*Thank-you so much for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you so much. = )
A few days later Charlie was out having lunch with Olivia. She had been spending so much time with Mason lately that she felt she had neglected Olivia. They were both in need of some girl time and she wanted to tell Olivia all about Mason because she knew Olivia was dying to know. They were eating at a local pizza shop when Olivia said, "so how are you? It seems like we never hang out anymore."
"That's because I've been hanging out with Mason a lot lately," said Charlie. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," she said, "so how is Mason and when do I get to meet him?"
"He's good and he's going on the camping trip in a couple weeks. If you go you'll meet him."
"No thank-you. I am not going camping. I am going to enjoy the end of my summer relaxing by the pool with Ellie and enjoying myself. I'm not going to be living in the woods."
"It's not that bad," said Charlie. "I'm actually looking forward to it."
"Yeah because Mason is going. So what's the deal with you two?"
"We're a couple," said Charlie dipping her French fry into ketchup.
"For real?" she asked.
"Yeah. It's been great."
"Did you sleep with him yet?" she asked. Olivia was almost worse than a guy when it came to sex talk. She was as blunt as she could be on the topic and she always wanted the details.
"Maybe," said Charlie as her face turned a light shade of pink.
"You so did!" said Olivia. "What was it like?"
"It was amazing! We only slept together once but he was so gentle. It was amazing."
"Nice," she said. "Did you use protection?"
"Of course. I want another kid someday but not this soon. I'm not ready for another kid yet."
"Good," she said. "What about his size?"
"Olivia!" And Olivia didn't care where she brought up sex talk. She didn't care if they were in the middle of eating lunch or not. If she wanted details she asked for details.
"What? I'm just curious," she said.
"Let's just say he was big enough," said Charlie.
"All right," said Olivia. "I am so happy for you!"
"Thanks," she said. "And he asked me to go to Wales with him."
"When?"
"In January," she said. "He wants me to meet his family. We'll be gone for about 3 weeks."
"And what about Laney?"
"She's coming with us."
"You're going to take her out of school for three weeks to cross the Atlantic Ocean?"
"Yes. I'm not going to leave her for 3 weeks. Besides she's going to be in first grade how much is she going to miss? And I'm sure she can do some learning over there."
"Charlie, you're not going to end up moving there are you?"
"I don't think so," she said. "I think it's just a visit."
"Just checking," she said. "I'm sure you three are going to have a great time."
"I hope so. I'm so scared to meet his parents."
"Why?"
"Because I'm scared they are going to hate me. I'm scared I'm not going to live up to their expectations and I have a kid."
"So what? You're an awesome mom and you're an awesome person what's not to like?"
"I don't know but they could find something."
"I think you'll be fine. I'm happy that you found someone."
"Thanks," she said. "What about you? Do you have a boyfriend yet?"
"Nope," she said. "Does Mason happen to have any single hot friends?"
"Maybe," said Charlie. "Are you interested in one of his friends?"
"I could be," she said taking a bite of her pizza, "I mean if Mason is as great as you say then maybe his friends are the same way. You know people hang out with people that are similar to them."
"Do you want me to see?" asked Charlie, "because I'm going over to the shop after work to visit him. Do you want me to see if there are any single guys hanging around?"
"Sure," said Olivia.
"Here's an idea and just listen. How about if I find one Mason invites them on the camping trip and you come and you can get to know each other?"
"No thank-you. If I'm meeting one of his friends it's going to be when I can shower indoors and have mirrors to put on makeup. I can't look a hot mess to meet his friends."
"Olivia, you are too much," said Charlie shaking her head.
"I'm trying to find a man. I'm getting desperate. It's been a long time. Not as long as you but it's been a while."
"Maybe you just need sex," said Charlie.
"Maybe," she said. "But I do need a relationship along with it."
"Okay," said Charlie. "I will see what I can do."
"Thanks," she said, "and what about Laney? How does she like Mason?"
"She loves him. They get along so well and Mason is wonderful with her. He promised he was going to be a dad to her. And I think that's great."
"That's awesome. You found a great guy, Charlie. I'm happy for you."
"He is pretty great," said Charlie with a smile. She wasn't lying Mason was an amazing guy and he was willing to do anything for Charlie. Charlie thought they couldn't get any better than Mason and she was glad she finally let him in. She was glad she let go of her fear of love because she would be missing all of this.
"He sounds like it," said Olivia. "And I hope his friends are just as great."
"I don't know. I haven't met his friends yet."
"What is it with you two? Why haven't you met each other's friends? How else are you supposed to know if your friends approve of the other and if your friends approve of your lover?"
"What do you want us to do? Have a party? We are just enjoying each other's company and besides this is a new relationship. We just told each other that we loved one another the other day maybe soon we'll meet each other's friends."
"A party would be nice," she said with a smile, "and then I could meet his cute single friends."
"You're crazy," said Charlie.
"Yeah but you love me."
"True. And if you weren't crazy you wouldn't be my best friend," said Charlie with a smile. "I need a little craziness in my life."
