It's the next day and I'm getting ready for work. This is Charlie's first time letting me go out on my own and I'm a little nervous for how he's going to handle it. I really want to help him but every instinct inside me is telling me not to leave him alone but I can't listen to them. I have to leave him alone. That's the only way he can heal, if he can see me leave and then always come back.

I twirl my car keys and check my pockets for everything. "I think I'm ready, babe."

Charlie, wearing nothing more than his briefs and a big purple robe, hands me a travel mug of coffee and a reusable lunch bag. He hugs me and kisses my forehead. "I packed you pasta salad, a fruit salad, and a water with a flavor packet." His hands play with my hair and he forces a smile. "I love you. Have a nice day at work and drive safely. There's emergency money in your lunchbox."

I kiss him. "Thank you, babe."

"You're welcome. Gonna miss me?" Charlie smirks, hugging me before stepping back, holding his hands behind his back.

"I always miss you." I promise and cup his cheek. "I'll be back in a few hours. I love you."

He blushes and leans into me. "I like when you say that."

"Good because I love to say it. I like when you say it too." I kiss him and and head for the door.

Charlie runs after me and pulls on my shirt. "I love you, but you haven't given me a proper goodbye kiss." He smirks.

I smirk and pull him against me, kissing him deeply and passionately.

He wraps his arms around me and kisses back eagerly, opening his mouth for me and pulling my hair.

"Mmm," I moan and pull back a little, "don't make me hard before work, baby."

Charlie lets go of me and steps back. "Have a nice day. I'll clean up around here or something. Maybe have dinner ready for when you're home."

"Damn, you're the picture perfect housewife." I chuckle and pick Charlie up and spin him. "I'll be back. I love you." I kiss him again and open the door.

He waves tiredly and grins. "I love you too."

"You've got this." I promise and close the door.

I leave and drive to work, greeting Ante when I get there. Today's mostly a training day, so I just watch the other guys work, occasionally helping out. I'm a natural since I've been working on cars all my life and Ante promises that tomorrow I'll get to work on a car restoration all on my own.

When I leave, I text Charlie that I'm on my way and stop at the grocery store to get him purple flowers and his favorite candybar.

I enter the apartment and smell brownies, mocha, and chicken and dumplings. Once I'm over the smell, I notice Charlie reading in my favorite chair, wearing red combat boots, black ripped skinny jeans, and a white crop top, the same exact outfit he wore the day of the party, the party that we left to fuck for the very first time. His makeup and hair is even done the same and he looks mouthwateringly gorgeous.

"Hey, Superstar," Charlie says, eyes glued to his book.

I walk in, dropping the flowers and candy on the floor and grab his book, tossing it away before kneeling in his lap and kissing him heatedly.

Charlie kisses back and I notice that even the chapstick is the same. He places a hand on my shoulder and breaks away slowly. "You threw my book."

"You wore this the night we first fucked." I say huskily. I know he did it on purpose, there's too much detail.

"Did I? It was just in my drawers." He flutters his eyelashes innocently.

I push his chest against the back of the chair and look into his eyes. "It's naughty to lie, Charlie."

"I'm a naughty boy." He grins.

"Naughty boys deserve to be punished." I whisper and grind against him roughly.

"Sorry, but I'm the one in control today." He runs his fingers through my hair. "I know that you can't say no to me right now." He winks.

I whine and bite his shoulder.

He moans quietly. "Did you bring me stuff? You didn't have to. How was your day?" Charlie asks, looking over my appearance.

I'm clean since I didn't do much. "I did bring you stuff. You didn't even text me once, I'm so proud of you." I kiss his neck. "Work was good, I mostly just observed today."

"That's so nice. Did you like your lunch? Are you hungry?"

"I loved lunch, you're such an amazing cook and dinner smells fucking heavenly." I moan. "Smells like you cooked me some good ol' fashion southern food."

