“I want to tell you something that you already know.”
Charlotte tipped her head to the side and looked at me in slight confusion. “Why would I need you to tell me something that I already know?”
“Because I need to say it out loud... and to be honest, not knowing what you think about it is killing me.”
It wasn’t just this that I wanted to tell her – it was everything. I wanted to share every little detail of my life with her.
What I had for lunch… how many children I want…
Everything.
“Alright, rock star, I’m listening – let me have it.” She smiled as she sat the book she was reading down onto the coffee table and looked up at me with her beautiful bright eyes.
I shrugged. “I love you.”
Plain and simple.
I told her the words without an ounce of hesitation. I’d rehearsed it in my head a thousand times, from full-on and cheesy, to short and sweet. In the end, I’d decided to just come out with it – I knew what I wanted to say, I knew what I wanted her to feel, and if the tears forming in her eyes were anything to go by, I’d achieved what I set out to do.
She nodded and bit down on her lip in what I knew as an attempt to stop her tears overflowing.
I chuckled. “What, no witty remark today, legs?”
She shook her head.
I reached for her hands and tugged her up to her feet. She buried her face in my chest and wrapped her arms tightly around my middle.
“Do you feel like giving me any kind of feedback…?” I asked nervously.
She giggled.
Say something… anything…
“You were right.”
I was right?
“About…?” I prompted.
She sniffed and swiped at the tears on her cheeks. “I already knew.” She smiled in her beautiful, cheeky way.
Of course you did… you can read me like a book…
I huffed out a laugh. “And is it okay with you?”
Do you love me too?
She tipped her head back to look up at me, and I felt the familiar sensation that could only be compared to the cliché of a swarm of butterflies fluttering around in my stomach.
“I mean, I guess so.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “Since I love you too, it’s probably pretty convenient.”
Fuck yes!
Warmth spread through my veins. I knew she was in love with me. We were only saying aloud the words that our actions had been showing all along. But even though I felt like I already knew, hearing it felt like nothing I’d ever experienced.
I’d told girls I loved them before – but I’d never meant it as much as I did when I said it to Charlotte.
I lifted her off the ground and slung her over my shoulder.
She shrieked. “Put me down you brute!”
I slapped her ass. “You think you’re so funny, don’t you, smart-ass? Holding out on me.”
She giggled hysterically. “I was joking!”
I slapped her ass again.
“Put me down!” she begged between giggles.
I slid her down my body and groaned at the feel of her against me.
She looked up at me like she knew exactly what I was thinking – and she felt the same way.
“You love me?” I questioned.
She bit down on her lip and nodded at me shyly.
“Say it again.” I tugged on a lock of her beautiful, long red hair.
“I love you.” She giggled.
“Again.”
“I love you.” She lightly slapped my chest.
“Once more,” I pleaded.
“You’ll never stop.”
Not if I have my way.
I begged her with my eyes.
She rolled her eyes and then smiled sweetly. “I love you so much more than you know,” she told me, her eyes reflecting that love like nothing I’d ever seen.
I shook my head in disagreement. “I know just how much,” I told her before meeting her lips with mine.
“C’mon, legs, I’ve got someone you’re gonna meet today,” I told her as I bustled her out the door of her apartment. I hadn’t seen her since Sunday when I’d first told her I loved her, so today I’d managed to book out some much-needed free time to work in with her schedule.
“Alright, alright, bossy.” She rolled her eyes. “At least let me put my coat on.”
I glanced at my watch, we had plenty of time to get over there, but with my luck, we’d get mobbed by paparazzi or fans the minute we entered the centre of town.
“Is it another family member?” she asked with a cheeky smile, and I knew she was thinking about my Nona.
“No.” I chuckled. “I think you’ve had about enough crazy for now.”
I tugged her back when she reached the door before I did. I’d swapped cars and done a few laps before heading over here, but there was no guarantee that I hadn’t been followed. I peered up and down the street, and when I was satisfied with what I saw, or more to the point, didn’t see, I took her hand and led her out to my car.
I was just opening the door for Charlotte when I saw a guy with a camera around his neck jogging towards me.
