Page 35 of Charlie Sunshine
“Teeth next,” I say briskly. I hand him his toothbrush and squeeze the paste out, holding on to his hip as he brushes in a desultory fashion. “Enough,” I say after a minute. I step back as he spits into the basin and then I help him into the bedroom.
He heads almost desperately for the bed, but I guide him into a sitting position on the mattress. He makes a grumbling sound, his eyes already closing.
“Just another few minutes,” I soothe. “Just need to get your hair dry.”
I leave him sitting for a minute while I look for the hairdryer and then another minute while I search for a fucking plug socket near him. Finally finding one, I plug the hairdryer in and aim it at his hair.
“Did you comb it?” he mutters.
“What am I? Vidal Sassoon?” I ask, huffing. I grab his comb and draw it gently through the long length of his hair. It’s a dark caramel colour because it’s wet. “You’ve got more hair than one of those troll dolls,” I observe.
He smiles, his eyes still shut. “Such a flatterer. I can see why you get laid so much.”
“They come for the looks. They stay for the cock.”
He laughs, and I smile, starting to dry his hair, tunnelling my hand through the waves under the hot air. He sits quiescently. When I’ve finished, I open his case and rummage through it until I find a pair of briefs. He sits still while I kneel and put his legs through them and pull them up.
“You’re very spoilt,” I observe, and he yawns widely without putting his hand over his mouth, showing white teeth and a very pink tongue.
“I am very lucky.” He yawns again. “I’m so tired,” he says, and the words drag and slide.
“Get into bed.” I pull the covers back, and he swings his legs up, sighing in satisfaction.
“God, that feels good,” he slurs. I pull the covers over him, tucking him in, and his eyes suddenly fly open. “What about Harry?”
“What about him?” I say evenly.
“Where is he? He might want to get back in the room for his stuff. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you two to be in the same room.”
“Why don’t you let me worry about that?” I say smoothly. “He’s gone out anyway, and I’ve locked the door.”
He nods, and his eyes slide shut. “Lie with me,” he whispers.
I immediately acquiesce, going round to the other side of the bed and drawing him close to me. When he’s had a seizure, he’s a total cuddle monster. It seems to ground him a bit.
I look around the room properly for the first time. “Why is there a bath in the bedroom?”
“It’s supposed to be decadent,” he says sleepily.
“It’s actually like something from an early episode ofEmmerdale. Couldn’t they afford walls to make a room for it? What’s that called? Oh, I know. A bathroom.”
“It’s sexy.”
“It’s penny-pinching.” He snorts, and I shake my head. “So, Harry has booked a room with a bath right in front of the bed to remind you how much you miss having a bath.” I sniff. “Cunt. I’m surprised that you actually fuck this man, Charlie. I marvel at it whenever I have a spare minute.”
“Well, that must be a lot, then. You bankers don’t really do much.” I pinch him, and he laughs. “I haven’t fucked him for ages, anyway,” he mutters.
“Really?” I try not to let my delight at that news saturate my voice, but I’m not entirely sure that I succeed. I also work hard not to examine why I feel like that.Dry few weeks, I reassure myself.
Charlie shrugs. “I think my hole might have sealed up by now. There are so many cobwebs over the entrance it could be on the set ofRaiders of the Lost Ark.”
“They’re digging in the wrong place, Indy,” I mutter, and he laughs.
I shift position slightly, feeling my muscles tense up. “I’m going to ring the hospital and make you an emergency appointment,” I say quickly, getting the words out in a mad rush before he can shut medown. I brace myself for open warfare, but it’s a sign of how bad he feels that he doesn’t even argue. That makes cold tendrils of fear sneak down my back. “You can’t keep ignoring this, Charlie. You have to see a professional so they can assess you.” I swallow hard. “People die from this condition and you’re leaving it untreated,” I whisper. “Pleasedon’t do that, Charlie.”
There’s a long enough silence for me to prepare for a tongue lashing, but he must have heard the stark fear in my voice because he reaches back and pats my hip. “Okay,” he whispers.
I sag with relief. “You’ll go?”
