“I’m sorry, I have to answer emails and do some work. I promise the entire trip isn’t going to be like this,” he reassures me, but it’s an empty promise because he’s a slave to work, even if he doesn’t want to be.
“Charlie, even if it was, that’s fine. You have taken so much time away from work to try to help me. You’re in the dog house with your bosses. I get it.”
He settles at a table in the shade. His brown eyes lift to mine as his computer starts up. “I’m glad you’re so understanding, but it’s really unfair to you and to me. I have a thousand days of unused time off, I should be able to take a vacation once every five years,” he says, sighing.
I set my book aside to slip into the infinity pool. The water is surprisingly warm from the harsh rays of the sun, so it doesn’t bring the cool relief I expected. The displaced water slips over the side with a soft splash.
I stand in the water and lean over the edge, looking out toward land. Palm trees are dotted along the shore, offering shade to those along the waterfront. I can just make out people playing along the water's edge.
It’s watching a pod of stingrays swim by that I decide I must have died and now I’m in heaven. There is no way that I have found myself in paradise like this.
The water around me ripples as Charlie gets in the water. “How are you feeling about all this?” he asks, sitting on the stairs, keeping his distance.
“What specifically? This coma dream my brain has cooked up wherein I’ve been rescued by a handsome man, or are you talking about being in Bora Bora with you?” I stand in the water, watching him.
He smirks at my words, but turns serious again. “I meant mentally being here. I wanted to see how you were doing,” he prods.
“If you’re asking if I remember anything, the answer is no. But I wish I had someone I could tell or brag about being here on Pictogram or something. I was missing my friend earlier.”
Charlie raises his eyebrows. His elbows are braced on his knees as he studies my face. “That’s the first you’ve mentioned wanting anything from your past life,” he says softly, watching my reaction. He’s gotten good at knowing when I’m frustrated or angry, but lonesome is new for him.
I look away, wanting to squirm under his scrutiny. I tread water, lifting my feet up from the shallow water. The pool is small and not deep; when I stand, the water barely skims the bottom of my breasts.
“I had this girlfriend, Vivian. She was my best friend. We went to college together, pledged the same sorority, and we were roommates right out of school. Last I remember, we were still living together, but were discussing what to do when our lease was up because she wanted to move in with her boyfriend. Did that happen? Did we stop talking because of that? I just don’t know. It’s like pausing a movie in the middle of a big scene and then picking it up years later, in a totally different scene. Maybe you’re right, maybe I should see a therapist when we get back to New York.” I had fought Charlie on this tooth and nail, not wanting to admit that there was anything wrong with me, but maybe I did need help.
I needed someone to help me sort through the issues so I didn’t spiral. There were little things I could remember: trying a restaurant, a different temp job, fighting with a guy I had been seeing. They were snippets, the random pieces of a puzzle whose colors were too muted for me to know where they fit within a larger picture I couldn’t see.
“Anything you need. If you want, I can get someone to track down your friend.” He stops when he sees my face. “I’m not saying investigate her. I’m saying get a phone number for you so that when you’re ready, you can reach out to her.” He lets this offer sink in. I remain silent, considering it. Charlie wades into the water, staying on the opposite side from me, maintaining his distance. “You don’t have to decide this minute. Sit on it until we get back to New York. We’re not in any rush.”
I nod, knowing that the answer is going to be yes. These last few months have been scary without anyone I know around. I have come to trust Charlie, but only because he was in my hospital room every day I was stuck in there. He kept me company while letting me get to know him. It would be good to have someone who knew me in my corner.
“How is work going to handle you in a different time zone?” I ask, shifting the conversation off me.
“Jack said that he will double down. He gets it.” Charlie hesitates, scratching the back of his neck. “Well, not really.”
“When will I get to meet this Jack character?” I ask. I’ve heard stories, and I’ve also heard Charlie yelling at Jack on the phone, but he is otherwise a mystery to me. Charlie has minimized his social life, focusing instead on making up for the work he missed since we met. Now he’s here with me, instead of spending time with them.
“You can meet him when we get back. He’s jealous that you have been monopolizing all of my time lately.”
I lay back in the water, letting my blonde hair fan out around me with my eyes closed. Charlie approaches me, causing the water to ripple against my skin. I open my eyes briefly when I feel his hands gently touching my back, supporting me. I glance at him out of the corner of my eye.
“I’m sorry,” I say, closing my eyes, letting him hold me up.
“What could you have to be sorry for, Ellie?” he asks.
My whole self softens at the nickname. Elia is already a short name, so it’s rare that it gets shortened. Hearing it on his lips makes me gooey. He’s trying it out, Ellie. I’ve been El to him before, but Ellie has a different vibe to it.
“Everything. I feel like I’ve caused so much trouble for you. I’m probably healed enough to go back to my own apartment.” I feel like this trip is the perfect time for us to reset our boundaries at home. Going back to my apartment might be the best way for Charlie to not feel obligated to take care of me.
“Is that what you want?” His voice is gruff.
I open my eyes to find his brown ones boring into mine.
“I hate being a burden to you. You’re spending your money on me: getting all these fancy doctors and specialists, hiring private investigators, and calling in your connections. I don’t understand why.”
He lets me go, forcing me to right myself so I’m standing in front of him. He’s so tall that he towers over me. I squint looking up at him, finding his eyes burning.
“I don’t know how many times I can tell you that you being in my life has changed it for the better. I was going through the motions of living before. I had a job and an apartment and I would bounce between the office and the penthouse, but it wasn’t anything more than a place to sleep until you got there. I’m just going to be direct: I want more with you.” He pauses, wetting his lips, his eyes flicking down to mine. He’s thought about this; his statement isn’t flippant. He brings his hands up to my face, cupping it gently. Charlie’s brown eyes search mine, setting my soul on fire. I want to feel his lips on mine again, our first kiss was surprising and too quick.