Page 18 of The Burnt
Declan sat Charlie down on the small couch in the apartment, then grabbed a bottle of scotch from the kitchen counter. He poured out a healthy shot for each of them.
“Here,” Declan said. “Drink.”
Charlie raised his glass, then with a weak grin, clicked his glass on Declan’s. They both took hefty swigs.
“You were amazing out there, you know,” Declan said.
Charlie nodded.
“You handled that guy like a pro.”
He reached up and put his hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “I know what you’re feeling right now. You’re coming down from an adrenaline high. You’re probably in a bit of shock.”
Charlie said nothing. He took another sip of scotch.
“Why don’t I tell you what I’ve been up to? It’ll take your mind off of your big adventure.”
Charlie nodded. “Okay.”
“I found out some surprising things about Archie Whitcher tonight,” Declan started.
“Oh,” Charlie replied.
“He seems to have found God, or something like that after Freddy died. He converted Freddy’s bedroom into almost a shrine.”
Charlie focused on his glass.
“I met his neighbour,” Declan continued. “An interesting character. She took care of Archie. I’m just trying to figure out how deep their relationship went—”
“It’s always going to be this way, isn’t it?” Charlie interrupted.
“What way?”
“The job comes first…before us.”
“Why would you say that?”
“You didn’t even ask how dinner was.”
Declan pulled back. Charlie shifted on the couch and faced him. “I really wanted tonight to be about us. I wanted you to spend some time with Carrie. I wanted you to get to know her, and her to get to know you a bit more. She’s really important to me. More important than most of my family. Sheismy family, you know. And then I got home, and you weren’t here. And then Tyler Chipping attacked me—”
“Look, I’m sorry about dinner tonight. I—”
“I just wish you’d let the police deal with this, but you couldn’t put it off for one night, could you?”
Charlie stood up. “I’m feeling a bit sore. I’m going to go take a hot shower.”
He stormed off into the washroom, peeled off his clothes and threw himself into the shower.
Charlie let the water flood over him. He wondered if he and Declan could ever have anormalrelationship, whatever that was supposed to look like.
He closed his eyes and let the water begin to relax his muscles. After a few minutes, Declan stepped into the shower and pressed his body into Charlie’s. Charlie felt Declan’s coarse chest hair against his back.
Declan reached around and took the soap from the shelf. He lathered up his hands in front of Charlie, then slowly soaped up Charlie’s chest, stomach and below.
Declan leaned his head into him. He kissed Charlie’s ear and whispered, “I’m sorry. I’m not used to putting someone else first. I’ll try to do better.”
Charlie turned. “You promise?”