"That's exactly what I did." Charlie giggles and stands up, pulling me up with him and walking to the flowers and candy. "Aww."

I pick them up and present them to him. "Happy first day without me." I giggle. "I love you."

"I love you too." Charlie grins and pecks me before grabbing a vase for the flowers. He pours me a mocha and hands it to me after topping it off with whipped cream. He makes one for himself.

I take it gratefully and down about half of it. "Fuck!" I shake my head. "That's delicious."

"Thank you. I try. Dinner and the first dessert are perfect." Charlie drinks his mocha contently.

"I can't wait." I smile honestly.

He dishes us up. "Where do you want to eat it?"

"Wherever you want!" I bounce excitedly.

"Refill and bing our mugs, please? I'm going to set up in my room. Momo missed you." Charlie smiles and heads to get the trays and everything ready.

I take his mug and refill both of ours before going into his room and setting them where he wants them. I go over to Momo and greet her kindly.

She purrs and I notice that Charlie's done some redecorating. Her home is pirate themed now and she has a sunken ship as a new hiding place. There's even a tiny captain's hat to set on her in the corner.

"That's fucking adorable." I pick up the hat, plop it on her head, and giggle.

Momo stays still, letting it stay on so we can get a good look at it before she shakes it off and goes to run on her wheel.

"Yeah, I did a lot." Charlie giggles and pats the bed. "Wanna eat, Cowboy?"

"Hell yeah. Stuff me, baby." I chuckle and get on the bed.

Charlie sets my standable tray up and feeds me a bit of the chicken and dumpling soup with nervous eyes.

I take it into my mouth and chew lightly, my eyes rolling into the back of my head. "Fuuuuck," I say with my mouth still full. "That's so good."

"Yay." Charlie grins and feeds me with one hand and himself with the other. "I'm glad you like it."

"I'm so blessed." I let him feed me happily. And I really am. I'm so lucky to have found Charlie. He's everything I could've asked for in a life partner and I'm so happy to have him.

He blushes. "Really? Me too."

I nod. "You're amazing, all of you, even the hard parts."

"Even despite the fact that I didn't date you when you first wanted me?" He asks, looking into my eyes.

"Yes," I wrap an arm around him, "you weren't ready to show me all of you yet and that's okay. I'm just happy we're here now and if I got a choice to change it, I wouldn't."

He smiles. "Eat up. We can't have the second dessert until after the first."

I nod enthusiastically and chow down, cleaning my plate.

Charlie gets up to refill our drinks and grab all of the brownies. He returns swiftly, setting the brownies on my tray and grabbing one for himself to eat.

"Yes!" I cheer and throw my hands in the air.

"Pfft. Cutie." He rolls his eyes happily and sips his drink.

I take a bite of the first brownie.

"When you're done eating, I want to talk to you about something." Charlie hums and rests his head on my shoulder, showing it's nothing for me to be nervous about.

"Okay." I kiss his head and eat five brownies before I decide to stop. "Ughhgg I'm so full, you're going to have to fuck it out of me."

"Eeew. No, throw up is gross." He sticks his tongue out.

I stick my tongue back at him and poke his tongue with mine.

Charlie shivers and moves back and looks into my eyes with a serious expression.

"Talk to me." I rest my hand on his hip.

"I want you to do something for me."

"Anything." I promise.

Charlie closes his eyes and uncovers his left arm and holds it out. "I want... Can you design the tattoo that'll cover it up please?"

I rest the palm of my hand over his scar, looking into his eyes. "I'd be honored to."

He opens his eyes and looks into mine. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Charlie." I kiss him tenderly.

Charlie smiles into the kiss. "Also, just to warn you, don't kiss it. I hate when that happens in books and stuff. It happens all the time, and I'm special." He smirks.

"No problem." I say and make a mental note.

He nods and looks at his arm before leaving it uncovered. "Okay, you can fuck me now, we just have trays and stuff in the way."

I chuckle and roll him over, ready to give him the night of his life.

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