me that promise.”
“You didn’t say anything.”
Charlie shrugged. “What mattered was the sentiment. I’ll have plenty of heats after my tour. You can help me
through all of them.” He kissed my jaw. “Y’know, I was thinking about how hot it would be if we were in heat
together.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You were?”
“Yeah. I know the chances of our heats aligning are slim to none, but it’s still a sexy thought, isn’t it?”
“I’m not sure we’d cope.”
“Sure we would. We’d get each other through it.”
I sighed, partly through happiness that he would want to have a joint heat but also through sadness. I’d been
taking heat blockers continuously for twenty-four years. I didn’t even know if I was capable of having heats
anymore.
“You could stop taking the heat blockers,” Charlie said in a daydream tone. “You don’t need them anymore.”
He was right. I hadn’t needed them in a long time, but avoiding the inconvenience of heat had become habit,
especially when I didn’t have anyone to help me through them. Until Charlie, I hadn’t wanted anyone.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Really?”
“Yes. That’s not a promise that I will stop taking them.”
“It’s good enough.” He let out a loud sigh. “We should get dried and dressed.”
“Must we?”
Charlie nodded. “I’m afraid so. We’ve kept Robin waiting for ages.”
I had no idea how long it had been since Robin had first knocked on the door. More than five minutes. More than
ten. Given how lazy a shower we were taking, it was probably going on half an hour. I switched the shower off and
coaxed Charlie onto his feet. I grabbed us both towels so we could get dried and change into clothes that weren’t
stained with slick.
Robin was still knocking on the door.
Charlie rolled his eyes at me and then headed to open the door. “You’d better vanish,” he whispered.
“Your ring.”
He lifted his left hand and stared at the ring on his finger. It was a promise ring, which I’d given him. He’d only
been wearing it for a few days.
His lips turned down. “Do you still have the chain?”
“Yes, one sec. Don’t open the door.”
I slipped into the bedroom and found the ring box and chain. I took the chain back to Charlie and helped him slip
the ring onto it before fastening it around his neck. He tucked it under his T-shirt and gave me a sad smile.
“One day soon, I’m gonna be so proud to wear this ring everywhere I go.” He kissed me, and I knew this was our
final goodbye. “Vanish.”
I went back into the bedroom and shut the door.
Seconds later, I heard Robin’s exasperated voice rising above Charlie’s.
“Everyone is going to be waiting for you, Charlie. Planes don’t wait for anyone. Not even you.”
Charlie laughed. “We’re not gonna miss the plane.”
“No, but there are a lot of reporters who will be very pissed off if they don’t get to ask you their questions before
you get on it.”
“I don’t know why you arranged a press conference anyway.”
“Publicity, Charlie.”
“Why? My tour’s already sold out.”
“Let’s just go. As long as there’s no traffic, we can get to the airport with enough time to answer a couple of
questions. What were you doing anyway?”
“I needed to take a shower,” Charlie responded in an innocent tone.
“You’ve got a guy in there, haven’t you?”
“What if I do?”
“You kept me waiting so you could have sex?”
“Yup.”
I imagined Robin rolling his eyes.
“Come on,” he snapped.
“Yes, boss.”
I sniggered at Charlie’s petulant tone. He really could play the divo when he wanted to.
A heaviness settled over me when the door closed and I realised I was alone. I lay on Charlie’s bed and inhaled
his residual scent. Three months. We’d survive. We’d be okay. But fuck, I was going to miss him so much.
2
Charlie
I ran out on the stage to rapturous applause. My whole body tingled from the positive vibes and energy radiating
from the audience. Seriously, there was no better feeling in the world. My heart thudded, and as the clapping and
cheering died down, I took a moment to take a breath and ready myself. The backing band began to play, and I
launched into the bounciest song off the Live and Learn album, “Heartbeat”. Within seconds, the audience was
jumping, pumping their fists in the air, and singing along with me. Adrenaline coursed through me, lending me the
energy I needed to give them a great performance.
I didn’t have a flashy set like a lot of singers and bands did. It wasn’t like I
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