‘Missing you comes in waves. Tonight I'm drowning.’

Shout out to Levistatedderome for the beautiful covers!

Chapter Thirty-Six: Get to first base

Two days, five hours, fifty-six minutes, and twenty-eight seconds.

Daniel was ignoring Char, and he wasn't being very discreet about it. She'd texted him, even called. He didn't reply. She sighed for the seventh time since she woke up today. Maybe this was how he felt when she’d ignored him for all those years.

How was she going to open his eyes to the truth if the idiot was ignoring her?

They kissed before, even though he acted like nothing happened, they'd kissed, and it wasn't this awkward. Was he really that ashamed of what happened that he didn't want to talk to her? The thought made Char's heart ache.

She didn't want to lose her chance this time. She was going to fight for him, even if in the end she doesn't get him. At least she'd know she tried her best.

She grabbed her phone and called Cat. She needed some advice.
“Hey.”

“Babe?” she heard ruffling. “Why? It's still early.”

“It's noon, you idiot.”

“Really?” A pause. “Time flies.”

Char shook her head at her friend. “Okay, so... I have a problem.” Char said slowly.

“Honey, we all have problems. It's how we deal with it that counts. Tell me. What's wrong?”

Char sighed as she recalled what happened two days ago. “And he didn't even have common sense to call or pick up.”

Cat snorted. “I'm guessing whoever decided to call it ‘common-sense’ didn't know that much people.”

“I'm serious here Cat, what do I do?”

“If I have to tell you what to do, then you don't know what you want.”

Char pondered over that. “I want him. To fight for him.”

“Then do what you feel is right. Or do that shit people do these days and follow your heart.”

Char grimaced. “I feel stupid.”

“Whenever you feel stupid, just remember there are people out there looking for Pokémon.” Cat chortled.

Char laughed. “Thanks C.”

“Anytime.”

“How's Zach?”

“The idiot is still sleeping. I wonder how he scored Manager when he sleep likes a pig.” Cat snorted.

“Yeah, gotta go. Talk to you later?”

“Sure.”

She sighed as the call disconnected. Daniel was making this really hard for her. She lay on her bed as she thought of ways to get him to come. She though of calling, but she knew he wasn't going to pick? Texting?

She sighed again heavily, with her eyes closed, her mind swirling with different ideas. The though of going over to his house crossed her mind, but she shook it off. If she was going to do what she wanted to do, his house was definitely not the best place.

Using her dad as an excuse popped into her head too, but she decided against it. During the past two days, he'd come over, but he'd made sure to not run into her. What was wrong with the guy?

She picked up her phone, holding it above her head as she stared at it. If this didn't work, she was seriously going to be mad. She swallowed hardly, opened her phone (taking her precious time), and did it.

She crossed her fingers, and hoped.

*******

Daniel dashed into the Char's room with such speed that made her wince. She resisted the urge to smile as he saw him standing in the middle of the room, panting breathlessly.

Mentally, she smiled at his eagerness to save her from harm. She knew Daniel would never hurt her. At least not knowingly.

“What? What's wrong? Are you okay? What's going on?” he asked as he looked around, searching for any form of hazard.

She got up from the bed, turning to face him, her arms crossed over her chest. “I'm fine.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Then why did I receive a text from you saying, ‘Help me! I'm scared!’?”

“Ah, so you did see it?” she asked as she glared at him.

He shrank back from her gaze, looking everywhere but at her. Char shook her head at him. He didn't even try to deny it.

“Daniel, why have you been ignoring me?” she asked in a stern voice.

“I haven't been ignoring you,” he asked, his voice several tones lower, his eyes fixed on the ground.

“You do know ‘Daniel’ rearranged is ‘Denial’, right?”

“Its n—” he opened his mouth to answer, but paused as he pondered over it. “Wow, I never though about it like that.”

“You haven't answered my question.” she reminded him.

She saw the hesitation in his eyes. He was going to lie. “The truth, Daniel. The truth.”

He opened his mouth but no sound came out. She waited patiently for him, she had all day. She just hoped he didn't say anything she wasn't ready to hear or his future plans to have kids was going to hell.

As she waited, her eyes took in his form. His white V-neck shirt hugged him like a second skin, and the blue denim jeans stretched down his legs that seem to go on forever. She brought her eyes up to her face, watching as he ran his hand through his hair, tugging a little at its tip.

His lips twitched up and a smirk formed on his face. Clearly, she was checking him out. He gave a knowing smirk, raising a brow.
She glared daggers at him, and he immediately straightened, the smirk disappearing.

“I was trying to give you some space,” he said.

“Humph,” her gaze pinned him on the spot. “Be serious.”

“I am,” Char eyed him skeptically. He was serious. He was also dreamy, gorgeous and one hundred present male. And the two of them were alone. In her bedroom. She could think of a few things to.... Focus, Char!

“I-we- you—” he cut off and inhaled heavily. “Zach was only trying to help.”

“Zach?” she asked carefully. She didn't know what Zach had to do with this but she pressed on.

