Chapter 7 7

Oliver

Shit!

Shit!

Oh shit!

Charlie blanched when she saw Jules. It was obvious what we were doing there. And Charlie got it. I don't think she expected me to live the life of a monk, but... it would be better if she didn't see it.

After our conversation last night, I was a little out of shape. I mean, it went better than I could have expected, but when I got home, I really got lousy.

"Hi," I greeted her while fighting the urge to make sure my fly was buttoned up. They are always unbuttoned at the wrong time in those stupid comedies.

"There was no one downstairs, so I..." She broke off, waving behind her back. I knew Charlie well enough to know that she was thinking about running away right now.

"Lenny's gone smoking again," Jules rolled her eyes. "He was supposed to watch the store."

Charlie looked at her in confusion. I didn't know what to do. Introduce them to each other?

Charlie, this is Jules. She's not my girlfriend, as you might think. We just fuck with her sometimes.

Jules, this is Charlie. That's actually all - my Charlie. If you have a free day, I will explain to you who Charlie is. In short, we were married, but somehow it didn't work out.

"I'm going to get Lenny back to work."

Jules left, leaving us alone. She must have felt the tension in the air.

Jules and I...

"This is none of my business." Charlie shook her head quickly, smiling. "I didn't mean to disturb you."

"You didn't interfere, we just finished..."

I shut up, biting my tongue. You are stupid, Oliver! I was already standing against the wall and banging my head against it in my mind.

"Lacquer!"

"What?"

"I need a lacquer, that's why I came. I want to varnish the gazebo, but there was none in the house, so I'm here to buy it."

Charlie huffed, and she always huffed when she was very worried. I concluded that what she saw impressed her, and strongly.

"Come on, I'll help you."

Charlie and I went down to the sales floor, and I led her to the paints department. She seemed absent-minded and, I think, didn't hear half of what I told her.

"I'll check you out myself," I said as we walked to the checkout. Jules was talking to another customer, but she became available when Charlie and I got closer.

"Damn, Ollie, you are deep in trouble, buddy" I smiled ruefully to myself.

"You're an actress, Charlotte Pierce, right?" Jules leaned against the bar, looking at Charlie. "I watched the tv-show with you, it's a pity that it was closed after the fifth season. Your character Raven was such a cool bitch!"

"Thanks." Charlie smiled. I'm sure she forced herself to do it. "I liked that show too."

"You got an Emmy for him three years ago."

Charlie shook her head.

"Just a nomination."

"Ow!" Jules wilted. " But still it's cool, it was a good show."

Charlie just shrugged, letting Jules draw her own conclusions.

"I'll help you carry it to the car," I offered, packing a jar of lacquer. To my surprise, Charlie protested vigorously.

"No need! I can manage myself. Thank you Oliver."

She gave Jules and me a half-hearted smile as she turned and walked out of the store. I followed her with my eyes as she walked to the car. Her high ponytail was swaying from side to side with every step she took.

My chest ached.

"Do you know her?"

Jules wasn't local, so she didn't know Charlie and me's past.

I nodded, still looking out the window, but said nothing.

"She's kind of weird," Jules shrugged, unfolding the magazine she had been reading during the lull.

"Get back to work," I advised gloomily, and then left.

***

"She got upset when she saw you with Jules?"

Milo's eyes even sparkled when I told him about the events of that disastrous morning.

"It seems to amuse you," I looked at him displeased.

Milo chuckled as he swung his good leg over my table. I asked him a hundred times not to do this, but to no avail!

"She got a slap in the face, it will only be useful for her."

I didn't agree with him. I've been wanting to call Charlie all day and explain that there's nothing serious between me and Jules. We're not together, but I still think it's necessary to clarify somehow.

"You don't understand," I shook my head.

"No, I don't understand." Milo took a sip from his beer bottle, looking at me with his piercing dark eyes. Sometimes I felt like he could see right through me, and I didn't like it.

"She dumped you while you were thousands of miles away, in real hell, and all you got was divorce papers and a damn letter! Is that what they do with the love of their life?" He mockingly repeated Charlie's words.

I shouldn't have let him read that letter. But at that moment I was stunned by her desire to end our marriage and us; I didn't care if anyone else saw it.

"I'm not making excuses for her, okay? I raised my voice, starting to get annoyed. Not at him, but because his words were true, and I knew it. I knew it and still couldn't remove Charlie from my heart.

"No, you're making them," He disagreed, chuckling condescendingly. "Do you know what you're doing?"

"What is it, smart guy?"

