The Other Side

*****

The sound of the alarm rattled around Mark’s head. He growled and rolled onto his side, slapping the bedside table. On the third slap he found his phone and turned off the alarm. It said it was half past ten. Then he lay back and stared at the ceiling.

He hated having a concussion, suspected or not. It meant that if he fell asleep he had to be woken up every half hour so they could be sure he wasn’t suffering from any long-term injury on the brain. It also resulted in him getting incredibly cranky. He had already snapped at Charli several times for waking him up. Charli had been hurt but she hadn’t complained.

The woman had been an absolute trooper. She had driven him back to his apartment and made him sit down while she pottered about making him dinner. She was a really good cook and Mark had enjoyed her homemade lasagna, not realizing until the aroma had filled his nostrils how hungry he had actually been.

He could get used to having someone cook for him. Normally he just made something simple or had takeout. But Charli preferred to make everything by hand, ushering Mark out of the kitchen and telling him that she could get things done quicker if he wasn’t there.

They had talked for some time during and after the meal. Charli couldn’t stop apologizing for Henson’s behavior. Even though they weren’t together anymore she still seemed to believe she was responsible for his attitude. Mark had had to finally tell her that he would spank her if she apologized for Henson’s behavior again. It had resulted in an awkward, s*xually-charged silence. Then Mark had awkwardly extracted himself, mumbling about going to bed. He had showered and fallen into bed.

Charli was a trooper to put up with his behavior. Although, he surmised, compared to Henson he was a breath of fresh air.

Charli Fraser was one woman in a million. He knew he was going to lose a good thing if he didn’t do something about their relationship. What Mark wanted was to have Charli at his side but Charli’s signals were mixed. She was warm and endearing but when she realized what she was doing she pulled back.

Mark knew she was still hurting after Henson’s betrayal and emotional abuse. But he wouldn’t rush her; he wanted her for more than s*x and for the sake of the baby. He wanted her and he was willing to wait until she knew what she wanted.

Then Mark realized something and sat up. Charli always came in without fail to wake him up. But not this time. She couldn’t have gone home; Mark thought she was going to stay the night on the couch. He would prefer her in his bed but she had insisted.

Slipping out of bed, he padded into the hallway and into the lounge. The pillows and duvet he had given her to use were on the couch and the TV was blaring a true crime episode. But there was no sign of Charli.

At least it meant she was in the apartment. With her efficiency, she wouldn’t have left the TV on or the couch in a state of unmade.

Then he heard the sound of the shower going. Mark moved towards the bathroom and stepped inside.

“Like what you see?” She purred, giving him a saucy look over her shoulder.