‘I do. But don’t tell too many people, will you?’
‘How many drinks have you had?’
‘This is my first. I’m perfectly sober and aware of what I’m saying.’ His grin made me smile.
‘Maybe it’s last night’s alcohol still swilling through your veins.’
‘That’s always a possibility. There were an awful lot of champagne corks popping.’
‘Were you celebrating something?’
There was a pause before he answered. ‘No. Not especially.’
‘I see. Well, nice for some people. I, on the other hand, have a cup of hot chocolate going cold. Far less glamorous, I’m afraid.’
‘Still busy, then?’
‘Yeah. Ridiculously so. Just trying to get ahead as much as possible before the wedding.’
‘Wedding?’
‘Yes. Tilly’s.’
‘Oh. Right. Of course. Thought there was something you hadn’t told me there for a minute.’
‘Ha! Definitely not.’
‘Never say never.’
‘Too late.’
‘Well, I guess that’s another plus for Alex.’
‘Huh?’
‘Nothing. Never mind. I’d better let you get back to it. Although you should really get to bed. You’ll exhaust yourself if you keep working into the early hours like this.’
‘Yes, I will in a minute, I promise.’ Charlie’s comment about Alex lingered in my head but I was too tired to decipher what he meant. ‘I’m actually having trouble keeping my eyes open now.’
‘Get some rest, Libs. You’ll make yourself ill.’
‘This from the workaholic.’
‘Not exactly, but I’ve been there. It’s not fun.’
‘Harder when it’s your own business on the line, though.’
‘That’s true. But you’ll be no good to yourself if you burn out.’
‘No. I know. I’m shutting my laptop now. Happy?’ I smiled at him.
‘Immensely.’
‘And thanks for the networking, you know, in advance. I’m glad it’s going well. Oh! And thank you for the pictures you sent over. I love that one of Times Square. I really need to get to New York one day. It looks amazing.’
‘You’re welcome. Yes, it is pretty cool.’ His voice drifted off a little.
‘You look tired. Get some sleep.’
‘Yep. Just need to see how this terrifically dreadful film ends, and then I will. Promise.’
‘Thanks for ringing. It sort of feels weird when I don’t talk to you via some method every single day now!’ I laughed.
‘I shall endeavour not to let that happen, then.’
‘Good.’
‘Night, Libs.’
‘Night, Charlie.’
Tilly and I were knee deep in bridal-themed items when the doorbell rang. I pushed myself up, stepped over my assistant and a plethora of beauty detritus and opened the door. A very tired-looking Charlie filled the doorway.
‘Am I disturbing you?’
‘No! Of course not!’ I threw my arms around his neck and he hugged me with his one free arm. ‘How are you? You look shattered. Shouldn’t you be home in bed?’
‘I tried that,’ he said, coming in and putting the large box he’d been carrying down on the floor next to the console table. ‘Couldn’t sleep. Bloody jet lag. Thought I may as well come and drop this off.’ He pointed at the box.
‘Oh, are those the goodies from the company you were talking about?’
‘Yeah. They said these are just a few samples to start off with, but that if you like this lot then they’d like to send you the whole range.’
‘Great. Sounds like a plan.’
Charlie quirked an eyebrow as he surveyed the disaster scene currently standing in for my living room.
‘Hi, Tilly. I almost didn’t see you there.’
Tilly stuck her head up from under the swathes of fine netting we’d been fiddling with for some of the bridal shoots.
‘Hi, Charlie. Blimey, you look knackered!’
Charlie gave a nod, amusement making his eyes shine. ‘Thanks.’
‘Do you want a tea or coffee or something?’
He glanced around. ‘No, it’s fine, thanks anyway. You’re clearly incredibly busy. I don’t—’
‘Charlie, please. It’ll give me an excuse anyway. I’ve been at this since six this morning so I think I deserve a tea break.’
He held my gaze a moment. ‘Tea would be great, thanks.’
‘Not easy to get a decent cuppa out in the States, is it?’ Tilly’s voice drifted up from somewhere amongst the tulle.
‘No. Not really.’