“Yeah.”

“Help with what?”

“Keeping me away from you,” Daniel rubbed his palm across his for head, reluctant to meet her eye—or admit the truth. But Char deserved no less, and he was a man who laid things on the line. “Zach is here to remind me to stay away from you.”

For a second, there was only silence. He raised his head.

Char looked even more baffled that before. He could practically see the gears grinding in Char's brain. Then, “You need all that help just to stay away form me?”

Humbled, Daniel nodded. “You're my best friend.” he couldn't face her. Not if he expected to say what came next. “I'm not supposed to take advantage of the situation. Of you.”

“Oh,” Char nooded as she absorbed that information. “That's right. We did talk about that, didn't we? ‘Nothing's going to happen between us,’ you said. I didn't know that you meant that you didn't want to take advantage of me.

“I don't,” he mustered one of his famous self discipline. “I won't.” he sucked in a breath. “So now that that's settled—”

“Settled? Says who?” Char looked at his hands, fisted at his sides. She caught them in her soft grasp, squeezing gently. “What if I'm the one who takes advantage of you?”

He held in a breath. His attention focused on the unison of their hands. Her touch was as gentle as she was—but as persistent as she was too. He liked it. He liked it all over.

“You can't take advantage of me. I'm too tough for that.”

“Oh yeah?” Char arched her brow. She centered her gaze on his mouth. “Watch me.”

An instant later, her lips touched his. Incredibly, the whole world rocked. Slowly, gently, sweetly, Char kissed him, still holding his hands steady at his sides. She levered upward, smiled, and tried it again.

Daniel shook with the impact of her mouth on his, with the knowledge that she wanted him the same way he wanted her. It was in her kiss, her touch, her in drawn breath as she crashed against the wall at her back and pulled him nearer.

That was all he could stand. Daniel pushed closer, working toward the same goal Char had in mind—complete surrender. He teased open her mouth, slipped his tongue inside, moaned in bliss as their lips slid faster. He'd never experienced such incredible friction, such hot suction, such mind-blowing need in a single kiss....much less the several that came after.

When he finally raised his head again, he'd pressed himself all the way against her, their bodies flattened against the wall as they kissed. He couldn't believe the peeled logs at Char's back had ignited already. She gasped and stared up at him, her hands tangled in his hair.

“Don't stop,” she demanded. “I like it.”

He obliged, dipping her head back for another, deeper kiss. There was something completely necessary about that contact, something mind-blowingly right about kissing her. Daniel didn't know what it was, and he didn't care. Not so long as he had both hands full of hot, eager Charlee, and not so long as she kept on kissing him back. Her little moans drove him crazy. They were so sexy, so husky, so uninhibited....

All the need he'd pent up demanded release, and Daniel knew exactly how to satisfy it. He dropped his hands to her derrier and cupped her, pulling her hard against him as he went on kissing her. Yes. Yes. Hr could stay there all day, all night, all the time. All his attention filled with the feel of her in his hands, with the slide of their mouth and the urging of his body to move closer, closer—

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

Daniel panicked and thrust Char away. They mouth popped apart with a comical sound. He jerked himself backward and spun around, feeling his hair strand on air. Shit, shit, shit!

Daniel dipped his hand into his back pocket, bringing his phone out as Psy’s Gangnam style echoed through the room.

There was nothing else to do. He took the call.

“What?” he barked into the phone.

“Step away from the girl,” came a familiar stern voice. “Put your hands up. Or maybe in a straitjacket. Come on, Miller. What the hell is wrong with you, anyway?”

Daniel wheeled away, clutching the receiver. “Zach?”

“Who else? Jesus, why don't you keep your hands to yourself?”

Peering out the hall, Zach looked for his friend. Nada. Somehow, the man had eyes everywhere. Had he installed hidden videos cameras or something? “What are you doing, you perv?”

“Saving your ass, that's what.” he answered crispily. “Just like you wanted me to, remember?”

Daniel groaned. He saw Char watching him with wide eyes. He offered her a reassuring smile. She smiled back and his heart raced. He was screwed.

“Hey, are you there?” Zach demanded in his ear, probably pacing. “That girl is our friend. And you're in way over your head this time, buddy.”

“No, I'm not.” The reply was automatic. “Quit spying on me.”

“She's Charlotte Winston,” Zach said urgently, ignoring his command. “Charlotte freaking Winston. Your friend since sixth grade.”

“So?” Daniel glanced to the side. Char had dropped her phone at some point during their kiss. Now she bent over to retrieve it. She smoothed her skirt. Her short, sexy, driving-him-crazy skirt. He gave an appreciative nod.

“She's trouble. Trouble with a capital T.”

“I don't care.” Hmmm. He really loved Char's legs.

“No, listen to me. The last thing we want is for you to hurt her. That is not gonna be a pretty sight. Remember what happened eight years ago?”

“That's over with,” Daniel bit out, starting to get mad.

“You can't involved with your best friend,” Zach declared. “Especially when you know it's wrong.”

