“My opinion on moving to LA?” I ask. He nods. “You need to do what feels right for you and no one else. If you’re worried that I can’t handle the long distance, I can. I can cut back on my hours and work three days a week, one week a month, so I can come out and spend Friday to Monday with you. I don’t want you to do something that could jeopardize your healing.”
Charlie’s face lights up. “You’re genuinely worried about me?” he asks.
“Of course. You’ve come so far on your healing journey. You’ve been so bloody strong and honest about everything, and I owe the same honesty back. Please, don’t come just for me. As much as I would love nothing more than for you and me to be together in the same city, it has to be for you and no one else, not even Everly.”
“I’m thankful for my family looking after me, but I need to start standing on my own two feet and making my own money again, and I think Jackson’s business might be the best place to start. Being surrounded by people who have been through similar things to me, compared to other companies, who may not understand if one of us has a panic attack.”
Hadn’t thought of it like that, but I could understand why that would be appealing. Charlie turns his horse around, and we start walking again, side by side.
“You’ve really been thinking about it?” I ask.
“I have.”
Silence falls between us as I look up and take in the majestic mountains surrounding us. “Are you sure about it, because LA looks a hell of a lot different than this?”
“It’s just a plane ride away, but I think it’s time I get back to the land of the living and look forward instead of looking back.”He looks over at me, giving me a shy smile. “You’re what I’m looking forward to.”
I bite my bottom lip at his sweetness. “I’m looking forward with you too.”
He reaches out and takes my hand and links our fingers together. “I’m all in, D, you me, and whatever will be.”
“I need that on a shirt.” I chuckle.
“I’m a poet and didn’t even know it,” he teases, rhyming again, which makes me laugh.
“You want to do this with me, then? You and me in LA building a future together,” I ask him, my heart thundering in my chest.
“You’re stuck with me because my heart is all yours.”
This guy just knows how to make me melt with his words. I’ve never met anyone so open and honest when it comes to their feelings. When you nearly lose your life, your perspective on life changes. Something about this guy makes me let down all my walls and just dive headfirst for the first time in my life into a relationship with someone, and as scared as I am, I’m also not, because I don’t think he’s ever going to intentionally hurt me. This gorgeous, sweet, humble, sexy, genuine man needs to be protected at all costs.
“My heart is all yours too,” I tell him.
“Yeah?” He seems surprised.
“Yeah.”
“You don’t think we’re moving too fast, the guys seem to think I am, but they did say I looked happier and relaxed with you, so they understood. While the girls are all in on us,” he confesses.
“My girls are all in, too. They think you calm me down.” I chuckle.
“They think I’m a good influence on you.” He smirks.
“Outside of the bedroom, they do,” I tease.
“Fuck, D. Do you know how hard it is to ride with a hard dick? It’s going to fucking get bruised.” He moans.
“Shall we turn around and head back so I can help with your problem?”
Charlie’s brows pull together in concern. “I wanted to show you more, but my dick aches.”
“Babe, I don’t need to see any more mountains. Once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all, but what I do need is your dick.”
“You called me babe.”
“Guess I did.”
“I like it. I like being your babe.” He grins.