‘I’d have to take a suitcase full of teabags out if I lived there, I think!’
‘That sounds like a very good idea,’ Charlie agreed.
‘Take a seat, if you can find one. I’ll be back in a minute.’
‘Do you want some help?’
‘No. Really. I’d feel better if you just sat and rested.’
If I was honest, Charlie looked so tired that it had me concerned. I realised I’d only known him a short time, but I’d never seen him look this exhausted or strained in that time.
He didn’t protest and found a small clearing on the sofa that he could squish himself into. When I returned, I moved a few bits from around the floor near his feet so that he could stretch his long legs out. He took the hint and gave me a smile as I looked up from the floor.
‘So, what’s all this, then?’ He pointed at the pile to his right, encompassing Tilly, as he took the tea and sipped. His eyes closed as he did so, a brief smile of satisfaction on his face that made me happy to see. It was funny how something as simple as a good cup of tea could make you feel as if you were home.
‘We’ve got a bridal special running on the blog this month – as wedding season is upon us.’ I gave a wink to Tilly and she grinned.
‘Sam’s banned from looking at the blog at the moment. I mean, not that he does much, but, you know, just in case.’
Charlie looked confused.
I pulled a face. ‘One of the local boutiques saw us announce the feature and asked if we’d be able to include some of their dresses in the shoots. We talked it over and thought some reportage-style shots of the dresses would be best rather than just standard photos to make it feel less formal and a bit more fun.’
‘Sounds good. How’s that going to work? Are they going to send models?’ He waggled his eyebrows in mock anticipation.
I rolled my eyes and tossed a packet of chocolate Hobnobs at him. He pulled out a biscuit, dunked it and ate it in two bites.
‘So?’
‘That’s the catch. Neither I nor the shop have the money to cover professional models. If we want to do it, we sort of have to model the dresses ourselves.’
Tilly grinned at this. I didn’t.
Charlie gave me a look before returning to his tea. ‘You don’t seem thrilled at that prospect.’
‘I’m just not sure I can pull it off. This one has the glowing bride thing all set.’ I thumbed at Tilly. ‘Me, not so much.’
‘What’s so hard? You put on a dress. You look pretty. You take a photograph. It’s what you do all the time.’
‘Not in wedding dresses.’
Charlie looked at me. I looked away. The truth was, I wasn’t sure I could ever really see myself getting married. On that awful day Mum died, I’d seen the pain that enveloped my dad, the grief that had seeped from every fibre. Part of that still remained. I knew it would never entirely leave. I wasn’t averse to relationships but marriage? It was something I took seriously and, in my heart, I didn’t know if I would ever be able to take that final step.
Confusingly, I knew that my so-called reasoning was ridiculous. I mean, Matt and Marie had the most wonderful marriage. He’d lost his mum too, seen what I’d seen, but it hadn’t deterred him from seeking out love. And it wasn’t as if I didn’t want love. Of course, I did. Didn’t everyone? And the thought that I’d love some
one less just because I hadn’t signed a piece of paper and put a band of metal on my finger was daft. I knew that too. But there was still something about it. Something more definite in my mind. And it was that that made me hesitant. Dressing up as a bride just didn’t seem right knowing that I might not ever do it for real. I felt, I suppose, a bit of a fraud.
‘Models do it all the time, for brochures and magazines, and catwalk shows,’ Charlie stated, sensibly. Of course, he did.
‘I’m not a model. I feel daft.’
Tilly looked over at Charlie and rolled her eyes.
‘I saw that.’
She and Charlie exchanged a smile and he said nothing more, returning to drinking his tea whilst we set up some more still shots of make-up, lotions and accessories.
‘What if we put this here, and that there? Do you think that looks better?’ I asked Tilly a short while later.
‘Oh, yes, and this…’ She leaned over and grabbed another product that made an ideal set-up. She really was good.
‘Where’s that rose we had earlier?’ I said, moving some of the netting and finding the remarkably lifelike silk rose I had in mind buried underneath. My glance drifted to Charlie, who had been exceptionally quiet, even for him, for the last ten minutes. His eyes were closed and the empty mug rested on his chest, slowly moving rhythmically up and down as he slept. I threw a look to Tilly and put my fingers to my lips. She frowned and stepped over to peer.