“You were almost too late,” I called out to him, a grin on my face.
“I know.” He sucked in a deep breath. “I was right across town when I got your message and I only had my bike.” He panted again, nearly doubled over.
I glanced at Charlotte and she looked utterly perplexed by the unfolding situation.
Introductions…
“Charlotte, this is Snitch,” I told her, letting her know it was okay. “He grew up in the same town I did,” I explained. “I help him out with some exclusive shots when I can, and in return, he puts the others off my trail when he can.”
Charlotte smiled and crinkled up her nose. “Well that’s a bit cute,” she mused.
She held out her hand to him. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Snitch shook her hand. “You too, miss.”
I glanced at my watch. “We really gotta hit it, man.”
“No problem” He raised his camera and backed up a few steps.
Charlotte shot me a devilish look as I gestured for her to get into the car. I could hear Snitch snapping a few shots from behind me.
“He biked all the way over here, just to get a photo of you opening my door for me?” she asked in disbelief.
I chuckled. I knew Charlotte, and I knew she wasn’t willing to let this go just yet.
“He’ll get good money for these shots,” I reassured her. “I don’t drive women around very often, actually make that ever. Now get in, we’ll be late.”
“He’ll get better money for these.”
I opened my mouth to ask her what she meant, but I didn’t get the chance.
She pushed up on her toes and kissed me, taking my hands in hers while she did.
She broke off the kiss and looked up at me. She placed my hands and hers, right on her belly, over her coat.
I held back a laugh. I knew what she was doing. In a few hours’ time, the entire world was going to think I’d knocked her up.
“Just so you know, I’m not actually pregnant,” she called out to Snitch with a grin.
“Oh, this is gold,” he called back. “I like her, Sloan.”
“Everybody does,” I replied without taking my eyes off the little shit stirrer in front of me.
She giggled and jumped into the car, done with her little show for now at least.
“What’s next, huh?” I smirked at her after I climbed in and Kelvin started the car “A fake wedding? Pushing a doll around in a pushchair pretending it’s a baby?”
She giggled. “You have to admit, it’s pretty funny.”
“You can ring my Nona and tell her it was all a ruse.” I shook my head in amusement. “She’d probably get a real kick out of that actually.”
It was no secret that Nona was a fan of Charlotte.
Huge fan.
All of a sudden, she was calling me twice as much as she had before, but she didn’t use the extra calls to ask about me, she usually just wanted to ask how Charlotte was. She always made sure to check that I was treating her right, spoiling her… but not just by using my money. That was Nona’s advice. ‘Money comes and goes’ she said, ‘but knowing how to treat a woman right stays forever’.
Looking over at the beautiful woman in the car next to me, knowing that I’d do everything in my power to keep her safe and happy, I knew Nona was right.
“Where are we?” Charlotte whispered as we navigated the twists and turns of the quiet back hallways and staircases. She suddenly stopped dead in her tracks and tugged me back by our intertwined hands. “Is this the part where you hold me captive in some abandoned building?” she hissed. “I saw the preview of that movie too you know.”
Is she serious?
“Are you serious?” My jaw dropped and I flicked my eyes to her face – she was grinning like an idiot.
Smart-ass.
“You won’t be laughing when I tie you up to a bed and keep you there for the day.” I chuckled.
“Oh yeah?” She raised her brows at me. “And who says I wouldn’t enjoy something like that?” Her voice was thick with attitude.
I held back a groan, all that sass was driving me wild.
As it was, I was having a hard time keeping my hands off her, and until we went through that door up ahead, we were all alone – a dangerous position for our modesty.
“You push me up against that filthy wall and there will be trouble,” she warned me, already two steps ahead of my thoughts.
There goes that idea.
It was like she could read my mind.
I laughed. “Who says I was going to?”
She pointed an accusatory finger at me. “That stupid look on your face, that’s who.”
“Alright, Sherlock, just up here.” I chuckled as I placed my hand on the small of her back and guided her forward.
We approached the unmarked door and I tapped on it twice.
“Come on in,” a female voice called from behind the door.
I took Charlotte’s hand in mine and turned the handle.