‘It’s great in here,’ said Charley. ‘I can’t believe I haven’t been before.’
Ella gave her a look of incredulity. ‘You’ve never been to The Exchange?’
Charley shook her head.
‘Not even for your lunch? They do great food. The fish finger bloomer is one of my favourites. So when was the last time you came in to Hanley for a night out?’
‘I haven’t got a clue.’
‘When was the last time you went out? Can you remember that?’
‘That would definitely be before…before Dan died.’
Hearing her voice falter, Ella touched her arm gently. ‘This is a first for you.’ She picked up the drinks menu. ‘I think we’d better order cocktails.’
An hour later and they were ensconced in a booth, chatting about everything and anything. Soon more cocktails had been ordered and after another hour, they seemed to have settled for the foreseeable future. Charley’s head felt fuzzy as she headed upstairs to the ladies’. Once there, she checked her appearance in the mirror and giggled. Her hair was sticking up where she’d been ploughing her fingers through it; there were flakes of mascara all over her cheeks and not a trace of any lipstick. Dragged through a hedge backwards would have been putting it politely. But she was having a great time with Ella. They’d been discussing their first boyfriends and swapping horror stories of crushes and first loves and all that teenage angst.
As she made her way downstairs again, she lost her footing. When she hung onto the banister as well as her dignity, one of a group of men arriving stopped her from falling.
‘Whoops,’ she grinned. ‘Silly heels! Thanks.’
‘I don’t mind being your knight in shining armour any time,’ he smiled, holding the door open for her afterwards.
It was nearing eleven o’clock and the bar was hectic now. As she made her way back to Ella, she sensed someone looking at her and turned to see if it was the guy whose feet she’d practically fallen at. Instead, her eyes fell on Aaron. He was waving to catch her attention. A rush of pleasure ran through her as, in a matter of seconds, he’d negotiated the crowd and was by her side.
‘Well, hello,’ he smiled. ‘Fancy seeing you here.’
‘Fancy indeed.’ And lucky, thought Charley, that he’d seen her after she’d tidied up her appearance rather than before. All of a sudden, she realised how important that was to her. She checked out what he was wearing; she was so used to seeing him in work attire. Jeans and casual shirt, Timberland boots. Hugo Boss again. She took hold of his hand and dragged him over to Ella. After introductions, he slid into the booth with them.
‘I have to hand it to you, Ella,’ he said. ‘I’m surprised that you managed to persuade Charley to come out. I’ve been trying for some time now.’
Ella beamed at the compliment. ‘That’s what friends are for – taking care of each other. She just needed a helping hand.’
‘I did,’ slurred Charley.
‘She definitely needs taking in hand,’ laughed Aaron. ‘She’s tipsy.’
‘You could take advantage of her, if you like.’
‘You mean I need a good seeing too, don’t you?’ Charley giggled and prodded Aaron in the chest. ‘I know what you’re after, Mr Campbell.’
‘Yes, but I’m not going to overstay my welcome.’ Aaron grinned and pointed at their table. ‘Can I get you a drink before I head back to the boys?’
‘The boys?’ Charley snorted. ‘You’re practically a middle-aged man.’
Smirking, he moved off as Charley and Ella started laughing. Ella leaned forward and whispered in Charley’s ears. ‘You should take him up on his offer. He’s gorgeous.’
Charley looked over at Aaron, who was now with the ‘boys.’ Ella was right – she might be drunk but he was gorgeous.
Ella nudged her arm. ‘Go for it,’ she urged.
Charley turned back to her. ‘Go for what?’
‘Him! You told me you’d never had a one-night stand. Now’s your time.’
‘Nooooo.’ Charley wagged her finger at Ella. ‘He’s too close for comfort.’
‘He’s comforting, I’ll give you that.’ Ella sniggered. ‘He’s sweet on the eyes.’
Charley glanced through the crowds towards Aaron again. He was looking back at her. She caught his eye and he smiled.
