EroticReverie

Charlotte 

I stand in the kitchen later that evening  unable to believe that Kane King is in my house, sitting with my parents. Chatting. They're fucking chatting. I take a deep breath and shake my head and decide to NOT try to wrap my mind around this turn of events. I'd been stunned enough to see him sitting there with them the morning after I'd gotten drunk at the bar and he brought me home. So seeing him sitting there, by choice this time. Was just a mind fuck. And it pissed me off a little. Wondering why my parents couldnt have talked to him three years ago, couldnt have seen him for he was THEN. But then I feel guilty for being angry with my dying parents. Then I tell myself I'm allowed to be mad. Then just shake my head and try to push all the thoughts out of my head entirely and just focus on the good things and let the bad things fall away. 

My parents medical bills were paid, not only that but the rest of their bills, during however long they had left, would be covered. There was still the house to worry about, still the bills that came with it. Apparently part of the program they'd been selected for was even going to refund some of their medical bills. It all seemed unreal, and too good to be true. But I'd called the medical billing while at work, at the shop and sure as shit, i was told there was a zero balance due on their accounts. 

I'm making a bland dinner, because my parents can't stomach much else. I carry in the two bowls of mashed potatoes that they'll probably only take a few bites of, so I they're small bowls. I pull their trays over their laps, sliding the hospital style tables into place for them and then taking their waters to replenish them. 

"Do you want some...um...mashed potatoes?" I ask Kane and he smiles. 

"I'm good Charlie Girl" he says and places a hand on my hips, and gently rubs it as I stand near him. 

"Go feed my daughter a real meal." My father says and I look at my dad and cock my brow. 

"Daddy." I say with a small laugh. 

"I'm fine with mashed potatoes." Kane says and squeezes my hips. "Sounds good baby." 

My mother smiles at Kane when he's not looking and I feel like im in the fucking twilight zone. 

"He told us he wanted to take you to dinner. Let him take you to dinner Charlotte." My mom says and I look at Kane. 

"Hey, they just asked why I was here, and I told the truth, dont look at me like that Charlie Girl, it's terrifying." he says with his hands in the air. I narrow my eyes at him. 

"We're fine here." I say to my parents. 

My father rolls his eyes. 

"Charlotte, if you dont go get something good to eat, I'm gonna be god damn pissed." my dad says and I half laugh and almost snort.

"David! Enough with the curses!" My mom glares at him. 

"god damn aint a curse" he says and digs his spoon into his mashed potatos.

My mother just sighs and I smile as I watch her scowl at him, still fighting with each other. Bickering like always. My parents were far from perfect people. But I loved them and wished I could do anything to have several more years of this. I swallow down the lump in my throat and will myself not let my mind go do that road, the one that knows I wont have more than a year of this. 

"We can go another night. I'm honestly kind of big fan of mashed potatoes. " Kane says and I look at him and his eyes lift to me. 

"Will you fix me some Charlie Girl?" he asks. My eyes watering. As if he could read my mind. I'd have let my parents talk me into going out to dinner. Followed their wishes instead of my own. He knows I want time with them. 

I nod. A tear rolling down my cheek. He smiles softly and take my hand and gently rubs his thumb over the back of it and lifts it and kisses my hand. 

"I'll come make my bowl and yours" he says and stands. 

My father huffs and tells Kane to take me to dinner. 

"you just dont want me eating all your mashed potatoes, I know your angle David" he says back at my father as we walk into the kitchen, and he pulls me into the hall on the other side, out of view, and lets me fall into his chest. My face crashing into his chest as I wrap my arms around him and start shaking as I cry. 

"Shhhh" He whispers and gently walks me backward, kissing the top of my head, his arms wrapped around me. He takes me to my room where I cry harder. 

"Charlie Girl, baby, hey, come here" he says and sits on my bed and pulls me into his lap as I shift, turning his lap, because sitting sideways didnt me close enough to him. I couldnt wrap myself around him the way I needed to in that moment. I straddle him, his arms wrapping around me as I bury my neck in his face and cry as quietly as I can. 

"I know there's nothing I can say to you Charlie...fuck I wish there was baby...i really do...id take all that sadness....that anger...whatever it is you're feeling...and i'd fucking give you nothing but the best things Charlie...it fucking kills me that I cant do that for you..." he says as he gently rocks with me. His hands rubbing my back and his hand sliding up into my hair, holding my head to him, kissing the side of my head. 

"I'm here okay? I'm always here...anytime...anywhere....i'm here baby...for you...im always here...when you need to cry....i want to be the one holding you..okay...you're not alone Charlotte...I'll never let you be alone baby" He whispers and I cry even harder. 

I loved this  man. I loved him more than I could ever put into words. I loved him then. Loved him when I ran from him, and I loved him now. Even more than ever. Because Kane King wasn't just a good guy. He was a good man. A great man.

"i dont want them to die" I cry harder, choking on the tears and the never ending ache in my chest since learning about their diagnosis. 

"I know baby" he says and holds me tighter as I sit on his lap crying my fucking eyes out for the first time in front of someone about my parents dying. Feeling sad, scared, angry, helpless. I clutch at the back of his shirt. 

"thank you for being here with me" I cry. 

"Baby, never thank me for that...you're my world Charlie Girl" he says and I lift my head and look at him. 

"just let me fucking thank you okay?" I say as tears roll down my cheeks and he laughs softly and smiles, his own eyes watering.

"yeah okay baby" he says. 

I dip my head back down and rest it on his shoulder, holding onto him as he keeps rubbing my back and my head, gently massaging my scalp here and there and kissing the side of my head. 

"you know...you never used to swear at me....it's kinda hot Charlie" he says and the bubble of laughter through my sniffling surprises me as he tries to tease me and joke with me. It works, my tears subside and I just lay with my head on his shoulder. 

"Will you stay with me tonight?" I ask, he hands pause only briefly. 

"Every night if you let me Charlie Girl" he whispers. 

I nod. 

"Okay" I say softly. 

He rubs my back. 

"I'll be with you till you tell me not be baby, okay?" he says and I nod against his shoulder.

"yeah" I say. "Okay" 

"Let's get your face cleaned up, I really DO want some mashed potatoes" he says and another bubble of laughter raises through me and I lift my head and nod. He cups my face and brings his mouth to my nose, pecking me on my nose. 

"Lets go Charlie Girl, you're too pretty for all those tears on your cheeks."