Chapter 1 - Charlie (Part 3)

"So how was work today?" He smiled as they got into the car, starting a conversation with the same question he'd asked her since she'd started her volunteer work at the institution, but which Charlie always felt was sincere, no matter how many times it was repeated.

"Mirabel's puppies have been born! Of course I was a little sad that I couldn't be there to support her, but oh Morgan, they're so adorable! Damn it, I should have introduced them to you!" She huffed, angry with herself.

"Everything is fine." he laughed, as he started the car "Tomorrow I can give you another ride and then I can be attacked by all those fur balls until I fall to the ground... Again."

“It's been an amazing day, admit it." Charlie chuckled, remembering the occasion where Vivian took a day off to celebrate her wedding anniversary and Morgan had offered to replace her, making all the animals fall in love with him at first sight.

Not that Charlie doesn't understand them. She knew well how she was.

"And I also want the opportunity to explain myself to Vivian." he commented and, in the face of Charlie's confused expression, he ended up explaining, embarrassed "I know I already talked to her the last time when... We ended up getting caught in a compromising situation." he cleared his throat hard, looking away to the road ahead of them "But I still don't feel good after she saw us holding each other like that. I don't want her to end up thinking our relationship is anything more than a friendship."

At the sound of those words, Charlie's heart shrank almost to the point of disappearing. With a grimace, she glared at him, even though she knew he couldn't see.

"And what's wrong with that?" she questioned defiantly, attracting his attention due to her icy tone "What happens between two adult people is nobody's business, no matter what kind of relationship they have."

With an unreadable expression, he just stared at her, until he finally spoke hesitantly.

"I thought Vivian was your friend."

"And she is. But that doesn't mean everything that happens in my life is her business. If you and I were having sex, what does it matter?" Sullenly, she crossed her arms over her chest to hide the fact that her nipples had hardened just thinking about that possibility.

"Charlie...!" he gasped and the sheer horror in his expression only made Charlie even angrier.

"What?" she grunted, slumping deeper into the passenger seat. "Does it surprise you that a girl who just turned 20 knows what sex is? Well, I have news for you, my schoolmates found out what that was much earlier."

“Charlie!" it was his turn to grunt, before interrupting himself abruptly, taking a long breath right after "I know that today's youth are much more liberal... In these matters... " Morgan swallowed, embarrassed "And I'm not saying this shouldn't be taken lightly, but, there's no point in letting others think we're doing something like this..."

“Why do you keep talking like you're eighty?" she huffed. "You're as young as I am."

"I disagree." instead of smiling as she expected, Morgan's expression became even darker, almost bitter "I'm old enough to be your father, so it's up to me to take care of your being. This includes your reputation."

“How many guys do you know who were parents at the age of fourteen?" She raised a skeptical eyebrow, relieved to finally see him smile, even just a little.

“Boys are having babies earlier and earlier these days."

"And being grandfathers at twenty-eight? Wow, what a difficult life..."

“What really matters is...” he cut her off gently, with a warm smile, “Call me old-fashioned, but I think making love should involve... Well, love." as those hesitant words came out of his mouth, he scratched his stubble covered cheek and Charlie had the impression of seeing a slight blush underneath "Casualty is good from time to time, but it can be a much more special experience when it involves feeling. And, well…” The gleam that came into those eyes made her heart melt completely, flooding her chest with that heady feeling she only felt for him, “You're special, Charlie. So I want everything you experience to be perfect. This includes the way other people see and treat you."

"Well..." With her face burning and not being able to think hard enough to think about how this conversation could evolve into something that ended with the two of them naked in the backseat or saying that they loved each other, she just laughed. nervous "If this was a hint about me needing to leave Anthony's mansion, know that you can take me to your apartment any time you want."

"Of course." He smiled and Charlie almost had a heart attack at the thought that her dream was about to come true, when he suddenly pulled his cell phone out of the glove compartment and stomped on any hope she might have had. me. "Don't worry, I'm only going to be there for a few days until I find myself a new apartment. So, you can stay there as long as you like."

"Forget." Charlie grumbled, trying hard not to whimper in sheer frustration. "The restaurant is just up the road. Park and let's go eat. I think I need two burgers with extra meat today."