Incinerate Read online

  Coming back into the living room, she goes over to my movie collection to see what I have. She pulls out The Departed and holds it up to me. “Is it cool if I put this in?”

  Is she fucking kidding me? Not only is that probably my favorite movie in my collection, but it’s kinda hot that she’s not wanting to watch a chick flick.

  “Seriously? Do you actually like it or are you just picking that because I don’t have any rom-coms on my shelf?”

  Rolling her eyes, she goes about putting the movie in before she rejoins me on the couch. “I love this movie. I mean, come on. It has Mark Wahlberg AND Leo DiCaprio, hot cops, gangs, and the mob. What’s not to love?”

  “You’re pretty fucking awesome, you know that?” Shit, that was supposed to be an internal thought, but instead it came out before I could stop it. It’s true though, and the more I get to know Charlie, the more I realize I’m actually beginning to like her.

  Turning towards me, she smirks at me. “It only took you a week to figure that out? I guess you’re not as slow as I thought.”

  “Hey, my brain was scrambled on the Afghan concrete a couple of months ago. Cut me some slack, sweetheart.”

  “And there it is again. I was wondering if we’d be able to make it through one conversation without you calling me that, but I guess not.”

  I shrug, not sure what to tell her. “That’s your fault. You’re just so damn sweet that I can’t help it.”

  She laughs as she settles into the couch and hits the play button on the remote. It’s weird since she’s practically a stranger, but I feel more comfortable around her than I have around anyone else in a really long time.

  About an hour into the movie, I find that I’ve been watching her more than the show, and I can’t help but feel ridiculous jealousy when she comments on how she’d love to be in a Mark/Leo sandwich. It’s irrational, but the part of me that wants her can’t help it, even if I’ve already resolved not to go there.

  She must feel the burning on the side of her face from my watching her because she finally turns away from the television to look at me, mistaking my staring for something else.

  “What’s up? You all right? Need a pillow for your back or your arm or something? You can just ask me if you need anything. That’s what I’m good for, remember? I refuse to get you a bell to ring whenever you need something, but I don’t mind you asking.”

  Shaking my head, I tell her, “No, it’s not that.” And she frowns at me.

  “Oh, geez, do I have pizza sauce on my face? I swear, Dad’s been telling me since I was a kid to slow down while eating it, but it’s my favorite and I get a little crazy whenever I have it in front of me,” she says, looking at me sheepishly as she wraps her sleeve around her hand and goes to town trying to wipe off her face.

  I know I should tell her that’s not it either, but I’m getting a fucking kick out of watching her, which causes me to chuckle. She stops what she’s doing and her eyes narrow.

  “I don’t have sauce on my face, do I?” she asks.

  “Nope, but it was pretty damn hilarious watching you try to get it all off,” I tell her, prompting her to scowl at me.

  “Well, then why the hell were you staring at me, you creep?” she asks as she turns the TV down a little bit.

  “I was just remembering something that Jace told me last night, and I realized that I still don’t know that much about you.”

  Her forehead wrinkles as she turns towards me. “What’d he say?”

  “He was telling me about how you work at Austin Peay.”

  Nodding, she answers me. “Yep, I work as the liaison in the Veterans Affairs office. If you’re looking to get back into school, I’m your girl.”

  “Nah, I’m good. I finished up my degree in International Relations when I was in Iraq in 2008 and right now I have no desire to go back to school. Maybe one day. How long have you been working there?”

  “Umm, it’s been a little over two years. I like it. It’s how I found out about this volunteering gig, and it’s nice to help out the military in the community, making sure that they’re using their benefits in the most efficient way and all that.”

  She’s not looking at me as she’s talking, and I wonder if there’s more to the story. “Have you been in Clarksville since your dad was stationed at Ft. Campbell?”

  She shakes her head and takes a long sip of her wine. “No. Dad’s been here for about ten years. Unusual for the Army, but with his surgical position, they haven’t made him relocate too many times. He has gone on several tours overseas, though. Once I graduated high school, I decided to go to UT to be close to him, and then I got a job in Nashville, working at Bell South.”

