Notice Me (23 page)

“I never thought I could be this happy Shan,” Charlie whispered in my ear as he kissed my shoulder.

“I know what you mean,” I sighed. Why did this have to be so wonderful? I should not be allowed to be this happy I was sure of it.

“I am going to be away for a few days next week. Straton wants me in Miami. Oh, Megan left a message on your machine. You need to call her back.” Charlie could sense I had frozen. “This will get easier Shan I promise. Once Megan finds someone else we can tell her about us. She is your friend she can’t not be happy for you.” I still didn’t move. I knew Megan better than Charlie. I was sure Megan would be far from
happy
about us. “I really wish you wouldn’t worry about Megan, Shan. She is a big girl after all. Megan doesn’t really give a crap about you most of the time.”

“Charlie, please don’t,” I begged. After what I had done how could he say that?

“I’m sorry sweetheart,” Charlie kissed my forehead. “Are you ready for dinner?” I nodded weakly still thinking about Megan. “Why don’t you give her a call? I’ll start dinner.”

“Okay.” Charlie threw the phone over to me as he disappeared into the kitchen.

I lay on the bed staring up at the textured ceiling trying to compose myself to ring Megan.

I took a deep breath as I called her number.

“Shan, so how did it go?” Megan answered on the second ring with an excited tone.

“Hi Megan. Yeah, it went really well thanks.”

“God, I miss you already. The apartment is so quiet and eerie.”

“I miss you too.” Why did it feel like a lie?

“So are there any hot men?” Trust Megan to ask that.

“A few, but it was only my first day.” I laughed.

“Well, I am off to Japan tomorrow for a photo shoot for a new make-up range.”

“You’re being kept busy then?” I asked.

“Yeah, it’s a good thing. Do you know he hasn’t called me once,” Megan’s voice was dejected as she spoke. “I really think I have lost him, Shan. I keep hoping I’ll bump into him at one of my photo shoots. I know it’s crazy, but I just can’t forget him. I miss him so much.” Charlie walked into the bedroom at that moment totally bewildered by the expression on my face. As the tears began to roll down my face, he put his arms around me. I pushed him away, it was too much. Megan was on the phone confiding in me while I was being comforted by the one and only man she wanted. “I would do anything to get him back. I didn’t realise just how much I loved him. Do you remember when I used to laugh about soul mates?”

“Yes,” I replied in a whisper.

“Well, I believe you Shan. I know it’s Charlie. No man has ever made me feel this way. I can’t believe I was so stupid with all that Tim crap. I would do anything to have a second chance.”

“Megan, I don’t know what you want me to say or do.” I was helpless, I couldn’t even look at Charlie sat on my bed in just his boxers.

“Shan, I know you hate him for the way he has treated me, but can you talk to him? I mean he is somewhere in New York too. It can’t be hard to find him.” If only Megan knew just how near he was. It was heartbreaking just thinking about it.

“I’ll see what I can do. I really have to go Megan. I’ll speak to you next week. Good luck in Japan.”

“Thanks Shan, speak soon.”

As she hung up the spasms of pain began. Would Charlie and I ever really truly have a chance to have a normal life and be together? To me it appeared doubtful.

Chapter 17

The weeks slowly drifted by. My life felt as if it were a parallel universe. Being with Charlie was the happiest I had ever been, but when Megan would contact me I was dropped from my heaven back into my normal life indebted to Megan.

Charlie was taken aback by just how much Megan still loved him. He hated the pain this caused me, but we both knew there was no going back for us. We were too in love with each other. All we could do was wade our time. Hoping one day Megan would stop loving him. Our fear was what if she still loved him when my time in New York was up? Charlie knew we couldn’t hide our relationship back in London.

“Let’s just make the most of the time here. There really is no need to worry. We still have well over five months to worry about that, sweetheart,” Charlie told me over dinner one night. “I am sure it will work out fine.”

“I hope so.” I placed my hand over his on the table. “I just can’t wait to not feel bad about loving you Charlie. Sometimes it kills me, but I can’t stop.”

“Good, if you stopped loving me Shan,” Charlie shuddered at the thought. “I really don’t know what I would do.”

“That’s never going to happen. I could
never
love anyone half as much as the way I love you. I still can’t believe I’m with you. Mr Male Model,” I teased.

“I know how you feel bookworm,” Charlie smiled softly. “So it’s your birthday next week. I was wondering how you feel about a little trip to… Las Vegas?”

“Are you being serious?” I beamed.

“No, I thought I would just tease you about it and take you to the zoo instead,” Charlie joked as I bounced onto his lap kissing him in excitement. “I should surprise you more often,” laughed Charlie between kisses.

“You don’t have any gambling problem I don’t know about do you?” I asked with a smile.

“No, do you?”

“My only addiction is you Mr Collins.” I wrapped my arms around his neck as my lips became intensely busy.

