Page 33 of Charlie Sunshine
Still shaky, Charlie wraps his arm around my waist so I can take a little bit of his weight as we move slowly out of the room and through the foyer. I’m amazed that we’re not attracting any attention.
I look at Jamie, and he smiles. “Told the staff what had happened and asked that nobody stared or fussed.”
I nod in gratitude. Together we get Charlie into the lift, and he slumps against me. I wrap my arms around him, and he nestles closer, shivering. Jamie drapes the blanket around his shoulders. “We’ll soon be in the room,” he says earnestly to Charlie.
It takes a few minutes, but we finally stagger down the corridor to Charlie’s room, and by the time we get to the door, Charlie is moving a bit more surely. I let us in, and he lowers himself to the bed while I make a beeline to the bathroom to start the shower.
Jamie follows me in. “You’re surely not showering him now?”
I nod, testing the temperature with my fingers. “He’s cold, and he always feels gritty and dirty when he comes round.”
“Isn’t he too fuzzy?”
“I’ll get in with him. Won’t be the first time.”
“Can you take his weight?”
I look at him in incomprehension. “Of course. I’d never risk Charlie. Surely you know that?”
He smiles and shakes his head. “I know a lot more than I did, that’s for sure.”
“What do you mean?” I grab some towels and put them ready on the side.
Jamie shrugs, a wry look on his face. “I never stood a chance with Charlie.”
I straighten up. “Sorry?”
He shakes his head again. “Never mind. He’s gorgeous and a lovely person, but he’s not for me.” He smiles suddenly. “Plus, I think I’d be rather uncomfortable with such a clever person.”
“Not something I’d think you usually have to be concerned about with your friendship group,” I say.
He laughs. “I think I’d like to be his friend though. Think he’s got room for one more?”
“There’s always room for one more with Charlie. He’s the best friend to have. That goes for me too. You’re my friend as well,” I say steadily.
He looks abashed and pleased and then smiles. “I could stay and help you shower him, especially if you’re both naked. That’d cross a couple of items off my bucket list straight away.”
“No chance,” I say, and his low laughter follows me into the other room.
“Can I do anything?” he asks.
“You could ask the receptionist if they’ll send up something sweet. An iced cinnamon bun if they’ve got them.”
“Feeling peckish?”
“Not for me. It’s for Charlie. He’ll sleep after the shower, and when he wakes up, he’ll feel like he’s got a hangover and he’ll be craving sugar. Cinnamon buns are his favourite. I keep some all the time in the freezer at home.”
He nods and squeezes my arm. “Consider it done.” He walks over to where Charlie is lying dozing with his eyelids flickering. “I’m going,” he says softly. “Feel better soon, Charlie.”
The door clicks shut behind him, and I lean over Charlie. “Up and at ’em, sunshine,” I say.
He groans. “Can’t you leave me here?”
“Of course I can,” I say steadily. “You can crawl under the duvet straightaway if that’s what you want.”
He considers that and then shakes his head. “No, I feel dirty.” A smile crosses his mouth. “Although not as much as normal. There’s a lot to be said for five-star housekeeping. That floor was spotless.”
“They should employ you,” I say, taking the hand he offers me and pulling him up. He wavers, and I steady him with a casual hand on his hip. “You could road test the carpets of England.”
