So on the way to her place, I open up, telling her everything. All about Madeline, about T-Dog and the watch… everything. She takes it all in like a champ, and when I drop her off at her home, she doesn’t get out and walk away. Instead, she smiles and takes a breath.
“Matt, you’ve had a rough couple of months, and tonight has been a huge night for you. Plus, having fans accost you when you are trying to go it alone isnothelping your situation. Come inside for coffee, and we can talk some more,” she offers.
She’s not running.
She’s not freaked out or scared off.
She is accepting of everything.
Who the hell is this girl?
The swarm of fangirls should have freaked any sane woman.
“Okay. Thanks for everything. You’ve been really supportive since I met you online, and honestly, you’re the only good thing I have right now.”
She reaches out, grabs my hand, and squeezes. “I’m not going anywhere other than inside for a coffee. So c’mon, let’s go.”
Charlotte opens the door, and I take a deep breath before following her inside.
Pulling my hood down, I finally feel like I can relax a little for the first time tonight.
***
I end up spending a few hours at Charlie’s and talking.
The entire time, though, I can’t stop myself from comparing her house to Alex’s. Charlie’s house, while beautiful, lacks the funkiness and flair of Alex’s home. Charlie’s is more modern, and Betty Homemaker. Hell, I even consider how hanging out with Charlie doesn’t even come close to hanging out at Alex’s.
Nothing happens, staying the course of being friends.
I’m sure she would have liked the idea of a goodnight kiss, but I wasn’t keen on the idea of taking it to that level. Not yet. It’s far too soon, and I’m pretty sure she understands that.
On the drive home, I notice I feel lighter in a sense and am glad I took the leap. I’m also thankful things didn’t go completely pear-shaped with the fangirls.
As I walk through the door, I’m greeted with the painfully heavy silence of my empty home. It’s a stark reminder of how much I wish Alex were here.
Fuck, I miss her.
I miss every fucking thing about her.
And yes, I had a good evening with Charlie, but she’s not Alex.
I also realize I haven’t checked in with Nate, so I pick up my cell and dial his number as I wander aimlessly around the house that no longer feels like home. It is so barren without him here.
It rings a couple of times before he picks up.
“Bro, how you doing?” he asks, and I sigh in reply. “That good, eh?”
“Yeah, just trying to get by one day at a time.”
“What! Are you in some kind of anonymous meeting place?”
I chuckle and shrug. “Maybe I should be ‘M&M and Ben & Jerry’s Anonymous.’”
“Dude, lay off the saturated fats. We rockers have a rep to uphold, you know.”
I drop onto the sofa. “Yeah, yeah… so, I have news.”
“Oh, you’ve come to your senses and decided to talk to Alex?”
