from his seat, receiving a usual kiss on the cheek. Charlie sat down across from him, her salad and sweet tea already waiting there for her.

  “Thanks for getting this, Evan. Traffic is so horrendous on Friday afternoons. I can never get here on time.”

  “You look tired, Charlie.” The dark circles under her eyes worried him.

  She sighed, sitting back in her chair. “I am, Evan. I’ve been working long hours. I get in the office at 7 in the morning and don’t leave until 6 at night with not much of a break in between.”

  He gazed at her with concern. “You need to slow down.”

  Charlie reached across the table and covered his hand with her own. “You’re such a worry wart, Evan. I’m fine. You know how it is with a new job. You have to really work hard to get a feel for everything. Being on the software design and development team is hard work, but it’s so much fun and challenging. I love it.”

  Evan nodded, understanding the challenges of a demanding job. “Well, try to get a little more rest. You’ll get sick if you don’t.”

  In silence, they both opened their packets of salad dressing, pouring it on their salads.

  “You have circles under your eyes, too.” Charlie commented. “It wouldn’t hurt you to follow your own advice. You work longer hours than I do.”

  Evan couldn’t help but smile. Charlie was dishing it back at him as usual. “You know doctors are always good at giving out advice but not so good at taking it.”

  Charlie smiled. “Evan, are you ready for tonight?” Charlie asked as she took a bite of salad.

  “Definitely,” he replied. “The Blues and Red Wings should be a good game.”

  “Especially since they’re so close in their division.”

  “There’s another game tomorrow night. Will you be able to go to that one as well?”

  Charlie shook her head and smiled. “Nope, my dear friend. I have a date Saturday night.”

  “A date?” he asked incredulously. “You haven’t dated anyone in months since Brad. I hope the guy you’re going out with tomorrow night is much improved over Brad.”

  “He is. You know Ken from work?”

  “You’re going out with a married man?”

  “You think I’d go out with a married man?” Charlie huffed playfully, rolling her eyes at him. “I’m not going out with Ken. I’m going out with his brother, Adam. I haven’t met him face to face, only talked to him over the phone. But he seems really nice. And I’ve seen a picture of him. He’s really good looking. He looks a lot like Ken.”

  “Charlie, that’s wh
at you say about all the guys you go out with. They all may be nice, even good looking, but they end up being weird as hell, too.”

  “No they’re not.”

  He gave her an incredulous look. “Not weird? How can you tell me Brad wasn’t weird? He drove a purple AMC Gremlin with every available space in the car filled with stereo equipment. A passenger couldn’t even sit in the front seat. What he paid for that equipment, he could have bought and paid for a new car. And then all he’d do if he wasn’t in class was play video games on his computer for days on end, nonstop.”

  “He was a software engineer major,” Charlie said defensively. “He used that time as research time to see how the games worked from a developers point of view. And besides he was very good at playing those games. He won a lot of contests. You know, he graduated with his degree and is now working for Nova Logic designing games.”

  “But you have to admit he was weird.”

  Charlie smiled. “Maybe a little. We all have our quirks.”

  “I call a person staying up for days on end playing computer games weird. But Brad had nothing on Sean.”

  Charlie laughed. “I knew you were going to bring him up.”

  “Yes, the guy who was so into snakes he actually let them crawl around his house. He had what, about 50?”

  “No, not that many. About 20. And snakes aren’t bad creatures. They actually make very nice pets. When I was growing up, I had a pet garter snake named Gordie. I rescued him from my cat. He’d been injured and I nursed Gordie back to health. He was a nice little snake.”