My twenty first birthday was incredible. Megan’s million pound party didn’t even compare to having a whole three days with Charlie. I awoke in Las Vegas in a bed so huge I was sure you could fit a whole football team in it. I wrapped myself up in the comfortable red silk sheets, looking at the champagne breakfast and ready jacuzzi bubbling away in the bathroom. The best part however was being wrapped up in Charlie’s arms.

“Morning beautiful,” Charlie kissed me. “Happy birthday.”

“Thanks,” I replied stretching with a little yawn.

“Do you want your gifts now or later?”

“Now if you like,” I smiled at him as he got out of bed. “Do you realise your pants match the sheets?” I giggled.

“They were a gift from the hotel. You have night wear over there too. Not that I want you to put it on,” Charlie teased as he pointed towards the dressing table. I knew he preferred the natural Shannon.

“Here you go,” Charlie beamed as he placed three gifts on the bed.

“Three? You spoil me too much.”

“You are worth it,” he smiled down at me as I opened the small square gift wrapped in silver paper. I knew the box straight away. You can’t mistake a Tiffany’s box. As I opened the lid a beautiful emerald green necklace gleamed back at me. It was exquisite. “I bought it because it matches your beautiful eyes,” Charlie whispered gently.

“Thank you,” I was almost speechless. I had never had a gift like it before. “It’s beautiful.”

“Let me put it on for you.” Charlie tenderly placed the necklace around my neck. As he kissed my shoulder he clicked it into place. “It looks lovely on you Shan,” replied Charlie pleased.

I opened a rectangular gift next in the same silver paper. I was taken back when I realised it was a book of poetry, but it wasn’t just any book. Charlie had made it himself. Some of his own words, his letters to me plus all our favourite quotes.

“Charlie, I don’t know what to say,” I replied almost out of breath.

“You don’t need to say anything. I just thought it would be nice for you to have all my words in a book. When you read it later there are some new pieces in there. I hope you like them.”

“I know I will love them.”

I finally opened the last gift which was a large square box. At this point I felt I had been given enough from Charlie. As I opened the box and pulled out the most gorgeous deep red silk dress it felt like a dream. Happiness was an understatement.

“That’s for tonight,” Charlie smiled.

“Tonight?” I asked.

“I am taking you to dinner.”

“Charlie, is that a good idea? What if someone see’s us? M…” I was panicking now.

“Don’t worry it’s all taken care of. No one will see us,” Charlie interrupted. I believed him.

We spent most of the day in our room. We had breakfast on the balcony watching Las Vegas go by. I lost track of the hours spent in the jacuzzi. We did a little gambling, but it was hard. Charlie was a little on edge in case anyone noticed us.

As night fell I realised what Charlie meant by no one seeing us. Dinner on our balcony was the most perfect idea. I didn’t care that we had to hide away as long as I was with him.

The balcony was covered in tiny candles with a table set for two complete with a red table cloth. Red seemed to be the theme as I noticed the rose petals on the floor. A violinist played quietly in the corner. My perfect elegant red backless dress fitted with the theme effortlessly. Charlie was his usually striking self in a faultless black suit and red tie. His dark brown hair was spiked up slightly showing all of his perfect face.

“Do you like it?” Charlie whispered. “I know it may feel like we have been cooped up in here, but I thought you would feel more relaxed.”

“Charlie, it’s perfect. I love it,” I smiled.

“Good I’m glad,” Charlie kissed me gently before we took our seats.

The meal was outstanding and Charlie surprised me with a helicopter ride across the Vegas strip and Grand Canyon. It was so breathtaking. I would never forget
this
birthday.

The next two days we were happy just to stay in our room. To some people it would have seemed pointless to go to Las Vegas just to stay in your room, but we wanted to be alone. We could never get enough time like this in New York.

Charlie had gone to pay the bill the night before we checked out so we could leave early in the morning, when I realised I hadn’t read the book he had made for my birthday.

A lot of the pieces I remembered which brought smiles and tears to my eyes. As I got towards the end I was blown away by the new pieces. One in particular which appeared to be song lyrics. A song called ‘Every time I see your face.’

I could almost hum the tune Charlie had been playing on his guitar for the last few weeks. I was sure it was the tune for this song. As I read the title again it struck me. Was this the song Megan had mentioned all those months ago? All the time had the song been about me?

Charlie came back not long after that, looking alarmed as he noticed I was crying.

“Shan, are you okay what’s wrong?” Charlie rushed to my side.

“I’m fine. I just read your song.”

“Is it that bad?” He teased pushing himself into me.

“No, totally the opposite Charlie. It is beautiful.”

“Well, it’s about you what did you expect?”

“I wish I could write things like that about you.” I rested my head on his shoulder as he smoothed my hair with his hands. “It’s not fair. Why do you have to be so perfect?”

“I’m not perfect Shan,” Charlie laughed.

“You are pretty close actually,” I laughed.

It was hard going back to work after a weekend like that, but I had to endure it.