‘You see?’ Ella was determined to get her point across. ‘Look, you need to sleep with someone. It’s going to be painful so why not do it with someone who cares about you?’
Charley shook her head fervently. ‘I couldn’t.’
‘You could – and besides, he has some great-looking mates. Maybe one of them might be single, too.’
‘I thought you wanted to go somewhere else after this drink!’
‘Changed my mind.’
Before Charley could stop her, Ella made a beeline to chat to Aaron and a few minutes later, he and his friends were sharing their booth. Finding that the alcohol had loosened her inhibitions, she heard herself laughing raucously at something funny Aaron whispered to her. It felt good to be a little out of control after so long staying home alone.
The night went on and, at midnight, Charley found herself sitting with Aaron. The crowd in the bar had lightened a little, some people moving downstairs to the basement bar where a local band, Diamonds, was playing. Ella was chatting to someone called Steve whom Charley vaguely recognised from their group, and the rest of them were nowhere to be seen.
Her head was so close to Aaron’s that if she turned slightly, he would catch her cheek with his lips. Embarrassed, she moved away slightly. He smiled and she returned it, a woozy feeling overpowering her, something that she definitely knew wasn’t entirely down to the alcohol.
‘I am so drunk,’ she told him, running a finger lightly over his hand as it lay on the table. ‘Happy but drunk.’
‘I am so drunk too,’ Aaron replied. ‘But I want to stay here with you forever.’
All at once, a longing to be part of a couple overwhelmed Charley. Rather than upsetting her, though, it excited her. She glanced over to Ella, who was smooching with Steve. His hands were all over her as they kissed.
‘Oh-oh.’ Aaron had followed her gaze, his eyebrows raised high. ‘It looks like those two need a room. Maybe we should be on our way soon?’
Charley nodded, although not wanting to leave him yet.
‘Perhaps we could all head back to my place?’
She swallowed. Even unable to focus fully, she could see the desire in his eyes. She knew he’d be able to see it reflected in hers too. She smiled shyly.
‘Perhaps we should,’ she said.
‘Are you sure?’
‘I’m sure.’
He leaned forward to kiss her lightly on the tip of her nose and then grabbed her hand.
After they’d hailed a taxi, Charley found herself heading off to Stockton Brook and being dropped off outside a tiny semi-detached cottage. From the outside, it looked like a small two-up, two-down but, once inside, it opened up vastly into a large double room with a staircase down the wall to her left. Laminate floors gave it a vast feel; the walls were cream except for one painted with abstract blacks and violets. The fire and television were sunk into the wall. A cream rug with a glass coffee table atop of it and deep purple curtains pulled it all together.
‘Coffee?’ asked Steve. ‘Or something stronger?’ Almost immediately, he and Ella disappeared into a room at the back that Charley assumed would be the kitchen.
‘Wow, I’m impressed.’ She looked at Aaron. ‘This décor is incredible. Did you –’
‘I did – and all by myself.’ Aaron held his arms up and twirled around. ‘This is my creation. Whoops.’ He flopped onto the settee in a fit of laughter, pulling Charley down on top of him.
Charley thought the sound of her heart beating erratically might be loud enough to wak
e the whole street as they stayed that way, neither reluctant to move. They stared at each other, for once no words needed.
‘You are so gorgeous,’ he told her eventually, touching her cheek lightly.
‘I’m drunk,’ Charley retorted, not sure if her heart was beating erratically due to the heat of Aaron next to her or their recent twirl. ‘It’s been a great night. I’ve enjoyed it so much.’
‘Me too.’
He kissed her. Light enough to make her feel that it might not have happened. He gazed into her eyes, almost as if he was asking for permission. Then he kissed her again. Charley wrapped her arms around his neck, entangling her fingers in his hair, drawing him close. Her body responded, making her tingle as she felt his tongue against hers. For some reason, it didn’t feel wrong to be kissing him. He ran his hands over her back, pushing her further down onto the settee.
The door opened and Ella appeared with Steve. Her hair was tousled and one flap of Steve’s shirt was out.
