“Your mother told me you were mad at me for lying to you, so you didn’t come for dinner. Step back,” Charlie told me, and when I did, he heaved himself up into my room. He shut the window behind him and then pinned his eyes on me. “Is it true?”
I folded my hands across my chest. “That’s not why I didn’t come over. She forbade me from seeing you again.”
“She forbade you?” Charlie gasped. “Can she do that? Legally, you’re an adult, Jones. You can date whoever you want. Does she have a problem with you being gay?”
I felt tears burn my eyes as I shook my head. “Didn’t your father do the same thing?”
“My father didn’t forbid me to see you, Jonesy, but he wasn’t exactly thrilled about it. There are certain... expectations of me for my future.” He took a step toward me. “Don’t cry, Bashful. It hurts me to see you upset. You’re normally such a happy person. It’s one of the things I like the most about you.”
I turned away. “Why are you here?” I felt the heat from his body as it radiated against my back.
“Because I was worried about you. I thought you were going to stop talking to me.”
“I’m fine, so you can leave now. You can use the front doorthis time.”
Charlie wrapped his arms around me. “I missed you,” he whispered into my ear. “I can’t stay away from you, Jones. Tell me you missed me, too.”
“I—” Tears slipped down my cheek.
“Jonesy.” He spun me around to cradle my head in his hands. “Say the words.”
I buried my head in his chest as a sob escaped my throat. “I missed you, but I can’t be with you. Mama said it’s wrong to be with you. That you’re not for me.” I wrapped my arms as tightly around Charlie as I could. “How could we be wrong when it feels so right?”
“We’re not wrong,” Charlie murmured as he stroked my hair. “We could run away together.”
I giggled, despite everything. “Join the circus.”
“Mm, yeah. Could you see me on the tightrope? Wearing those tights?” he teased.
I leaned my chin against Charlie’s chest. “I think you’d look good in tights.”
“I bet you do, Bashful.” He leaned down to slant his lips over mine. “Let’s go take a walk on the beach.”
I wanted that. To go spend a few stolen moments with Charlie, but I was scared Mama would come home and find me gone. Or worse, come looking for me. I couldn’t imagine what she would do then.
“I can’t.”
“How about tomorrow? You could come over? My father is leaving for the week on a business trip.” He stroked my cheek with the back of his hand.
“I don’t... Charlie, I can’t. I can’t seeyou—”
He cut me off with a kiss, his mouth hot and wild. When he speared his tongue between my lips, I whimpered softly, my fingers digging into the front of his shirt, trying to get as close to him as I possibly could. Charlie gripped the back of my head with one hand while he wrapped his arm around my waist with the other. When he sucked hard on my tongue, I moaned so loud I was sure the entire trailer park could hear me.
“You’re not breaking up with me, Jones. We’re going to figure this out. You still want to be with me, don’t you?”
“Yes.” I nodded as I rose on my toes to kiss his lips again.
Charlie smiled at me so big and bright there was no way I could say no to him, even if I had wanted to. Which I didn’t. His handsome face was all lines and angles with that mouth I wanted all over my body.
“I want to be with you, too. Promise me you won’t give up or not give us a chance.” He combed his fingers through my hair.
“I promise,” I murmured. His touch was like magic.
Charlie hummed softly. “Let’s get you into bed then, huh? Get you comfortable before I go?” He steered me backwards until I felt the mattress at the back of my legs. I sat down and looked up at him.
“I’m sad I didn’t get to enjoy you all dressed up. I you look sharp in this shirt, Bashful.”
“You look nice, too.” I blushed as the words tumbled from my lips. Charlie was wearing a suit that looked custom made for his big, thick body. “I mean, handsome and sexy.” That made me grow even warmer.
