Page 91 of For All It's Worth
Chapter Thirty Seven
Max
Charlielookedworriedashe walked up to Books & Biscuits. I caught sight of him walking in quickly, a folder under his arm, as I set out the sandwich board with today’s specials outside the café.
Taking a minute to look at him before he noticed me, I cataloged the changes in him over the last few months. He’d filled out with eating better and his training sessions in the gym. I could see the benefits of his therapy with Evan in the way he walked tall, no longer weighted down with shame over his past.
While we hadn’t shared those three little words, I would soon. I couldn’t hide my feelings anymore. I’d thought I’d been in love with him before rehab, all those years with him as my best friend, but that love paled in comparison to what I felt now. My love for him had grown and changed as he had. It was deeper now, entrenched in the knowledge that we could get through anything together and keep our friendship intact. Now that I knew what it was like to be inside him, to have him accept all my quirks, I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else. I also knew to my bones that my feelings were returned. There was no fear of rejection. He needed me just as much as I needed him.
Charlie caught sight of me then, a grin lighting up his handsome face. I could stare at him for hours, and I probably had over the last few weeks, since that night at Andy and Will’s place. As he drew closer, I could see the affection in his eyes and it settled that little bit of doubt that always lingered. A product of constantly being pushed aside by my mom.
He pulled me into a tight hug and leaned back enough to press a kiss to my lips in full view of everyone in the café and those walking the streets.
There came a whoop from inside that I was pretty sure was made by Kristen and the customers laughed.
Charlie grinned before sobering. “There’s something I have to show you. I don’t want you to worry, I have a plan. Well, if you agree anyway.”
With no idea what was going on, or if I was going to like his plan, I suggested that we head into the office and chat so that nothing was overheard.
There must have been something in our expressions as we crossed the café because nothing was said by anyone inside and their eyes followed us carefully.
In the tiny office, there was only room for a couple of file cabinets, a battered old desk, and a few chairs. Automatically I sank into the large faux leather computer chair and Charlie took an armchair on the opposite side. “What’s going on?”
“First of all. My test results came back and they are clear, but that doesn’t mean I want to change anything about how we have sex. Let’s just play it by ear, okay?”
I nodded. “I got mine back too and same. It’s a relief that you don’t want to change anything because I’m not ready.”
“Probably for the best, it might be a stressful few months soon.”
“What d’you mean?” I asked, starting to get worried.
“That’s my other piece of news. Your building, the café, and everything are being sold.”
It was probably just as well that I was sitting because I felt weak in the knees with that bombshell, my mouth gaping as I took it in. My mind whirred with questions and I didn’t know where to start.
“Max!” Charlie’s words didn’t register, though I was certain he’d been speaking the whole time as my brain tried to process.
“Max, listen. I have it all handled.” He waited until I met my eyes before carrying on. “I’ve been looking to buy some property for a while. I need to move out of Henry’s. I love the guy but it’s awkward with us all together and we all knew it was short-term.” I went to interject because I knew that Henry was his only other friend and I didn’t want to make things weird.
Charlie stopped me, putting up a hand. “I’ve been putting off buying since there hasn’t been anything that caught my interest.” Checking I was still with him and getting a nod in return he continued, “I think I should buy the building.”
“What? There’s no way you can afford that. I know you made a decent profit from the clubs but…”
Charlie cut me off. “I did, and I’ve also sold the last club.” He gave me a look to stop me from speaking. “I’ve been holding onto it as some sort of symbol that I can make successful things as if a year down the line I’ll manage to go back to it. There’s no chance of that. I’m always going to be in recovery.
“With the sale of that club and the money from the other clubs, I can manage to buy the whole building. That means the café, bookshop, and two apartments above.”
He started to look hesitant as if I wouldn’t like the next part of his grand scheme. “Then I thought I could make one part a photography studio and the other part an apartment to live in.”
“That sounds amazing Charlie! I love the idea of the studio, but what about Books & Biscuits?”
“Well, you’d just pay rent until we pay off a loan to do some renovations that are needed to make the apartment a home for us.”
We.
Us.
Did that mean?