  “So how’d you end up back here? Were you looking to be back in the area?” I’m genuinely curious about how she ended up back here, and this seems like a step in the right direction of getting to know her.

  She’s playing with the strings on the sweatpants she changed into earlier. Not looking at me, she answers. “About two years ago, my boyfriend at the time got an academic job at Austin Peay and wanted me to come with him. I lucked out that there was a position open. At the time there was no question about moving here, especially with Dad being so close by.”

  I’m wondering if this is the asshole she alluded to during that whole cheating miscommunication thing. “And you’re not dating him now?”

  “No. Absolutely not,” she says abruptly. “That’s been over for months.”

  I know I’m pushing my luck, but my curiosity gets the best of me. “So what happened there?”

  She looks up at me, no longer avoiding my gaze. She shrugs before challenging me. “Are you going to tell me all about your sordid past and what made you so quick to think I was a cheating whore?”

  Jesus, she doesn’t ever hold back from what she’s thinking. I shake my head, knowing that I’m not touching that topic with a ten-foot fucking pole.

  “Yeah, I didn’t think so. Look, we both have issues with our pasts—obviously—and we’re not ready to talk about them. So let’s just leave it at that, okay?”

  “Sounds good to me,” I tell her. And it does, because as much as I want to know about this guy, I have no desire to talk to her about Megan and bring all that back up.

  She settles back into the couch and turns the volume back up. We finish the rest of the movie in a comfortable silence as we polish off the rest of the wine. I’ve never really been a wine drinker, so it surprises me how relaxed I feel by the end of the movie. For the first time since I can remember, I think I’ll actually be able to go to bed without having to take a pill, and I’m so fucking thankful for that. Sure, replacing a pill with alcohol isn’t exactly ideal, but it’s kind of a step in the right direction. Okay, maybe not, but for right now, that’s what I’m telling myself.

  Once the movie is over, she stretches, making a show of how tired she is. I’m racking my brain to come up with a way to get her back in my bed again. The thought of waking up to her wandering fingers crosses my mind, and I smile at the memory even though I know there’s not going to be a repeat performance. Getting up from the couch, she collects our empty glasses and takes them to the kitchen. She comes back into the room, lingering by the hall.

  “I’m going to hit the sack. I’m exhausted,” she tells me, yawning wide.

  I nod, and she starts to walk away.

  I can’t let this night end with that, so I speak without thinking. “Hey, Charlie?”

  She turns around and looks at me, waiting for my next thought.

  “Friends?” is all I can get out, and I know I sound lame as hell.

  But then she smiles wide at me. “I’d love that, Knox. Friends sounds great,” she confirms before she turns away and I watch her gorgeous ass walk down the hall.

  My dick isn’t exactly soft anymore, and the thought of getting in the shower crosses my mind, but I’m not about to have a repeat performance now that Charlie’s in the house. Situating myself, I settle in on the couch to watch mor
e TV, trying to get her out of my mind.

  THE REST of the week passes quickly as we fall into a comfortable routine, and surprisingly, we haven’t argued in days. She officially has to be out of Lucy’s apartment today, so she ended up spending the night there last night. As she was leaving, she let me know, telling me that she wanted one last night with her friend before she left for the summer. I shrugged like it was no big deal, but later on in the night I had to keep the television on for background noise because it was too damn quiet without her around. She’s only been here for less than a week and I’m already getting too used to having her in my space.

  I told myself that it was just the conversation I missed, but deep down I know it was the company, too. All week we’ve hung out together in the living room, talking, getting to know each other, and just sitting in silence, watching whatever movie she chose for the night. After those first couple of days, I was afraid that the whole friends thing wasn’t going to be easy, but I’m finding that I was wrong, and for once, it’s actually nice to have a chick for a friend.

