I don’t think that’s what he wanted to say at all, and I’m so tempted to ask, but then remind myself, if he wanted me to know, he would’ve typed it in the first place.
Pete: Looking forward to it
I set my phone aside and, with a heavy dose of reluctance, push the covers off and start to get ready for what I know is going to be a shitty day.
“Oh my god!”Sadie covers her mouth with a hand as I shake water off before coming into the shed/office. “Bit wet out there?”
“Fuck off.”
She laughs but passes me a towel. “Here.”
“Thanks.” I wipe my face and scrub it over my head, because honestly, everything else is a lost cause. I’m wet down to my bones. Even my waterproofs haven’t been enough to keep me dry today. Surprisingly, even with the rain only letting up a bit from this morning’s downpour, we’ve been busy. Well, busy enough that I’ve been outside more often than not.
She finishes tidying up and peers past me outside. “Ooh, I think it might’ve stopped.”
“Typical.”
“You done in here?” I need to get home and have a quick shower, and time’s getting on.
She crosses her arms and eyes me curiously. “Is it the big triple date tonight?”
“Stop calling it that.”
“Oh relax, I’m only teasing.” She ushers me out the door and locks up behind me.
And she’s right, it has stopped raining.
“So is it?” She pokes me as we walk to our cars.
“If you mean, am I meeting up with some friends and bringing Charlie with me, then yes.”
“Mhmm.”
“He’s here on his own. A bit of company will do him good.”
She laughs, leaning against her car. “How generous of you.”
I shrug, smirking at her. “What can I say, I’m a generous kind of guy.” I don’t tell her she was right the first time. It feels exactly like a triple date.
Am I asking for trouble introducing him to Vic, Sean, Jerry, and Reed?
Probably.
I’ve spent more time with them this last year than I usually do. They’re great guys, but they’re also under the impression that I need to be all coupled up like they are.
I mean, they’re not wrong, but I don’t particularly want their version of help. I know they’re gonna think me and Charlie are together, despite me saying otherwise. And they’ll probably embarrass me by saying shit about it.
I’m hoping Charlie won’t take offence or be pissed off. I’m ninety percent sure he’ll be okay about it.
And maybe a small part of me, very small, minuscule even, is hoping it might change his mind.
I want him.
I want to kiss him again.
I want to spend as much time as I can with him before he leaves, and I’m starting to think I’ll regret it if I don’t at least try.
Sadie and I say our goodbyes and I head home to shower and change. Getting dressed has its challenges; I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard, or that I’m treating it as a date, even though I am. Kind of.
