Read Online Saving Charlie (Stories of Serendipity Book 9) by Anne Conley - Free Book Online

wasn’t too hip on it, so it was just me and Mama. The preacher always talked for what seemed like hours. One time, we were sitting there on the second pew, right where Mama liked to sit, and the lady on the other side of me, Mrs. Willis, farted really loud. Just let one rip, you know? Well, Mama just looked at me, and loud enough for the whole congregation to hear, in one of those loud-whispers, you know? She just looked at me and said, ‘No more beans for breakfast for you, young man,’ and then went right on like nothing had happened. I think she knew Mrs. Willis had done it, and was trying to help her save face, but that was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.”
    His touch had gotten bolder, going from a stroking caress to a soft rub, his palm on her shoulder. She felt herself leaning into it, allowing him to ease her tension with his words and touch.
    Leading him to a bed, she lay down and pulled him down with her. She was banishing old memories with new ones. She rested her head on his shoulder and he put his arm around her. “What’s wrong, Charlie?”
    “I need you to keep talking, Les. It’s helping me.”
    “Okay.” His finger idly traced circles on her upper arm, and she could hear his heartbeat, strong and sure. “Another time, my buddy, Max, and me broke into the girls’ locker room at PE when it was the swim unit and stole all their panties and bras. That weekend we hung them from the Serendipity water tower. That was fun, but only because we didn’t get caught.”
    Charlie’s fingers lazily ran over his stomach, dipping into the valleys between the planes of his muscles through the thin fabric, while she concentrated on her breathing. “More.” His abs tensed under her touch, but he didn’t say anything about it.
    “We did get caught the time we tried to go cow-tipping. Mr. Jenkins didn’t appreciate that much. No sense of humor.”
    Her palm flat on his stomach, she stopped him. “Thank you.”
    “You better now?” His voice was a soft murmur, filled with concern.
    “Yeah. I just went somewhere awful for a little bit, and you were pulling me back to the present.”
    “Do you want to go to a real hotel? We can find a nicer place? Or back to the truck?”
    He was so earnest, and she knew that all she had to do was say the word and he’d be back in the truck, ready to spend the night in the cab again. She shook her head and pasted a smile on her face.
    “No, I’m fine now. Thanks. I’m going to take a shower.”
    “Yeah. Peeyew.” His forced joke wasn’t funny, but welcome nonetheless.
    As she got off the bed and grabbed her bag to take to the bathroom, she slapped his chest and hurt her hand in the process.
    Les’s voice followed her in. “Do you mind if I play a little while you’re in there? Will it bother you?”
    “Not at all!” she called through the door. In fact, it might actually help. The bathroom was more confining than the other room, and there were awful memories of being stuck in bathrooms too.
    Les strummed and sang while she showered off the day’s grime from travelling. Charlie found it immensely comforting, the soothing sounds of his guitar. Some songs she knew, some she didn’t. Others she thought he might just be making up as he went along.
    As she washed her hair, she listened to him hum and sing while he strummed.
    Hmm-mmm…in awe…hmm-hm deity
If she could see…hmm-mmm imprinting my heart…
    She came out of the bathroom, interrupting him accidentally. “That was nice,” she told him since he seemed shocked by her appearance. His face had lost all color, and he was staring at her, eyes wide, as his knuckles turned white, gripping the guitar. “What?”
    His eyes were glued to her legs, which were bare up to her sleep shorts. Finally, he seemed to find his voice and swallowed audibly.
    “You have my name tattooed on your leg.”
    “Well, it’s a misspelled word, actually, but I kept it to remind myself of stupid mistakes I’ve made