by L. S. Pullen
Ethan
Between slipping in and out of sleep, Charlotte and I made good on using that box of condoms. But no matter how many times I was inside her, I couldn’t get enough––regardless of position. She’s an addiction I crave. It’s just after six in the morning, and I sigh, stroking her arm which is resting over my chest. As soon as the light began to filter in through her curtains, I took my time appreciating her body. I noticed a tattoo on her hipbone, with an infinity symbol and the name Max, but I didn’t pry. It’s not like she asked me about my tattoos.
I’m debating asking for her number when I leave, but I don’t want to offer her something I can’t give. Besides, I know she’s on the rebound, and although I’ve not been with Meg for over a year now, my feelings for her are still holding me back, no matter how hard I try to move on and let her go. Even though it’s pretty clear her feelings now lie with Henry.
“You’re thinking hard. Are you working out how to slip away quietly?” Charlotte asks, but her tone is playful and husky from sleep, and fuck me if it doesn’t turn me on all over again.
I clear my throat. “No, but I should start thinking about making a move,” I reply honestly.
Her fingers gently stroke my side before she rolls onto her back and stretches her arms over her head.
“Thank you for last night and this morning,” she says, colour rising over her throat as her lips curve into the most delicious smile.
I reach out and stroke her bottom lip. She lets out a soft gasp, and her warm breath floats over the pad of my thumb. I tilt her chin and lean down, placing a gentle kiss on her lips, not quite ready to say goodbye. Getting lost in her is as natural as breathing. Maybe I should be alarmed, but I’m not. Because if I was given a choice to get lost in her over and over again, I would. Maybe it would make the entire situation with Meg and Henry easier to handle? I try to seem unaffected by everything that’s transpired. After all, I was the one who set them all in motion, but I wouldn’t want to use Charlotte, not like that.
When we pull apart, her eyes are closed and a content expression adorns her face, and I take a mental photograph and store it in my memory.
She opens her eyes and smiles up at me. “What was that for?” she asks.
“To say you’re welcome and thank you for last night and this morning,” I say with a wink.
Her laugh vibrates through the mattress. The sound ignites a fire through my veins, and I want to pick up right where we just left off, but I can’t allow myself to go there because I know the longer I stay, the harder it will be to pry myself away.
“Why don’t I go make us both a cup of coffee while you get yourself sorted and call yourself a cab?” she asks.
I nod. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
She tugs the sheet up over her naked body and snatches a T-shirt off the trunk before slipping out of the room.
I throw my head back against the pillow and scrub my hand over my face before reaching for my phone and bringing up the app to order a cab, tagging the location. I throw my legs off the bed and use the other bathroom.
Slipping on my shirt, I’m immediately engulfed with her scent, and I let out a groan as I fasten the buttons. I relieve myself before splashing my face with cold water and then run my damp fingers through my hair and stare at my reflection.
“Come on, man, pull yourself together,” I say under my breath before I find Charlotte in the kitchen with her back to me, her hair over one of her shoulders.
“Hey,” I say.
She turns as I approach and hands me a mug.
“Sorry, I wasn’t sure how you take it.”
I can’t hide my smirk as I bring it to my lips and blow on the hot liquid before taking a small sip.
“It’s perfect, thanks.”
Charlotte hides behind her mug, her eyes darting everywhere but at me.
“You okay?” I ask.
She lowers her coffee to the counter, her teeth digging into her bottom lip.
“This is weird, right?” she says, waving her hand between the two of us. “I mean, I’ve never had a one-night stand before.” Colour infuses her face, highlighting her beautiful eyes and red hair.
“It’s okay. I can wait outside for my cab. I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable,” I say, placing my coffee next to hers.
Her hand touches my bicep as she steps closer, tilting her head back as she looks up. “God, no, that’s not what I meant, not at all.” She clears her throat. “I like having you here. I mean, you don’t make me feel uncomfortable.”
“No?” I say.
She shakes her head, and I grip her waist, closing the remaining distance between us, causing her breath to hitch as I’m hit with the faintest scent of coffee.