‘Aww,’ she whispered.
I carefully lifted the mug, halting suddenly as his hand moved and caught mine within it for a moment before slipping away. Putting the mug on the table, I cleared the rest of the sofa. He’d twisted his body in his sleep, sliding down the sofa so that his legs were now at an angle to the rest of him. Crouching down, I hooked my arms under his legs and heaved. My first attempt succeeded only in putting me on my bum with a bump. I altered my position and tried again, hefting Charlie’s long legs onto the sofa. They didn’t really fit and hung over the end, but at least they weren’t now at ninety degrees to his torso. He barely stirred. I leant over and delved under yet more fabric and grabbed the summer quilt I normally kept over the back of the other sofa. Laying it gently over his sleeping form, I went back to work.
When Charlie woke it was after seven and a warm, soft breeze was swishing the voiles at my balcony back and forth. Tilly had left and the room now resembled a living space once again, rather than the aftermath of a Bridezilla rampage. I was curled up on the other sofa, reading, when movement caught my eye.
‘You should have woken me,’ he said, squinting at his watch. His voice was rough from sleep, and his normally impeccable appearance was ruffled. It was a good look on him.
‘You needed the rest.’
He sat up properly and rubbed his face with his hands.
‘Go and splash some water on your face, if you like. Dinner’s in the oven. It’ll be ready soon.’
Charlie looked at me. ‘Dinner?’
‘Yes. I was cooking anyway so I did a bit extra. Unless you have plans.’
He shook his head. ‘No, no plans. Apart from more sleeping. Are you sure you have enough?’
‘Yep,’ I said, getting up. ‘I’m just going to check on it. I’ll be back in a minute.’
Dinner was looking great, maybe a couple more minutes. I grabbed some plates out of the cupboard, gathered cutlery and poured iced water into two glasses, returning to the living room to place them on the coffee table. Charlie was nowhere to be seen but I could hear the tap running in the bathroom and guessed he had taken my advice to go and wake himself up a bit with a splash around. I put the cutlery down and turned to find Charlie coming back in.
‘Anything I can do?’ he asked. He looked a little brighter than he had done earlier and had obviously run his wet fingers through his hair to tidy it up. It wasn’t as perfectly done as it usually was, but I sort of liked it for that.
‘Nope. All done. Just sit there.’
‘I could get used to this.’
‘Ha! Unless you’re thinking of employing someone, I shouldn’t.’
Charlie looked up from the sofa and smiled. ‘Thanks, Libs. This is really nice.’
‘You haven’t tasted it yet. You might want to reserve praise until then.’
He gave a little shake of the head. ‘You know what I mean.’
‘Hmm, five-star hotels can be so tiresome.’ I raised an eyebrow. ‘I hate having all that cooking, cleaning, washing and ironing done for me.’
‘Granted. That bit isn’t too bad. But it’s not the same as being with friends. Having someone to talk to.’
‘You’re hardly Chatty Cathy at the best of times. Besides, you said you went out partying so don’t give me the hard-done-by act.’
‘Once. I went out once.’ He grinned. ‘And I apologise for not being “Chatty Cathy”. What would you like to talk about?’
I gave his shoulder a gentle shove. ‘Don’t apologise. It’s how you are. You wouldn’t be you if you were all chatty like Alex.’
‘That’s true.’ Charlie moved his fork minutely to the left on the table. ‘He always was far better than me with that sort of thing. I imagine there isn’t a shortage of conversation on your dates.’
I gave him a look. ‘Are you saying I talk too much?’
‘No… I…’ He cleared his throat and then looked back at me. ‘I’m just saying you like to talk.’
I could see the mischief in his eyes and narrowed my own at him. He gave me a smile. I flicked him with the tea towel and headed back into the kitchen to get dinner out of the oven.
25
Two hours later, after we had eaten and watched a film on Netflix, I could see Charlie’s eyes looking tired again.