I got up from my chair and began to pace the room. With the arrival of Charlie there were too many things to worry about.

"You hope!"

It sounded like an accusation from his mouth.

"You hope that now that she has returned, old feelings will flare up between you and you will live happily ever after. That all this time she was sorry that she left you and now wants to return. And you are waiting for her to come to you and ask you to start all over again!"

"That's bullshit!" I grinned maliciously, poked my finger in his direction, and my gut twisted with terror. He laid bare all my thoughts, which I was afraid to admit to myself.

"Are you saying that I'm wrong?"

"I'll tell you to shut up!" I couldn't help it, which only made him laugh.

"Which is what you need to prove."

I stared at him, ready to curse him out with his fucking psychoanalysis, but at that moment somene knocked on the door. I opened the door, taking a deep breath that should have calmed me, least of all expecting to see Charlie behind it.

"I decided to get drunk here. Will you keep me company?" She raised her hand holding the tequila bottle, smiling slightly nervously.

I silently stepped back, letting her enter, not knowing what to say in surprise. This morning, when she left the store, I thought she wouldn't want to talk to me anymore.

Charlie slowly looked around, inspecting my apartment and got surprised when she noticed Milo on the couch.

"Oh, hi!"

Charlie smiled at Milo, who waved sourly at her.

I sent him a warning look.

"Charlie, this is Milo, we served together. Milo, this is Charlie."

"I heard." He grinned. It was actually a smile, but he could do better. Only the blind and deaf would not have caught the hostility in his voice.

Charlie seemed bewildered by this reception.

"Sit where you are comfortable." I pointed her to the sofa, half of which was occupied by a sprawled Milo, wanting to smooth over the awkwardness. Milo did not even think to move.

Charlie chose a chair.

I went to the kitchen for shot glasses, telling my damn heart not to go crazy. Milo is here, he won't let me do anything stupid. It will become our buffer.

"I like the way you set everything up here," Charlie complimented when I got back.

"Great bachelor's lair," Milo put in, earning me a disgruntled look.

Looks like he might be the problem.

"I lived with my father for a while after I returned, but then moved here. The apartment was still empty."

I cracked open the bottle and filled mine and Charlie's shots. He looked questioningly at Milo.

"I pass, that's enough," He raised his beer.

"I hope I didn't disturb you guys?" Charlie looked at Milo and me, and before my friend blurted out something else, I hurried to answer:

"Absolutely not."

"It became unbearable without a father at home. I constantly listen thoroughly to see if I hear his voice." She bit her lip, shrugging.

I suddenly wished Milo wasn't here.

"For Mitch," I raised my shot. Milo took a sip of his beer too, he is wise enough to keep quiet.

The first shot was followed by the second, which made Charlie and I relax a bit.

At least I did for sure.

"You're not from Langley, Milo, aren't you?" Charlie asked my comrade-in-arms amiably.

"Nah," Milo shook his head lazily and lit a cigarette. "From Vegas. I was just passing by Langley."

"You've been living here for almost three years, dude."

He shrugged.

"It's temporary anyway."

I didn't argue. Milo had his own problems, which he solved as best he could.

"So you're in Los Angeles? Hollywood, lights and shining stars - the place where any dream comes true?" He asked casually, which made me want to hit him.

"There was no dream," Charlie chuckled wryly. "I am also just passing by Los Angeles."

Charlie's answer didn't surprise me. In fact, I was more surprised when I found out that she was on television. Charlie never dreamed of Hollywood, that's for sure.

"I think that all actresses are selfish." Milo scratched his chin. "And vain."

I nearly choked on my tongue. Why is he doing this?

"If I'm wrong, correct me."

He spread his hands, looking at her with a condescending smile. Charlie knocked down the third shot with a smile so familiar it took my breath away. She was about to answer him, and Milo might not like her answer.

"I will not dissuade you. You're right." Charlie tucked her hair behind her ears and unconsciously ran her tongue over her lips. Everything inside me ached: I wanted to repeat this movement, I wanted to taste it after all these years.

Charlie's taste is second to none.

"We actresses are selfish to the core. We are conceited, you are right, of course. There is a mirror in every room of my house because I need to know that I look perfect. Also, we are stupid. Yes, very stupid." Charlie leaned back in her chair, nodding thoughtfully. The tequila had already taken its toll on her.

As well as on me.

Milo was silent. Well, still: he did not know what to answer.

"I need to take a piss."

I got up and went to the bathroom, hoping that in a couple of minutes, during which I would be gone, these two would not kill each other.