This might be a little intimate but considering she’s had me in her mouth––and I’ve had her in mine––I’m choosing to not overanalyse it as I lean in for another kiss. When we part, I stroke my thumb over her cheek, and it’s at this moment that I decide just to do it.
“Listen, I know you’re just out of a relationship and I’m still trying to get over someone… and last night was unexpected for both of us, but we have chemistry. I think we can both attest to that. And I know it was just meant to be the one night, but I won’t lie, if you were up for it happening again, no expectations, I’d be totally on board.”
I hold my breath; her pupils dilate, and honestly, I wouldn’t blame her if she slapped me or told me to fuck off. Her eyes widen, not that I can blame her; up until I said it and put it out in the universe, I wasn’t sure I would.
I wait for a beat, and then she holds out her hand. “Phone,” she says, and I pull it out of my jeans pocket and place it in her palm. Her thumbs work quickly over the screen. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she says before she passes it back to me. “But I’m fed up with trying to be someone I’m not. I want to let loose and live a little. So, to hell with it, call me or text and we’ll work something out. But I warn you, my shifts might make it a little difficult to navigate.”
I stuff my phone back in my jeans, holding my hands up.
“I’m the king of easy,” I say in response.
She laughs. “Yes, yes you are.”
I capture her lips with mine, and this time, I devour her mouth with my tongue, gripping her hair. I might be easy when it comes to giving in to my desires where she’s concerned, but I’ll be damned if I go easy on her. I’ve had a taste, and I want more. To bring my point home, I make this fucking kiss count, making sure I leave a lasting impression in my wake.
Chapter Nine
Charlotte
Violet was desperate for me to spill the details about my one-night stand. If she knew it might turn into something more than just last night, I don't think she would have let me out the front door. Luckily for me, I have dinner with my parents today. My mum has been relentless about finally meeting my biological brother, Olly, and seeing as I have a few days off work before I start day shifts next week, today is the day. I just didn't expect to have a sleep deprived sex hangover. Ethan texted me not long after he left, joking about making sure I hadn't given him a duff number. I would have just not given my number if that was the case.
My only saving grace is I'm not going to Olly's parents today. Of course, they want to meet me too. His mum was giving mine a run for her money when it came to her asking, so we did rock, paper, scissors, and I won. So I'll be meeting them in a fortnight.
I won't lie, I am a little nervous. Maybe I have no reason to be, but this is a big deal, and I want them to love him as much as I do––especially Alfie.
I arrived about an hour ago in case my mum wanted any help getting dinner ready, but I should've known she wouldn't––being the control freak she is in the kitchen.
"So, I finally get to meet the infamous Oliver," Alfie says, entering the kitchen and digging around in the fridge. I'm sitting at the kitchen counter, keeping Mum company as she preps dinner.
Before I have a chance to answer, my mum
is whipping him with a tea towel.
"Alfred, get your nose out of there. Dinner won't be long," she says.
I laugh at him. "Yeah, Alfred, dinner won't be long," I say, using his full name. He flips me off, but I don't miss the rise of his lips.
"Shaun not coming?" Alfie asks, and I don't miss the disdain as he says his name.
I shake my head. "Nope, we broke up," I reply with a shrug.
Mum stops what she's doing and looks up.
"I'm so sorry, sweetie," she says.
Alfie scoffs. "Don't be, Mum. The guy is a fucking arsehole," he replies.
"Alfred," she scolds.
"To be fair, Mum, he's right. I caught him cheating on me."
Her eyes go wide. "What a prick," she says.
"Do I need to kick his arse?" Alfie asks, his expression serious.
I laugh and shake my head. "No, he's not worth it. Besides, I think he has enough to deal with cleaning up the Chinese and bottle of red wine I may have thrown at him.”
Mum’s mouth gapes open, and Alfie holds up his hand for a high five, laughing.
The sound of the doorbell ringing has my heart rate spiking. "Alfie, please promise me you'll be nice to Olly," I say and get off the stool.