‘Come on, you.’ I gave him a nudge with my shoulder. ‘Go home and go to bed.’
Charlie gave a stretch and scratched his hair, yawning and nodding at the same time. He stood, and I followed as he made his way to the front door.
‘Thanks for the goodies. We’ll go through them tomorrow.’
‘No problem. Thanks for the food. And the use of your couch.’
‘Any time.’
He leant down and hugged me. I squeezed him back, realising just how much I’d missed him. Even though I’d been busy, even though we’d spoken on text and video calls, it wasn’t the same as having him physically in my life. Charlie had fast become, alongside Amy, my closest friend.
As he opened the door, he turned back. ‘What are you doing about your photoshoot for the wedding dresses?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘How are you doing it?’
I blew a wisp of hair off my face. ‘I don’t know. Probably just take it in turns, or something. I might try and set up some shots with both of us in them if I can, but it’ll just depend on how it’s going and time really.’
‘Do you want a hand?’
‘Are you offering?’
‘Yes. I’m off tomorrow. I could come and help you shoot. It’ll be easier that way and you’ll get more of the reportage feeling you were after. I was thinking about it during dinner.’
‘Were you, now?’
He held up his hands. ‘Hey, you’re the one who encouraged this photography thing.’
‘Yes, but you don’t usually like taking people pictures.’
‘Only because I don’t always feel comfortable talking to people I don’t know, in that sort of circumstance. I do actually like taking their photos.’
‘Well, it would make things a lot easier and get it done quicker. But shouldn’t you be trying to get over your jet lag?’
‘I’m going straight home to bed now. If we say after lunch tomorrow, I’ll be up by then and functioning, for the most part. Come on, let me repay you for dinner and for falling asleep on your sofa.’
I rubbed his arm. ‘You don’t have to repay me, or apologise, for anything. But if you really don’t mind, it would be a great help.’
‘Great. OK. I’ll see you about two, then?’
/>
‘Sounds good. Thanks, Charlie. And sleep well.’
‘I’m pretty sure that’s a given.’ He raised his eyebrows over sleepy eyes.
‘Just text me when you’re in, will you?’
He gave his little head-shake. ‘Libs. It’s a few minutes’ drive.’
‘Please. You’re tired. And lots of accidents happen very close to home. You love statistics so I know you know I’m right.’ I tilted my chin up.
‘Fine. I will text you.’ He bent and kissed me on the cheek. ‘You’re worse than my mother.’
‘Thanks.’
‘See you tomorrow.’
Ten minutes later, my phone cheeped at me.
✉︎ Home. Thanks for dinner. Going to… zzzzzzzzzzzz
I smiled at his message.
✉︎ Thank you xx
A smiley face, followed by a sleepy one, came back, along with a couple of kisses. I switched my own phone onto silent and headed off to bed myself.
‘Seriously? Oh, that’s so cool!’ Tilly said, when I told her the plan Charlie and I had made about getting pictures of the wedding dresses. ‘It’ll be like having a trial run for my wedding photos!’
I smiled, unable to resist being warmed by her enthusiasm.
‘Do you think we could try that make-up look we’d decided on before, and see how it looks? I mean, I know it’s not the actual outfit I’ll be wearing, but it’s as close as I can get.’
‘Of course. That’s a great idea. We can link back to it in the post, and give it another boost. I have a few emails to answer. Would you mind choosing a look for me too? If I have a different one, then that’s two posts we can boost.’
‘Good plan.’ Tilly looked at me for a moment, studying me.
‘Sweetie.’ I laughed. ‘You know what I look like. You sit opposite me every day!’
She flapped her hands. ‘Oh, I know, I know, but I’ve never really pictured you in a wedding dress for some reason.’
‘Well, that makes two of us.’
That made her pause. ‘Really?’
‘Certainly not at the moment. Which reminds me, Alex is coming round later after his shift so I need to make sure all the wedding-y stuff is out of sight. I don’t want him thinking I’ve got ideas.’ Charlie’s comment about Alex and weddings was still lodged at the back of my brain.
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