went on occasional dates. Though he had admitted that he didn’t stay celibate for as long as he would have liked. Stevie only smiled. She couldn’t ever fault Charles for his actions. When he had caught her up on his life, she had told him about meeting Clara, how she met Julian again, and confessed that Julian had been the first man she had been with since him. Charles had winced, but she had looped her arms around his and promised him that she’d never speak of Julian to him again. It hurt him, and it hurt her. Julian was a tough limit for them both.
Stevie peeked down at Charles sleeping on the floor and smiled. He had argued with her over the bed situation. Although the Cole beach house had several free rooms, Charles had wanted to stay with her. So he took a blanket from one the closets and a pillow from the bed and slept on the hardwood floor. Reaching for the bedside table, she took one more glance at his peaceful state before she picked up her phone. Then, as gently and as slowly as she could, she tiptoed towards the balcony doors. Carefully, she opened them and stepped onto the balcony that overlooked the beach. It was cold, but Stevie didn’t mind. The cool prickles were a relief from the torment that ravaged her chest and sometimes would settle in the pit of her stomach. She leant against the railing and switched on her phone. When the home screen came to life, she had no new messages and no missed calls. Her heart sank. She had been right. No one missed her.
She wiped away the ridiculous tear that ran down her cheek and messaged her mother.
Stevie: Hey, I’m safe. Charles and I made it to Brighton okay. When I get back, we’ll talk about Paris. There’s nothing left for me in Melbourne. Good night.
It took seconds for her mother to reply.
Maman: That’s good to hear, Stéphanie. Maybe you need to start fresh. We’ll discuss when you come back. Would you like me to talk to your papa?
Stevie: No. He said all he needed to. It’s not up to him anymore. I want to go to Paris. I just have to discuss this with Charles. He won’t let me go so willingly.
Maman: He didn’t mean those things. He loves you.
Stevie: I know. But I have nothing back there. I can’t face him after what’s happened.
Maman: And what will you do about Charles?
Stevie: I’m not sure. We’ll figure it out. Charles and I always do.
Once Stevie locked her phone, she returned to the bedroom and closed the balcony doors behind her, instantly appreciating the warmth of the room. She made her way to where Charles slept and lay next to him. His arms wrapped around her within seconds.
“Can’t sleep?” he asked into her hair.
Stevie turned in his hold so that her chest rested against his. “No.”
Charles took a deep breath and then his body relaxed. “I’ve missed you, Stevie.”
“Will you ever forgive me, Charlie?” she asked.
“For what?”
“If I decide to move to Paris with her,” she answered.
“It makes visiting you a little easier than if you go back to Melbourne. I’d rather you stayed with me. But whatever makes you happy. Don’t make decisions based on what makes me happy. Base them on what will make you feel liberated, able to breathe freely.”
She gently pressed her palms on his solid chest, relishing at how good he felt; how safe and content he made her. “Then I choose you.”
He hugged her just that little bit more. “Give yourself some time, Stevie. Don’t rush yourself. When you’re ready, you’ll know what choice to make. Here or there, I’ll support the decisions you make.”
“You’re too good to me, Charlie,” she whispered as she closed her eyes and slowly fell asleep to the rhythm of his breathing.
“What’s got you down, little Moors?” Mitch, the bartender, asked.
But Julian didn’t reply. Instead, he watched the froth of his freshly poured beer start to fizzle out. It had been four days since he’d watched those elevator doors close. It had been four days since he’d gotten Stephanie fired. It had been four days since he last saw her. It was the four worst days of his life. He knew he was cruel, but he couldn’t contain it. He was hurting over the fact that he would have had a child. He’d be a father. But she took away that opportunity when she had kept