Charlie's POV
"Thomas, I… I cant do this. I wont wait for you to choose me. I need you to not contact me for a few days, I need to be left alone." I hung up the phone before he could say anything, I was angry but I was more hurt than anything. If the rolls were reversed and some guy was putting my relationship with him in danger I like to think I'd tell him to kick rocks but I also know his family is kind of odd with feelings and maybe this is hard for him to deal with, either way I cannot talk to him or I may say something I will regret.
I set the phone down and choked back the tears, instead I went to take a shower and get ready for bed which really was just the couch due to not paying rent on my house for months. I laid down to go to sleep and laid for almost two hours as my mind raced about the whole situation with Tillie, I didn't feel quite so bad being with Thomas after meeting her, he definitely couldn't stand her and there wasn't any clear signs of affection on her part either except maybe for the position the marriage would afford her. I finally started to doze off when I woke from the same nightmare I had the night before, normally he would hold me and feeling his warmth and knowing he was safe it allowed me to go back to sleep but now I just couldn't be with him till this whole Tillie thing got worked out, I would need to learn to sleep without him.
I tossed and turned only dosing off for what felt like only minutes at a time and at 5am I couldn't take it anymore, I took another shower to wash the sleepiness away and I went into the kitchen to make breakfast. As I requested Thomas didn't call me and another day went by and another restless night.
"Honey, you need to sleep, I think you need to just call him sweety."
"MOM! You know why I cant do that, he is engaged to someone else, now I wont hear anymore of it. Now can I use your car to the grocery store or would you like me to take the bus?" She slid over the keys and gave me a smile with her lips pursed before saying: I only want you to be happy.
"I know mom, I love you" I gave her a kiss and left for the store.
I walked through the aisles I realized that starving and pregnant was probably the worst time to come to the store. I looked down at my cart and couldn't help but laugh. Olives, pickles, bacon and peanut butter, not really anything coherent so I'll add in ice cream and cheese and call it a day, as I walked over to the desired aisle I heard a voice I recognized: Charlotte?
I turned around to see none other then Tillie and her sickly-sweet smile to which I returned: Charlie actually, although you can call me Charlotte if you want to I suppose only Thomas calls me Charlie.
Take that Tillie MacinBitch
Her lips pursed as she tried to maintain her smile and her nose flared giving away her anger: Oh, well Charlie it is then. What are you doing here Charlie?
"Well, its a grocery store so I'm grocery shopping."
"I thought for sure Thomas would be taking care of your every need and desire like the slutty mistress that you are" I was completely floored at how she was speaking to me, so much so that my mouth opened wide and a small nervous chuckle escaped: Tillie I didn't even know you existed until we were on the plane home, I'm no mistress and in fact I even told Thomas to not call me till he… gets some things taken care of.
"And by some things you mean me, yes I figured that's why he wanted to "Talk to me" but I put a little wrench in his plans. Once he spends some time away from you and back with his family who will show him reason it will just be a matter of time before he's mine again"
"Why do you even care, do you even love him?"
She smiled at me and tilted her head: Just keep your home wrecking hands away from him, If I find out that you're still seeing him, there will be consequences.
"Are you seriously threatening me over a man you don't even care about? Classy" Her face darkened, and her upper body leaned into whisper: It wasn't a threat, it was a fact, here's my threat. You have no idea what I am capable of, so stay away from Thomas or you might find yourself having an accident.
"Okay first off, don't fucking threaten me, you have no idea who I am and secondly I think Thomas is the one you need to be talking to about this, not me and third stay the fuck away from me or I'll call the cops"
I pulled my cart away from her and she didn't say another word, she just stared at me smiling. I got the rest of my items and checked out of the grocery store to go home and make my bacon, peanut butter, pickle and cheese sandwich which was amazing.
That night I tried to sleep but it was now 6 am and once again I slept minutes at a time, and what little sleep I got was accompanied by nightmares and each time I would wake up I just felt more tired and now 3 nights in more anxiety and dread as well. My mom came in to make coffee and saw me dazed sitting in the recliner rocking slightly.
"Honey… you okay?
"Hmm? Oh… yeah, I'll be fine mom"
I went into the bathroom to take a shower and help me wake up for the day, I let the hot water run down my body and relax my sore muscles. If I laid down in the shower I could probably go to sleep but I knew my mom needed to get ready for work. I got out of the shower and dressed myself for the day.
"Mom I'm going to go for a walk, love you, bye!"
"Uh… no lets drink some coffee together first"
"Mom you have to get to work, we'll hang out later" She tried to protest but I opened the door to leave and found Thomas standing outside of the door with his knuckles raised about to knock.
We looked at each other as if each one was assessing the others health, he looked about as exhausted as I felt. We stared at each other for a minute before I turned to my mother to see a guilty look on her face. I shook my head before looking back at him.
"Charlie, will you let me help you please?"
The way he said my name sent shivers down my spine and my entire body felt a wave of relaxation causing me to almost collapse if it wasn't for him catching me. He lifted me in his arms and walked into the house, I felt dizzy and wanted to protest but I heard my mother directing us to her bedroom: Both of you look like you could use some rest. I'll be at work for the next 9-10 hours so get some sleep.
He laid me on the bed and scooted his body in right next to me, pulling me tightly against him. I felt my entire body melt into his and it was as if I were finally at home and safe. I could feel his body do the same as he let out a whisper: Just rest, you can tell me how much you hate me when you wake.
"I dont ha..." I fell into blissful sleep.