‘Okay if we use the spare room tonight, mate?’ Steve grinned at Aaron.
‘Sure,’ Aaron nodded, not taking his eyes from Charley.
Before they left, Ella gave Charley the thumbs-up. There was a giggle and a thundering of feet up the stairs before a door slammed.
‘Peace and quiet at last,’ said Aaron. ‘Now, where were we?’
Early the next morning, Charley opened heavy eyes, momentarily confused by her surroundings – white walls and a navy blue carpet, her shoes placed together underneath a small window with blue curtains. She moved her head to the right, wincing as a pain shot through it. Then she groaned as she spotted her clothes draped over a chair.
Shit.
She turned over. Even though the curtains were drawn, the room was light. She didn’t dare look at the time for fear of waking him. But she did lift the duvet up to see if she was naked.
Shit and bollocks.
‘Morning, my sleepy drunkard,’ Aaron said, his eyes still closed.
‘Morning.’ Charley’s voice came out as a croak. ‘What time is it?’
He lifted his arm. ‘Quarter to nine. Did you sleep well?’
‘I can’t remember.’
‘You can’t remember.’
‘No.’
‘You mean, you can’t remember anything of last night?’
Charley tucked her hands under her chin and curled her knees up a little more.
‘Not even a tiny bit of it?’ Aaron mirrored her actions.
‘Nope.’ Charley thought it best to lie until she knew more of what he was referring to. She could remember parts of the evening: having a laugh with Ella in The Exchange, meeting up with Aaron, coming back here and lying on the sofa…but she wasn’t going to let on to him. Then maybe she could deny anything else that might have happened too.
‘I am deeply hurt that I’m so unmemorable.’ Aaron sighed loudly. ‘You’ve ruined my street cred.’
‘Aaron, I…’ Charley cleared her throat. ‘Aaron, did we…’
‘We did…not.’
‘We didn’t?’
‘No, you were a little too worse for wear for my liking.’
‘You make me sound like a drunken trollop!’
‘You were a drunken trollop! But I’ve been wanting to get inside your knickers for so long that I didn’t want to mess up and take advantage of you and then you’d be mortified this morning and you wouldn’t want to see me and think that I was only interested in a one-night stand when I’m not and just the thought of seeing you at work afterwards if you thought that would be agony but I’m scared now that I did miss out on the opportunity to sleep with you and –’
Charley put a hand over his mouth. ‘Enough,’ she cried. Once she knew he’d stay quiet, she removed it.
‘What I’m trying to say is that I wouldn’t take advantage of you.’
A pause. ‘Who undressed me, then?’
‘Erm, that would be you.’
‘Oh, I –’
He smirked. ‘You really don’t remember anything, do you?’
‘Sorry, no.’
‘You paraded around taking all of your clothes off…first came your top.’
‘Oh, God.’
‘Wait; actually it was the shoes that came off like missiles. I had to duck!’
‘Sorry.’
‘And then came your top.’
‘Right.’
‘And then your jeans, and your bra and –’
‘Enough!’
‘There was enough for my liking but –’
‘I said enough!’
‘I reckon it’s a good job we didn’t sleep together, then. I’d hate for you not to remember how fantastic I am in bed!’
‘So modest.’
‘I am! I’m sure you’ll find out one day.’
Charley felt her cheeks start to burn. Even so, she was hoping that would be true. She was grateful that he hadn’t taken advantage of her. Plus she liked the fact that he was willing to take things slowly.
‘Some men would have had their wicked way with me last night,’ she told him.
‘I was probably too drunk to get it up anyway.’
‘You’re an idiot, do you know that?’ But Charley was smiling when she said it. She’d enjoyed herself so much last night that she would have been mortified if they had made love. Not because of the sex but the fact that he’d maybe think all she was after was the one night – to get over Dan and move on – and she wanted it to be more than that. All of a sudden, she was hoping he would ask to see her again.