“Hey, maybe you can't,” Daniel said with a grin. “but I—”

“Don't go there. You're losing perspective.”

“No, you're losing perspective. It's not a big deal.” Now Char was picking up some clothes on the floor next to her closet. She went lower, making her skirt ride up tantalizingly. Daniel caught a glimpse of lacy white panties. Oh man. “And I'm busy. Turn off your spy cams and go buy yourself some burgers. My treat.”

“Daniel,” It sounded as though Zach was gritting his teeth. “I can say this because I'm out on the deck where no one can hear me, so I'm just gonna let you have it. You're getting stupider by the second. Don't let your dick run your life. This is a volatile situation. Remember why I'm here—”

Char closed her hand over Daniel's, muffling the sound of his friend’s diatribe. “Hang up the phone,” she murmured.

Daniel balked. First Zach's freak out and now this. Usually women didn't tell him what to do.

“Do it,” she urged. “Call him back later.”

“No! Don't you hang up this phone!” Zach yelled, his voice reduced to a tinny screech. “I'll come back there if I have to! You're the one who wanted me here! I'm a buffer, damn it!”

“I'll call you back later,” Daniel said, eyeing Char.

“No! You listen to me,” Zach squawked. “Get your head on straight. Don't let the girl boss you around, damn it. You don't even like take-charge women! You don't have to—”

“No, you don't like take-charge women.” Zach always got that mixed up. Daniel smiled at Char. Damn, she looked good. “I love them. I gotta go.”

He snapped his phone off. He pocketed it, feeling an eager grin spread across his face.

“Veey good,” Char nodded approvingly. “That was easy. I wonder what else I could make you do if I asked?”

He eyed her pert face, her mile-wide smile, her long, long legs. Right now? Just about anything.

“Well, if you said please first,” Daniel hedged, lazily spreading his arms to his sides, “I guess the sky's the limit.”

Something new was staring between them. Something unstoppable. He felt it with every step Char took.

“Hmmm, in that case...” her eyes sparkled as she looked him up and down. She nodded. “Please kiss me again.”

Daniel moved forward. He cupped her cheeks in his hands, marveling in the softness of her skin. He smiled, then lowers his mouth to hers. Char met him with equal fervor. It was as if they'd waited years to share this kiss, eons to feel their bodies touch. One kiss became two. Then three.

“Awwww!” came Leslie's sigh. “So romantic.”

“Yuck.” Ryan scraped his spoon against the last of his icecream, talking around a gigantic mouthful of the stuff. “I'd rather play Call of Duty. I can't believe you dragged me here, Les.”

Huh? Daniel drew back, startled. Mr and Mrs Winston stared back at him with perfect equanimity from the other end of the room, just outside the door, lined up like spectators on the sidelines.

“That was even better that the way you kissed me.” this came from Leslie. Ryan stared at her, all the while making gagging sounds, balancing his now empty bowl in one hand.

“How long have you two been there?” Daniel asked.

“Long enough,” Ryan said. Leslie nodded.

Char groaned and face-palmed herself. Her parents were acting like a bunch of four-year olds.

The Winstons stood, still staring expectantly at Daniel. There was no hope for it except to own up to the situation, he decided. He was a stand-up guy. He knew how to do the right thing, even without Zach perched on his shoulder like Jiminy Cricket.

“Uh..We uh, just.. started.. Uh, experimenting...” he trailed off.

“Yeah, kissing.” Leslie giggled.

Char groaned again. This was so embarrassing.

“And suck face!” Ryan cheered.

Daniel slapped himself mentally. This was going to be a long day.
He looked to Char. Maybe she'd help him out here.

She gave a solemn nod. “Swap spit,” she continued.

She had to be kidding.

Daniel flipped her a a that isn't helping look.

She shrugged and elaborated. “Do the tongue tango.”

Leslie and Ryan nodded. “Lock lips.” they said with amused faces.

Why did Daniel feel like they were doing this to taunt him?

“Get to first base.”

“Play tonsil hockey!”

“Have a little kissy poo.”

“Enough!” Daniel shouted. Were they all crazy? He gave the four of them a severe look. “Bottom line is, it's nobody's business but mind if I want to mack on Char.”

They gawked at him.

“Well, it's kind of my business too,” Char said.

“Yeah, me too. She's kind of my daughter.” Rayn added.

“Are you two going to get married?” Leslie blurted out.

Really? They were planning his marriage now too?

Daniel looked to Char for backup. No help there. She seemed to be enjoying all the chaos. She looked deliciously disheveled too. He would have liked to pick her up, carry her into his room, make her a little more tousled for good measure. Maybe in three or four days he'd let her out ....

Ahem. What the hell happened to his self control?

Deliberately, Daniel cleared his throat. He teed his hands in a time-out signal, needing to regain control of the situation.

Mayhem. He put his fingers in his mouth and whistled.

Everyone shut up. They looked at him expectantly.

“I've got to get to the hospital,” he said, and bailed.

———-

Hopefully, this makes up for the long wait.

Enjoy!

~ Gift.