asked. I sighed.
“You honestly want to know?”
“Yes, I honestly do.”
“This seems like something different than simply a come stay with me for a few days request, and I was trying to figure out what made me feel that way and got a bit lost in thought,” I said. Patrick’s deep laugh came through the phone and made me smile, like it always did.
“Stop over thinking it. This is just you and I, spending a weekend together, okay? Making it complicated is something that we’ve both decided we don’t want, independent of each other, right?” he asked. I nodded like he could see me.
“Right,” I agreed.
“Then stop making it complicated. I have the weekend off, and I want to spend it with you. Here, in this house, where we can sit in front of a roaring fire and watch movies all night.”
I laughed. “Alright, no complicated thoughts.”
“Good. Why don’t you come out Friday night?”
“I thought you had practice Friday.”
“I do, we’re only off Saturday and Sunday. But I want you here Friday. I’ll be okay,” he said. I sighed, concerned for him.
“Alright, but if you come home sore and exhausted, I’m putting you to bed.”
“Yeah you are,” he said, a teasing tone in his voice. I laughed.
“Nasty.”
“Takes one to know one.” He replied.
Chapter 7
The next morning, my phone rang bright and early. I rolled over to grab it from my night stand and squealed as the sun light shining through the window blasted me across the face.
“Oh my goodness, what,” I mumbled as I answered the call. There was a laugh in response.
“Wake up, Auntie Jacinta. Come out to the practice with me and Alton today,” Charlotte’s voice said. It took me a few moments to get my mind around what the hell she was talking about.
“The Bullet’s practice?”
“Of course! We can’t see our guys because they’re always out there and Al loves being outside, so let’s go watch them practice.”
“I’m pretty sure the practices are private,” I said, throwing my arm across my eyes in an effort to shut out the light. It wasn’t working very well.
“To most, yes. But not to us. We’re special, and I already got permission. Come on, get up,” she said. I sighed. What the hell.
“Are you coming to get me?” I asked.
“Sure. I’ll bring Starbucks,” she said, over the sound of a squeal and gurgle from my favorite, chubby faced drool monster.
"You know me so well.” I kicked off the covers. Charlotte laughed just as a crash sounded in the background of her call.
“Um, is everything okay?” I asked. Char sighed.
“Damn it. Al is still discovering gravity and I forgot to staple down the blu ray player. We might need to go to the electronics store later today.” She groaned. I stifled a laugh and shuffled towards the bathroom.
“Alright. I’m going to hop in the shower, but I’ll unlock the door so you can come in.”
“You’re trying to get off of the phone before you laugh, aren’t you?”
“You ruin it all if you state what I’m doing, Char. Bye,” I said with a grin, ending the call and starting the hot water.
~~~
I emerged from the bedroom to Charlotte sipping her coffee alone in the living room. I looked around, confused.
“Where is Al?” I asked. Char calmly swallowed her sip of coffee and handed me my cup.
“In the closet,” she said. I blinked at her.
“Why is Al in the closet?” I asked, trying to ignore the fact that it wasn’t a normal question to have to ask.
“Because he crawled in there and now screams whenever I open the door,” she said calmly.
“And we’re okay with this?” I asked. Char nodded.
“There’s nothing on the lower shelf for him to pull down, and I know where he is,” she said. I thought