  I wanted to help her pack and move, but she refused to tell me where Lucy lives. Sure, I could ask Kale, but I decided to respect her opinion and just let her do it. I’m trying not to pace the living room as I wait for her, and I’m surprised that I care so much. A week ago I was pissed as hell that Jace had suggested this, but now I can’t wait for her to get back. Since she’s been here, she’s filled a loneliness I didn’t even know I was feeling. I’m already struggling with the silence when she’s away at work, so the whole night without her seemed incredibly long.

  A car pulls into the driveway, and it takes everything in me not to cross to the door and go to help her, but I know she’ll just fight me on it. Moments later, the door opens and Charlie walks in, her arms carrying a couple of boxes, and she looks irritated as she sets them down. Looking at me, she mouths the words, “I’m sorry,” and I’m confused until an older dark-haired man enters behind her, also carrying a box along with a guitar case slung over his shoulder.

  Charlie takes the box from him, and he slides the case onto the ground, propping it up against the wall. When he turns back to us, he’s sizing me up and down. I do the same, not threatened by the man who is obviously her dad. She’s the spitting image of the guy, and my guess is that he’s come to check me out—something I can respect, as his daughter’s just moved in with a stranger. And a soldier. I’d probably lock my daughter up if she told me she was going to do that.

  “Dad brought you that guitar, Knox,” she informs me, and my brow furrows, wondering why he’d think I’d want to play a musical instrument. “He thought it’d be a good way to use your hands until your cast comes off. And if you can teach yourself, it’ll give you something to fill your time.”

  Looking from the guitar case to her dad, especially since I already know how to play, I’m actually grateful that he was thoughtful enough to think of me. It’s actually an intriguing idea, and I wouldn’t mind jamming out to some of my favorite country songs. “Thank you, sir. It’s been a really long time since I’ve played. I have no idea if I still have any skill, but I’ve never been one to turn down a challenge. I look forward to picking it back up.”

  He reaches out his hand to me. We shake, his firm grasp matching mine. I feel a little uneasy, standing in my living room in nothing but basketball shorts and my brace, meeting her dad for the first time. I know it’s no big deal—she’s just my roommate—but for some reason I don’t want to give him any reason to try to talk her out of this.

  “Wade Davenport. I’m Charlie’s old man, if you can’t tell. My girl got her momma’s figure but my eyes and nose,” he says, ruffling her hair, causing her to scowl.

  “Nice to meet you, sir. Charlie’s told me a little bit about you. I’m Knox. Knox Wellington.”

  “Likewise, kid, and I’ve heard about you, too. Can’t promise they were all good things though,” he deadpans. I have no idea if he’s serious or not. “Which leads to me to the reason that I’m here.”

  Rolling her eyes, Charlie walks into the kitchen and comes back out with three beers, handing one to each of us before sitting down on the couch. I follow her, and Wade stands in front of us, making me feel like a teenager who just got caught with his hand down his girlfriend’s pants.

  “Darlin’, don’t you have stuff to be getting out of the car?” he asks her, obviously wanting this to be a guy talk.

  “It can wait.” She crosses her arms and hardens her jaw, challenging him. He chuckles, shaking his head before he faces me.

  “All right, Knox, I’m gonna cut to the chase. If my little girl is—” He’s cut off before he can finish as Charlie rises from her spot on the couch.

  “Yeah, I’m not sitting around listening to ‘my little girl’ talk. I think I will go get more stuff from the car after all,” she says, hurrying outside, leaving me alone with her dad.

  He takes a drink of his beer and sits down in the recliner on the wall next to the couch. “I have to admit, I was already planning on my girl moving back home, so I was shocked as hell when she told me she was moving in with you. I may have hijacked her moving day so I could check you out. Your last three COs all give you glowing recommendations and speak highly of your character, but she’s my only daughter.”

  “You spoke with my commanding officers?” What the hell? He must really be an overprotective father, but I can’t say I blame him.