Alfie does the sign of the cross over his heart with an angelic smile, but it's still not enough to settle my nerves. My mum's poodle, Nelson, is yapping up a storm, and I try to catch him, so he doesn't pounce all over Olly, but he's still a puppy in training and is super scatty.
I don't get a chance to contain him before my dad opens the front door. Nelson makes a mad dash, and a moment of panic consumes me, thinking worst-case scenarios like, what if the garden gate isn't closed and he runs into the road? It's not a busy street, but still, it's enough to add to my already building anxiety.
Thankfully, he's more interested in Olly. Nelson wags his tail wildly as he sniffs and jumps up, vying for his attention.
"Sit." Olly uses the one-word command, tucking his fingers into his palm towards his chest. Nelson obeys immediately and sits.
"Well, I'll be damned," my dad says, laughing as Olly kneels and gives Nelson a rub behind his ears. Mum practically skips into the hallway, pulling off her oven gloves, and for a brief moment, I think she's about to fucking curtesy, but when Olly stands to his full height, she pulls him in for a hug—before even introducing herself. I can't help but smile.
Alfie's standing beside me and gently nudges my shoulder and smiles.
Mum releases Olly, stepping back, her eyes glassy. "Sorry, I'm Mia, and you've already met my husband, Stephen. This is our son Alfie, and that's Nelson," she says warmly as she closes the front door.
Alfie steps forward and holds out his hand. Olly shakes his hand with a nod before he smiles wide and pulls me in for a quick hug. Mum ushers us all into the living room, and Nelson grabs his favourite toy—the one he spends most of his time humping—and drops it by Olly's feet.
Mum is already bombarding him with questions, and I know she's nervous when she starts talking about the weather. My dad must notice because he suggests helping her dish out dinner. Placing his palm at the small of her back, he leads her back into the kitchen.
Olly sits down and is about to pick up the toy when Alfie and I both blurt out, "No," at the same time. Olly's hand pauses mid-air.
"Nelson likes to get jiggy with it," I say, my cheeks heating.
Alfie laughs at my analogy, just as Mum pokes her head back into the living room.
"Dinner won't be long. Did you want to get everyone a drink?" she asks me, and I nod, totally forgetting my manners. This entire situation is still so surreal.
"Did you want a glass of wine, or coke, water?" I ask Olly.
"Coke is fine, thanks," he replies.
"Alfie?"
"Coke, please." I nod and walk off, giving Alfie a look that I hope conveys ‘play nice.’
My mum is practically gushing as I pour everyone a drink and then place them at the dinner table.
"You have the same eyes," she says when I come back into the kitchen for the other two glasses.
"Yeah, we have her eyes," I reply.
The day I started calling my adoptive parents Mum and Dad was when I stopped referring to my biological parents as Mum and Dad. They've shown me what parents should be like, and I'm grateful for them every day. Even when I became sick, terrified they'd see me as a burden, they didn't. They showed me unconditional love.
She pulls me in for a hug.
"Well, you gained the best parts of them, and without them, we wouldn't have you." Her eyes grow glassy when she pulls back, and I look over to my dad as he nods.
"Thank you, I love you both," I say, and my dad joins the fray, wrapping his arms around the pair of us. It took me a long time before I could say those words to them, and now I don't leave here or end a phone call without making sure I tell them I love them.
When they finally release me, she quickly wipes her eyes, and I can't help but smile. I know it's hard for her now both Alfie and I have moved out. I think it's why they got Nelson; nurturing is in her nature.
"Okay, go get your brothers," she says, and my heart squeezes.
"Let's eat," Dad says, rubbing his hands together.
Stepping into the hallway, I take a moment to get my own emotions under control. Of course I wish Olly and I were never parted, but if we hadn't, neither of us would have the families we do now, and our lives could be completely different. Taking a deep breath, I'm about to enter the living room when I hear Olly and Alfie talking, and I pause mid-step.