From across the hallway, loud banging. Then a grunt and a deep groan; at the same time, a moan in a higher pitch. Staring at each other, they listened as the banging became louder and more frantic, the grunts and moans too. A final bang and it was quiet again.
Charley giggled. ‘Some people certainly aren’t taking their time like us.’
‘Maybe we have that to look forward to if we don’t rush things?’
‘Maybe,’ she replied, moving nearer to him a little.
‘If you fancy a nice but friendly cuddle, I wouldn’t get too close,’ he warned.
‘I know. I have terrible beer breathe too.’ Charley covered her mouth with her hand.
‘It’s not the beer breath I’m worried about.’ He lifted up the duvet. ‘Get down, soldier.’
After greeting Ella and Steve coyly in the kitchen an hour later, Charley and Aaron then joined them over coffee and bacon sandwiches as they dissected the night before. Later, Steve had a football match to watch so Aaron offered to drop him off and take Charley and Ella home.
Back in Warwick Avenue, Ella went inside as they said their goodbyes.
Aaron pulled Charley into his arms and kissed her. His mouth caressed her lightly, tantalisingly at first, but she found it wasn’t enough. She placed a hand on his back, pulling him as near as she could. She wanted to feel him close to her again, a small part of her unable to believe that the night had happened at all. After all her worries, Charley couldn’t have been happier. Well, apart from one thing…
Afterwards, she didn’t want to let him go.
‘Well,’ Aaron spoke finally, ‘this isn’t one of those awkward moments, I’m pleased to say.’
‘Really? I wasn’t going to remark but I’d rather call it a one-night stand even though we didn’t actually have a one-night stand,’ she teased. ‘One night was enough for me, thanks very much.’
‘Like that is it?’ He leaned across – she thought to kiss her again – but instead he opened the passenger door. ‘Get out, then.’
‘Shut up, you idiot,’ she grinned.
‘Oh, no – the damage is done. Out.’
Charley kissed him instead, shivering as the lust she’d felt earlier returned quickly with one touch of Aaron’s hand to her cheek. Her body respo
nded, arching itself towards his. She wanted to invite him in, to continue where they’d left off now that she didn’t feel so embarrassed, so out of practice, but, as well, she didn’t want to rush things now that they’d started. There would be time, she was sure. Finally, they let go.
As she reached for her handbag, she had a clear view of exactly how much Aaron’s excitement had built up. The bulge in his trousers was unmistakable and she stifled a grin.
‘I’ll call you later,’ she told him after getting out of the car.
‘You’d better!’
Charley practically bounced up the steps to the house. She opened the entrance door to find Ella sitting on the bottom step waiting for her.
‘So?’ She stood up quickly. ‘How did it go?’
Charley’s smile became a goofy grin.
Ella clapped her hands together excitedly. ‘I knew it! I knew it,’ she cried. ‘You’ve had sex!’
‘Actually, we haven’t!’
Ella’s smile dropped. ‘But I thought –’
‘Apparently I was so drunk that he didn’t want to take advantage of me.’
Ella looked on incredulously.
‘I know! I can’t believe it.’ Charley laughed then covered her mouth with her hand. ‘He said once I got upstairs, I took all my clothes off and threw them to the floor. Then I jumped onto the bed and collapsed. I must have been asleep in moments.’
‘You mean it was all for nothing?’
‘Not exactly.’ Charley beamed. ‘I’m seeing him on Tuesday evening.’
‘But you weren’t supposed to see him again.’ Ella clenched and unclenched her fists, gnawed on her bottom lip.
‘Why not?’ Charley felt all the excitement she’d had about hooking up with Aaron slowly evaporate. What they had done wasn’t wrong. They’d had fun, shared some intimacy, and she couldn’t wait to see him again.
‘It should have been a one-night stand,’ said Ella. ‘A bit of fun to get you in the mood.’
‘I don’t want to get in the mood. I…I just want to have a good laugh getting to know someone before I –’
‘But you do know Aaron! You work with him.’
‘Yes, but that’s different.’
Watching Over You Page 10
