Pitbabe S2, Chapter 6 pg6

pg6 

   Charlie yelped, but I didn’t feel an ounce of pity. In fact, just one hit was too lenient compared to the crime of making me worry like a lunatic. I was terrified I’d accidentally made him mad again, not even an hour after we’d just made up. But this kid had the nerve to toy with my fears. He really deserves a beating from Dean.

   “Funny, huh, Glasses?”

   “I nearly died holding it in, and you’re still asking?”

   “Charlie!” I raised my hand, ready to smack those sturdy shoulders again, but Charlie was too quick. He grabbed my wrist in a flash, smirking smugly to boot. “I was seriously scared you were actually mad, you jerk!”

   “Honestly, I was almost mad. Back when you mentioned the one-night thing,” Charlie said casually. “But then I thought about it. No one could handle Babe like I can, so I let it go.”

   “Handle me?”

   “Trust me, no one’s as tough and resilient as I am. Someone like Babe belongs with me. It’s only right.”

   I narrowed my eyes at this cocky young guy brimming with confidence. I couldn’t help but pout in annoyance, but I had to admit he was right. Before this, I’d never managed a long-term relationship with anyone. Part of it was because no one could truly understand or accept the flawed, excessive parts of me. Only Charlie made me feel like I wasn’t lacking or over the top—just a little different from others. Or, to put it bluntly, you could say the jagged pieces of me and Charlie just happen to fit together perfectly.

   “Hmph. If that’s the case, good.” I use one hand to squish both of Charlie’s cheeks until his lips pucker out of shape, planting repeated kisses on his cheeks before moving to other parts of his face. It’s too tempting to stop at just one spot. At first, Charlie sits still, letting me have my fun, but since I don’t stop, he probably wants to get even. “Mmm…”

   His hands cup my cheeks, and he turns to press a gentle kiss to my lips. I could say I’ll never tire of this touch, because no matter how many times it happens, my heart still races to the same rhythm. When will that initial thrill of our relationship fade? Deep down, I’m kind of waiting for it. Not because I want to get bored of Charlie, but because I want to know if our bond is strong enough to overcome monotony. On the day I don’t feel this excitement from his kiss like I do now, when everything about him isn’t as fascinating as it was in the early days, when our rhythm becomes steady and slow—will I still be a good partner to Charlie? That’s an experience I’ve never had before, so I hope Charlie will be the one to teach me what it means.

   A love that’s not thrilling, but one I never want to end.

   I want Charlie to be that kind of love for me.

   “Mmm… Babe,” Charlie starts to grumble softly as I invade the crook of his neck, my hands wandering restlessly, instinctively tracing over his body. That kiss earlier was too good to be just a cute car kiss before heading into the lab. “Don’t… this isn’t the place.”

   “Fine, fine, not by the building, but the locker room, the sofa, the racetrack—those are all fair game.”

   “Babe,” Charlie tries to sound stern, but he ends up laughing when I nibble on his ear. The more he squirms away, giggling, the more I’m egged on, relentlessly nipping at him. “Ah… ticklish!”

   But while I’m teasing my one-eyed puppy, my gaze suddenly catches a tall figure standing under a tree by the building, not far from where our car is parked.

   He’s lanky, wearing a fitted white t-shirt and straight black pants. One hand is in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette. He’s staring off into the distance, seemingly lost in aimless thought. That’s not what keeps my eyes glued to him, though.

   It’s his face.

   He turns toward us. I’m not even sure if he can see me through the tinted car windows, but what’s certain is that I see him clearly. A face so familiar, matching every detail in my memory, so eerily similar that the hairs on my body stand on end.

   “Babe.”

   I’ve seen him again.

   Just like at the grave.

   “Babe.”

   Charlie’s voice cuts through my senses, but my body doesn’t respond. I just keep staring at the man, and by some instinct, I feel like he’s looking at me too. He stares straight in this direction, brings the cigarette to his lips, inhales deeply, and slowly exhales with an unnervingly calm demeanor.

   “Can you go in first?” I snap my gaze back to Charlie, trying to keep my voice as normal as possible. I don’t want to say anything until I understand what I’m seeing. “I need to call Phii Alan real quick. I’ll follow you in after.”

   “Okay,” Charlie says, looking a bit confused but not pressing further. He kisses my cheek, leans down to grab the water bottle by his feet, and opens the door to get out of the car.

   I spent several minutes alone, sitting still in the car, gathering my thoughts to tame the chaotic, scattered mess in my head. I shoved my fear into a box, locked it tight, because fear was the biggest obstacle in this moment.

Previous

Next