Coming Back Home

Chapter 15: A step closer

A STEP CLOSER

"I take it the meeting didn't go well?"

At least, Tristan's teasing—but concerned—voice was able to add a tinge of color in her grey day. Coupled with her stressful meeting, the taxi she'd boarded developed a fault in the middle of the road so she had to walk back home in the cold. Without a coat.

Charlie sighs, "You can say that again."

She drops her bag and heads straight to the refrigerator where she pulls out a can of soda and downs it in one go.

Fuck brain-freeze.

Tristan chuckles from his spot on the couch, "I made dinner."

"Oh my God, tha—" She grunts loudly. Her palms rubs her temple softly as she plops on the space beside Tristan. Add brain-freeze to the list.

The mini torture lasts for a minute before Charlie blinks tiredly and relaxes further on the couch, another sigh escaping her lips.

Tristan lowers the volume of the animal documentary he was focused on. He turns to face Charlie, "It was that bad, huh?"

"Eh? What?" Charlie sits up a bit.

"You've sighed four times now and..." He squints his eyes and waves his fingers around her eyes, "...your eyes are a little bit red. Have you been crying?"

This has the ginger gasping a little and clearing her throat, "Crying? Pfft, no. It's just that a fly—"

"—entered your eyes and in the process of getting it out, you mistakenly poked yourself that's why it's red? Charlie, I'm a psychologist and therapist. Trust me, I should know the traces of tears when I see it." Tristan finishes off.

Charlie couldn't be anymore embarrassed. She couldn't help but look down at her fingers that worried each other. She sighs eventually then tucks a portion of her hair behind her ear.

"I'm sorry. I just..." She raises her head to stop the tears from flowing.

"It just..." Her voice cracks.

"It hurts so much, Tris." She shakes her head as if convincing the tears to stop falling or the sobs to stop spilling from her lips.

The doctor shuffles closer and wraps his arms around Charlie, "Here. Come here."

He rubs her back softly as her sobs graduated to full on cries. Mario didn't know what his words and actions did to her. Hearing his voice again, seeing that smug smirk dancing on his lips, watching his lips move, wishing to be the one he'd wrapped his arms around. He just doesn't know. She'd walked out of the restaurant feeling cheap and losing the little dignity she'd acquired within the past month.

"It's okay. Whatever you're crying about is not worth it." Tristan coos as he pats her arm.

His soft voice seems to calm Charlie down and her cries tone down to soft sniffles and hiccups. Her fingers still subconsciously clutch the sides of Tristan's dark blue polo shirt.

Tristan is right... Mario isn't with it.

Charlie looks up, her eyes meets his. The soft enthusiastic murmur of the narrator from the documentation. The dim lighting... Soft breaths coming from each of them an—

Her ringtone blares loudly. The mood dissolves painfully and Tristan coughs before creating space between them both.

Not the time Dua Lipa! Charlie groans internally before pulling away with a tint on her cheeks.

"I...um... I'll just go get that," she mumbles before walking to the doorway and picking up her bag where her phone blares noisily.

"Hello?" Charlie rushes.

"Hey, Charlie. It's Theresa. I just got to the office right now to pick up a few things and I just noticed now that you left your laptop. Did you forget it?"

Her laptop? Oh, shoot! She remembers dashing out the restaurant into a cab immediately Mr. Gibson announces the meeting was over. The stress didn't allow her go back to the office to pack up her files and bring her laptop back home. No wonder her bag felt lighter!

"Yes! God, thank you. I dashed out in a hurry. Yes, I forgot it, coupled with my folders and the new ones you brought."

"It's no problem, Charlie. Look, I know Mario is a selfish asshole and talk about that trophy he carries around. If it makes you better, I "accidentally" spilled my soda on her."

Charlie couldn't help but giggle loudly at her words. Now, that would've been a sight to behold.

"That was actually unnecessary, but it did make me feel better."

Theresa laughs softly, "No stress, Charlie. Do you want me to stop by later tomorrow to drop it off or you'll pick them up yourself?"

Charlie scratches her left cheek, "I'm sorry, I can't come by tomorrow. I have babysitting. I'd love for you to drop it off tomorrow if you don't mind."

"If I mind I wouldn't have asked. Expect me tomorrow, is 2pm okay for you?"

Charlie nods even if she knows Theresa can't see her, "Yes, please. Thanks again. Have a nice evening!"

Charlie picks up her bag at the end tone. She stares at the straps of her bag with a small frown. She takes a while to recover and prepare herself for the awkwardness that awaits when she steps to the living room.

With red cheeks, Charlie avoids Tristan worried gaze as she speed walks to the kitchen to dish herself some food.

Heaven knows she needs it.