Page 76 of Charlie Sunshine
“Misha?” he says, sounding one part scandalized to two parts intrigued.
“They’re mine now,” I whisper.I’m going to keep them like I’m going to keep you. The latter words are silent, but they won’t be for long.
We leave the theatre when the play finishes and come out into the cool London night, and Charlie immediately draws his biker jacket close and slots his arm through mine as we begin to walk.I eye him and repress a smile. I bought him that jacket and he protested over the price so much that I had to pretend I’d got it second hand. Even then he grumbled and fussed with it until the leather began to crease and soften with age andthenhe loved it.
We walk along in a comfortable silence before stopping to lean against the railings looking down on the river. London is lit up and glowing in its nighttime colours, and the river ripples and flows, distorting the reflection of the lights and making them fracture into infinite pieces. Nearby, a busker plays a mellow, lazy-sounding version of “Golden Brown” by the Stranglers and before I can stop and think, I grab Charlie and ease him into a quick and easy two-step. He laughs and there’s something pleased and shocked in his eyes that makes me happy.
The music fades away and I step back, smiling at him. “Well, I’ve given you culture.”
He looks around before grabbing my face and kissing me quickly, the warmth of his lips there and gone. “Shakespeare and a blowjob followed by a fuck in the toilets.”
“Well, you know what Shakespeare said.” I put my hand to my forehead in a dramatic pose and proclaim, “It’s an ill wind which blows no man to good.”
He stares at me. “I’m pretty sure that no character in a Shakespeare play ever blew their boyfriends in a toilet stall, so I’m also certain that you’ve misused that quote. I’d just love to know how you came up with it.”
I shake my head. “Really, Charlie? I did go to school, you know. We bankers are inscrutable people with many hidden talents. I happen tolikeShakespeare.”
He looks impressed, and I hope I never have to confess that in reality I googled Shakespeare and blowjobs. I’d had to wade through a lot of very startling results before I’d struck gold, and I hope my workplace never has a reason to search my internet history.
“That it, Charlie?” I ask, keeping my hands on his hips. “Any more culture that you need to imbibe? I’m sure we could fit in a few more museums, or maybe we could go and read a copy ofWar and Peaceby the banks of the river while we paint mud in artistic patterns on each other’s bodies and proclaim poetry.”
He blinks, amusement crinkling the corners of his eyes. “I was thinking of going for a nice juicy steak, but if you’re really set on mudbody painting I’ll go along with you. As long as we buy some wet wipes first.”
I shake my head and whirl around, tugging him after me, the sound of his laughter loud in the night. “Why didn’t you mention steak? We’re wasting time.”
“I’ve had the best time tonight, Misha,” he says quietly.
“Me too. The very best.”
“To be fair, you haven’t been on that many dates.”
“If I’d been on a hundred dates, Charlie, I know this would have been the best. Do you know why?” He shakes his head and I lean closer and kiss his ear before saying, “Because it’s with you. You make everything better.” He swallows hard and I wink at him. “Told you I was good at this shit. I’m a natural.”
“I don’t think a natural would use the words ‘this shit’ to describe a date.”
I laugh and tug him close and we wander next to the river talking and laughing. It’s like a thousand other times I’ve spent with Charlie but made immeasurably better because now I can hold his hand. Now, he’s mine.
FOURTEEN
CHARLIE
The late afternoon sun is fading to a delicate twilight as Misha and I round the corner and spot our group waiting by the fountain as arranged. They’re dressed like us in jeans, coats, and sky-blue T-shirts emblazoned with the name of the epilepsy charity that we’re supporting tonight.
“Alright?” I call out, and they turn to grin at me. Not all of them are smiling, actually. As we get closer, I see Felix is shooting glares at his ex-boyfriend who is standing next to Zeb.
“Oh my God,” I breathe. “Did you ask Max to the charity walk?”
Misha shrugs a bit too casually. “I told Zeb it would be alright. I didn’t realise Felix was coming too.”
I look at him sceptically. “Really?” I ask.
He huffs indignantly. “How is it that you don’t believe me, Charlie? That’s hurtful.” I stare some more, and he breaks. “Okay, Zeb and I arranged it to see if we can get them to talk.” He looks at me. “Did I even sound remotely truthful about Felix?”
I see-saw my hands. “Not to someone who knows you.” I pause. “You know, people like your cousin, Felix.”
“Great,” he groans. “He’s going to kill me and knowing him, it will be slow and exceedingly painful.”
“Felix is lovely. He wouldn’t do that.”