"I wanted to say thank you, man. For looking after Lottie when I couldn't, for being a good brother. I always worried about not being able to protect her, and it helps knowing she had you, and you had her back. She's told me a lot about you," Olly says, and I hear the sincerity in his voice.
"You don't have to thank me, she's our sister," Alfie says.
And it would be a perfect moment if it weren't for the background noise of Nelson dry humping his damn toy. I sniff back the urge to cry. Alfie and I didn't have the best start, but once we moved past it, there was never a doubt in my mind his love for me as a sibling, and this just proves it. I count my blessings at how fucking fortunate I am.
I clear my throat as I walk in, trying to act like I didn't just hear their conversation.
"Dinners ready," I say, and Olly stands up. Nelson immediately stops what he's doing and follows him as we go into the dining room.
Alfie leans in to whisper, "Is he a dog whisperer or something?" And I can't help but laugh because I've seen him with his dog, Buster, too.
Olly comments on what a lovely home my parents have, and they seem genuinely touched by that. They have a nineteen forties, three-bedroom semi-detached house with a newly renovated dining room and conservatory with a downstairs toilet. They had the choice of relocating with the extra savings they had, but Mum loves it here too much, so they decided to renovate instead, and then with the remainder, they got themselves a caravan on a site in Bognor Regis. It's where they went for their honeymoon. They're old romantics. We've had holidays abroad of course, but if I'm honest, the ones we had in Bognor and Brighton were always my favourite.
Conversation flows freely during dinner, and Mum––of course––regaled Olly with stories from my childhood, but I swear she's only picking the most embarrassing ones. I even have to kick Alfie's shin under the table as he encourages them by reminding them of things that even I forgot about up until now.
There is something very nostalgic about us all being here together like this, and it makes me even more excited to meet Olly's parents, Lily and Joshua. I honestly can't even remember the last time I smiled and laughed so much that my face hurts and my ribs ache, but in the most glorious way.
Olly talks about his job at Charlies Bar and the charity work he does, as well as the classes he offers at the gym, and I find myself thinking about how fit Ethan is and how I'm, well, me.
"I should come and check out this gy
m of yours. Maybe I'll look at taking a class or two? I could do with losing a couple of stone," I say, taking a sip of my drink.
"There is nothing wrong with your weight," my mum scolds.
Alfie’s expression hardens. "Is that your ex, Shaun, talking?" he asks.
I shake my head, but the truth is, it might be a little. I don't know.
"Ex?" Olly asks.
"We broke up last night, but it's fine. It was well overdue."
"Well, good riddance, you don't ever change yourself for someone else, do you hear me?" my dad says.
I nod, sensing all eyes on me and clear my throat.
"He's right," Olly says, holding up his glass, and we all toast to that.
Thankfully, topic of conversation veers away from relationship status. Maybe I should feel a little conflicted about sleeping with someone so soon after my breakup, but at least I was single when I did it, unlike Shaun.
Once Olly has left, I insist on tidying up. Mum put on one hell of a roast, and she deserves to put her feet up.
Alfie helps me stack the dishes. "I'll wash and you dry," I say, throwing him a tea towel. He groans, but I know he won't argue. He's always been a shit washer upper anyway. But to be honest, I think it was his way of getting out of doing it until my parents told him he could dry instead.
"I heard what you said to Olly," I say.
He glances at me and shrugs as I pass him a plate and starts drying. "Yeah, well, he didn't need to thank me. And just so you know, I like him. He seems like a good guy."
I stop what I'm doing, throw my arms around his neck, and squeeze. He pats my back softly, laughing in my ear.
"What's that for?" he asks, drawing back.
"For being the best brother a girl could ask for," I reply honestly.
He just shakes his head, but his smile is all I need to know how much my words mean to him––and they're true. I know how hard it was for him to break through my defences. It took a long time for me to open up. Something inside me fractured when Max died, but it wasn't just about me. I wasn't the only one hurting, and as hard as it was for me, it was worse for Violet. Alfie was a rock for both of us, and it's what ultimately brought us closer together.