Page 41 of Without You
There is no me without you
My arms are so empty without you
The sun don’t shine without you
It’s always night without you
My heart don’t beat without you
Just can’t breathe without you
By the time the song ended, her cheeks were wet and she sat on one of the barstools because she couldn’t stand anymore.
This song…what did it mean? Terrence wrote this song for her. Right? Was this the song he was listening to last night? The one that made him finally accept they would never be a couple again?
Charisse dried her cheeks with a paper towel and then figured out how to turn off the system. She went back to cooking breakfast, mind racing, wondering if there was a chance for them after all.
* * *
Terrence walked barefootinto the wide open space of the living room. He squinted against the sun and the way it exacerbated his headache. Was the sun always this bright in the morning?
“Good morning. How do you feel?” Charisse asked. She looked bright-eyed and had probably been awake for hours.
“Like crap. How’d you sleep?”
“Good.” She held out a glass of brown-looking liquid and he groaned.
“You know I hate this.” He took the drink anyway.
“It’s good for you, and it works.” She handed him two aspirin. “I made breakfast.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
They were having a very civil conversation, which he appreciated. If for no other reason, they needed to get along for the sake of their kids.
“Sorry about last night.” He dry-swallowed the aspirin and sniffed the hangover drink. It smelled like a spicy vegetable smoothie, and he wanted none of it, but she was right, it worked. Holding his breath, he swallowed a large amount of the thick beverage.
He set the half full glass on the counter. Charisse was staring at him.
“What?” he asked.
“Why were you at Waterfall Estates last night?”
“I don’t know. Drunk and living in the past. I’m sorry you had to pick me up.”
In the light of morning, he was more than embarrassed by his actions. He’d been reckless and could have hurt himself or someone else. But listening to “Without You” in a constant loop destroyed him. Broke him down into an empty vessel. His own words drove home the hopelessness of his situation, and so he’d felt compelled to go there, back to the house where they had lived together as a family under one roof.
Charisse’s lower lip trembled, and he clenched his fists, wanting to grab and hold her, but knowing he didn’t have the right. “I’m sorry. I know I messed up again, sweetheart—”
She covered her face and sobbed louder now.
Dammit. He’d really screwed up now.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He wrapped her in his arms. He rubbed her back and whispered in her ear, “It’s okay.”
He closed his eyes and took a moment to appreciate her soft, feminine form and the sweetness of her scent. If he could keep her here forever, he would.
Charisse eased back and he released her. She wiped away the tears.
