One Golden Summer(78)

His gaze lands on the smudge of toothpaste that’s landed on my top.

I scowl. “It’s hard with my left hand.”

Charlie holds out his palm, and I raise my eyebrows. “Seriously?”

“I’m always serious.”

I hesitate for a moment, then hand Charlie the toothbrush. I stare at him, suddenly feeling more vulnerable around him than I have in a long time.

“Open up,” he says, gently taking my chin in his hand. He starts with the bottom molars, completely focused on doing a good job. When his gaze flicks to mine, an all-too-short shock of green, my chest squeezes. Charlie Florek is brushing my teeth, and it’s possibly the most intimate experience of my life. I grip the counter behind me because my legs are beginning to hollow out.

“You know what I was just thinking?” he says, voice low.

I shake my head.

“After tonight, we will have finished everything on your list.”

My eyes go wide.

“As long as you’ve taken one good photo, it’ll be done,” he says. “Minus the backflip.”

“Wow,” I try to say, and Charlie smiles.

“Spit,” he says. And I do.

He takes my chin again, moving to the upper teeth.

“I missed you last week.” His voice is rough, scraping down my body like a calloused palm. He’s still concentrating on the task at hand, and I can’t reply. “I couldn’t wait to get back. I didn’t stop the entire drive here. I felt like I’d left my family behind when I was in the city.” His eyes find mine. “You’re important to me, Alice. I just wanted to say that in case you don’t know. This year has been hard, and I’m not sure how I would have coped without you this summer.”

I let Charlie finish, and take a moment to wash my face with cool water. I meet his eyes in the mirror. “You’re important to me, too.”

With a hand on my shoulder, Charlie turns me to face him. He tucks a stray curl that’s fallen out of my bun behind my ear.

“I don’t want the summer to end,” I tell him.

“We can pretend it won’t.” His tone is casual, but his gaze is heavy.

The air shimmers around us. We stare at each other for one charged breath, and then we collide like knights on a battlefield. We kiss and bite and taste each other. Our mouths are ravenous. And so are Charlie’s hands, which move over every inch of skin he can find. Mine track his ridges and valleys. My shirt is off. His hands are on my waist, lifting me up. I sit on the counter, legs spread, reaching for his pants as he’s sliding off my pajama shorts.

He swears, bringing his mouth to my chest. I lean my head back against the mirror, naked. He curses again. “I missed you so much, Alice.”

We freeze at the sound of Bennett’s voice.

“Auntie Ali? Charlie?”

“One sec,” I call. “Just brushing my teeth.”

I rush to get my jammies back on, glaring at Charlie, who’s doing his best not to laugh.

My heart doesn’t return to a normal rate until Bennett and I are back in the tree house and she’s fast asleep. But then I remember Charlie’s voice.

I missed you so much, Alice.

My pulse begins to soar once more.





41


Friday, August 15

17 Days Left at the Lake

I’m fixing tea the day after the tree house sleepover while Nan is on the phone with John. They’ve been talking a few times a week since the night of the party.

“That would be lovely,” I hear her say. “But I don’t have a way to get there.”

“Get where?” I ask when she’s hung up.

“John’s invited me for lunch, invited us all for lunch, actually, but it’s too far.”

I search for directions to Ottawa on my phone. “It’s only two hours away.”

“What’s two hours away?” Charlie asks. He and Bennett have just come back from a Jet Ski ride.

“Ottawa,” Nan and I reply.

“What’s in Ottawa?” Bennett asks, walking into the cottage in flip-flops and a wet shirt.

“My friend John,” Nan tells her.

“Let’s take a road trip,” Charlie suggests. “You’re closer here than you will be in Toronto, and I’ve been meaning to visit John all summer.”

“I want to come,” Bennett says, and we all glance at her. “I’ve never been to Ottawa.”

Charlie looks to me. “What do you say, Auntie Ali?”

I turn to Nan. “Let’s ask John if he’s free tomorrow.”



* * *





Charlie and I formulate a plan that night over text. We’ll take my car. I’ll drive there, and he’ll drive back.

    Me: I think we should give Nan and John some time alone tomorrow.

Charlie: Sure. We can grab a bite downtown and take Bennett to Parliament Hill while they talk.

Me: Thanks for doing this with me.

Charlie: You don’t need to thank me, although there are other things I’d rather be doing.

Me: Care to enlighten me?

Charlie: Did I ever tell you that you’re trouble?

Me: If you’re not in the mood for trouble, I’ll just have to read page 179 again.