  “Hell yes I did. My girl may be stubborn as hell, but if you didn’t check out, there’s no way I’d let her step foot in this house.”

  Swallowing my beer, I nod at him. “I respect that, sir.”

  “You can cool it with the sir bullshit. I’m not your officer. We’re not in uniform. It’s not necessary.”

  “Uhh, my bad. It’s just habit, I guess.” I’m suddenly wishing I’d gone out to help Charlie unpack her car. I’m not used to this scrutiny from a father, and hell, we’re only friends.

  “All right, Knox. Do you intend to date my daughter?”

  I almost choke on the beer I just drank, and I’m completely caught off guard by his question. “No, not, absolutely not. I have no intention of dating her. We’re just roommates. Friends in a bind who are both helping each other out. I swear, that’s all it is.”

  “Why not? Something wrong with her? Is she not good enough for you?”

  Holy shit, what’s with the third degree? I’m not sure what he wants me to say, so I decide just to be completely honest. “There’s nothing wrong with her, but I’m not at a place in my life where I’m looking for a relationship. Charlie’s beautiful, and I love having her around, even if she’s stubborn and infuriating at times. That being said, I have no intention of pursuing anything beyond a friendship. I can promise you that.” What I don’t tell him is that I’ve fantasized about her naked, in my bed, her hands exploring even further than she did last weekend when she thought I was asleep. Something tells me he wouldn’t appreciate knowing I have those thoughts.

  Wade’s face breaks out in a smile and he starts laughing. He leans over and pats my shoulder. “I’m just messing with you, Knox. Charlie told me you two were just friends and it was going to stay that way. I really just wanted to meet you for myself. What kind of dad would I be if I let my only daughter move in with some guy I didn’t at least check out?”

  “Well, you don’t have to worry about me, sir. I’ll take good care of her.”

  He rises and walks to the door, presumably to help her move the rest of her stuff in. Before he opens it, he looks at me one last time. “You do that, Knox. She’s all I’ve got.”

  IT’S BEEN three weeks since that nearly mortifying incident with Dad, and I’m still kicking myself for leaving the room. Dad stayed around and helped me get situated, and he talked to Knox more than he talked to me. I like that they were getting along, but I’m more than curious as to what they discussed that day.

  “Dude, this is so fucking awesome!” Knox exclaims, interrupting my thoughts. When I tur
n to look at him, he’s standing in the middle of the living room in his usual getup of basketball shorts and nothing else. I swear, he has allergy to shirts, because he’s always walking around this place without one on. Not that I’m complaining. He’s rubbing a towel over the top of his head, drying off from the shower he just took, and I can’t stop staring, wishing I were the towel rubbing all over him.

  “Umm, dude, what is so awesome?” I ask, even though I know exactly what he’s talking about it. It’s been a week since he was able to get rid of the brace. He’s been in heaven not having to bother with it, but I personally miss the close moments when I had to put it on or take it off.

  He holds up his left arm, which is now free from its cast. When Dr. Branch told him he could lose it at his checkup this morning, he couldn’t stop smiling. I’m equally happy for him. He’s like a kid on Christmas morning, and he’s been that way ever since he left the doctor’s office.

  “I’m finally free. It feels so damn good.” He moves towards the couch and pulls me to my feet, wrapping his arms around my waist and spinning me around the living room. I know he’s been cleared, but I still worried that he’s going to reinjure himself if he’s not careful. Trying to get out of his arms, I squirm, which causes him to tighten his arms around me. Finally, I just give in. After a few moments, we’re both laughing, and he stops suddenly.

  “Okay, I’m going to make myself puke if I spin anymore. We have to celebrate. Let’s go out tonight,” he suggests, looking down at me.

  I try to push away the butterflies that flutter within me. “Sounds good to me. I think Jace is in Cincinnati this weekend, but we can see what Kale’s up to if you want,” I suggest, happy that he’s got something to celebrate. I love seeing him in high spirits, and hopefully this is the beginning of his mood swings ending.