Chapter Nine
1481 Words
The rest of the date went smoothly with the duo talking about the most random things as they devoured their meal. Charlotte couldn’t deny how good the food tasted, finally understanding why it cost more than half of her life savings and as she didn’t hesitate to tell Wilson, they both had a good laugh about it.
“You seem like a really fun person to be around, Char,” Wilson commented as they both wiped their mouths. “And you also seem like a good person.”
She smiled at him, wiping her mouth again. She felt the same. She had no idea on what to expect from him from their first official date but he definitely exceeded her expectations. Not only was he polite and surprisingly not arrogant despite having numerous to be, he was kind and had a good sense of humour.
“You don’t have to flatter me though,” she replied him curtly. “I mean if I was all that, Jackson wouldn’t have-”
“Don’t,” he cut her off before she could hurt herself with her words. “True, I don’t know the full details about you guys but one thing I’m more than confident is how much of a jerk Jackson was. He doesn’t deserve you so don’t have him make you question the type of person you are.”
“I guess.”
He groaned then folded his arms. “Are you seriously still thinking about him? Even in my presence? How can you keep on thinking about your ex-boyfriend in the presence of your new boyfriend?”
“I-”
“Seriously, how am I supposed to leave you for a week when you’re already thinking of someone else when I literally am still in front of you?”
“Why are you seriously being this dramatic?” she let out a light laughter. “No, I’m not thinking about him. And you’re right, he was a jerk so I don’t need to blame myself for things turning out the way it did. I- wait a minute, why do you have to leave for a week?”
“I have to go for a business trip,” he replied with a sigh. “I’ll be out of the country for about a week.”
“Oh.”
“That’s why I needed to make sure we talked before I leave,” he continued. “I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“Oh,” a light sigh escaped her lips as she sent her gaze to the empty plates. It was weird. They had only met a couple of days, spent an even shorter amount of time together and yet, something about him leaving so suddenly didn’t make her feel good. “Oh. Okay? Honestly, I don’t know what to say. Good luck with your work, I guess? And um, have a safe trip?”
“Well, thank you,” he uttered with a lighter tone. “You’ll be fine in the meantime, right? You definitely haven’t gotten too attached to me, have you?”
“Is this flattery?” she scoffed. “Oh, please.”
“As your boyfriend, I’m hurt by your words,” he dramatically clenched his chest. “But not to worry, I won’t take your words to heart. Trust me, you’ll be missing me before you know it.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Right. I can’t believe I almost forgot,” he said, leaning backwards to take out his phone from his pocket. “Save your number on my phone. Give me your phone too, I’ll do the same.”
“Oh, okay.”
In a flash, their contacts were exchanged and phones were returned to each other. Almost immediately, the waitress reappeared to clear their table, leaving them with nothing but each other to stare at.
“Your flight’s tomorrow morning, right?”
“Yeah?”
“You should head back home as soon as possible then. So you can get enough rest,” Charlotte nodded. “It’s getting late.”
“You’re right,” he joined in on the nod. “I should drive you back home too.”
“Alright then. Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
She had undoubtedly had a great night and though she almost didn’t want it ending so soon, she knew she had to.
---
Babe: Good morning!!
A snicker escaped Charlotte’s lips as she stared at the rather corny way Wilson had saved his number on her phone. Shaking her head, she typed him a response.
Charlotte: Good morning to you too!
Charlotte: How was your night?
Charlotte: I don’t think I mentioned this yesterday but thanks for the dinner. It was really amazing☺
Dropping her phone temporarily on the dresser, she resumed getting ready for the day. With a towel wrapped around her chest and one around her hair, she applied her light makeup then got up to decide on an outfit for the day.
Not only did she and Rachael run her coffee shop together, they lived together. They had been best friends since high school and while Rachael headed straight to college after graduating high school, she had headed to culinary school instead with the dream of becoming a chef. Life had both taken a surprising turn on both of them though as Rachael ended up dropping out of college to follow her dream that wasn’t college related while Charlotte who had no money to run her own restaurant after graduating culinary school decided to open a coffee shop instead.
“Charlotte, get out here!” Rachael yelled from the other side of the house as Charlotte picked her outfit. “Breakfast’s ready!”
“Okay, I’ll be out in a bit!”
As quickly as she could, she threw her clothes on and grabbed her purse. Just as she reached for her phone next, it beeped, signifying a new message from no one other than Wilson Locke.
Babe: You thanked me enough yesterday. It’s okay.
Babe: My night was splendid, yours?
Charlotte: Twas good.
Charlotte: Aren’t you supposed to be on the plane now? Isn’t your flight scheduled for this morning?
Babe: It is. I leave in an hour.
Babe: I just wanted to spend the last moments before I get on the plane talking to you.
“Why are you smiling?”
Almost immediately, Charlotte slipped her phone down the pocket of her jeans as she caught her best friend staring at her. With suspicious eyes, she walked into the living room, holding two cups of beverage.
“I wasn’t smiling.”
“Oh yeah?” Rachael’s voice hinted obvious disbelief. “You were smiling at your phone. I haven’t seen you do that in a while. Who were you texting?”
“I-”
“Right, yesterday,” she cut her off to point an accusing finger at her. “I knew you got back really late after leaving with Wilson. What were you two up to for so long? Also, you promised to tell me everything going on so come on, spill. He’s the one who texted you, right?”
“Gee, one question at a time, Rachael,” Charlotte replied, trying to hide her face with her mug as she took a sip of her beverage. “Well, we went to a restaurant. To just have dinner. And don’t exaggerate, we weren’t out that late.”
“That’s not my question. I’m asking what the hell is going on between you two. He’s a billionaire and you’re a no offense but a pauper compared to him. How are you going on dates? Why? Tell me everything! I- s**t,” Rachael rambled on but was cut short by the sound of her phone beeping. “s**t, I have to take this call. I’ll be right back.”
Before she could reply her, her phone joined in on the beeping. Quickly and excitedly, she took it out of her pocket to meet new unread messages from Wilson.
Babe: Why aren’t you replying?
Babe: I’ll be getting on the plane in about 45 minutes
Babe: Aren’t you going to going to reply me??
Babe: You do realize how busy I’ll be in the next one week, right? You’ll literally be the one begging me to reply your texts then.
Babe: Fine then.
Charlotte burst into laughter, reading his messages. Did he even have any idea how dramatic he was being? And how cute it was?
She shook her head, her smile widening as she texted him a reply. It was intriguing to have him show different sides of him all the time. Compared to how cold and principled he seemed the first day they met, he was seeming to be a more different person with every passing minute she got to know him better.
And oddly, something about that managed to scare her.
- Writer