"Yeah you do," she said with a smile. They continued to enjoy their lunch together talking about relationships and planning out another time to hang out. Charlie loved being with Mason but she missed her best friend. She need a little time with her.
Later that afternoon Mason was waiting for Charlie to show up at the auto shop. He was hanging out with Husky while he waited. "So, Mason, are you coming to our annual end of the summer party at my house? It's going to be hot. Beer and hot women it doesn't get any better than that."
"When is it again?" asked Mason.
"In two weeks," said Husky. "You know the weekend after Labor Day?"
"Oh. You know what I'm not going to make it," he said. "I have plans."
"What? You always come to the end of the summer bash," he said.
"Well, I can't make it this year. I have other plans."
"You have other plans?"
"Yeah. I'm going camping with Charlie, Laney and her parents. I'm sorry."
"Damn," he said. "How did you get stuck doing that?"
"I didn't get stuck doing anything. Charlie asked me and I wanted to go. I think it's good to change things up."
"You don't want to party it up?"
"I would love to but I want to be with my girl and I'm looking forward to meeting her parents."
"Your girl?"
"Yeah. She's my girl. I love her, Husky. I am really looking forward to camping."
"Okay," he said. "You must have found that one girl."
"I did," he said with a smile. "Charlie is definitely the one. I am going to marry her one day."
"You're that serious about her?" he asked.
"You have no idea, Husky. She is amazing and I fall in love with her more and more each day. She's definitely the one I've been waiting for. She is so much different than other women. She's beautiful, she's smart, she's friendly, she's caring and she's funny. She's just great. She amazes me everyday."
"Damn, Bro, you got it bad."
"I know but she's worth it," he said with a smile. "She's definitely worth it."
"Well, does she have any hot single friends? I want to have some fun too."
"Husky, that just sounded wrong. I'm with Charlie because I love her. I have fun with her but I love her. You just want one of her friends so you can lay her."
"Maybe," he said. "Maybe not. Does she have any hot ones?"
"I don't know. I haven't met her friends. I know she has a best friend named Olivia though."
"Is she single?"
"I think so," said Mason.
"Is she hot?" he asked.
"I have only seen her in pictures and the ones I saw her in she wasn't too bad looking. She's a brunette, olive skin, brown eyes and she's in good shape. She's taller than Charlie. You'd like her."
"Is she bang worthy?" he asked.
"See? There you go being disrespectful. How do you ever expect to be in a relationship with a woman talking like that. She's one of Charlie's friends. Treat her respectfully if you ever meet her."
"All right," he said. "You don't have to be so touchy. Just see if Charlie will hook us up."
"I can see," said Mason, "but I'm not promising."
"Thanks, Man good looking out. Then maybe this chick and me can double date with you and Charlie."
"Maybe," said Mason but in his mind he was thinking about how crass Husky could be and how he had very little respect for women period. He said what he wanted to say when he wanted to say it. He didn't want to double date with him. He wasn't sure if it was a good idea for Husky to go out with Olivia either. He hoped when he brought it up to Charlie that she would say no.
"So when are you going to marry this chick?" he asked.
"Her name is Charlie and I don't know. I'm already planning out a proposal."
"Listen to you being Romeo the second."
"I try. And I'm going to make it so special."
"I'm sure you will. You're a romantic God," said Husky.
"That just sounded wrong on so many levels but it's the Welsh in me."
"Do you speak to her in Welsh?"
Mason laughed and said, "no. I don't."
"I'm sure that would turn her on," he said, "don't women like that shit? Can you teach me Welsh so I can talk to Olivia?"
"We'll see," he said, "we'll see."
A couple minutes later Charlie came walking into the shop. "Hey, Baby," she said walking over to Mason.
"Afternoon, Beautiful," he said as he softly kissed her lips. "How was your day?"
"Good. How was yours?"
"It was pretty good. It was a pretty slow day. We only had 3 cars to work on all day. Does your car have any problems?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Not today," she said with a smile. "So are you ready to go?"
"Sure," he said with a smile as Husky cleared his throat waiting for a proper introduction. "I'm sorry. Charlie, this is my friend Husky. Husky, this is Charlie."
"Nice to meet you," said Charlie with a smile.
"Nice to meet you too," said Husky but he couldn't hold back so he said, "Do you have any single friends?" Mason just shook his head at his friend's bluntness.
"I'm sorry about him. He's a little blunt," said Mason.
"It's okay. I have a blunt friend too," she said.
"Is she single?" asked Husky.
"Actually yeah," said Charlie, "do you want her number?"
"Please," he said with a smile.
"All right," said Charlie writing it down on a piece of paper. "Here you go. Her name is Olivia and she's my best friend. Don't hurt her."
"I won't," he said with a smile, "thank-you," he said before walking away to call Olivia.
"You shouldn't have done that," said Mason. "He's a womanizer."
"And Olivia eats that up. She likes guys like that. She puts on a front that she wants a relationship when really she just wants sex."
"Same with Husky," said Mason.
"See? They're perfect for each other," said Charlie, "but is it a good idea?"
"Probably not," said Mason, "but it's done now."
"I guess you're right," said Charlie. "Anyway, are you ready to go? I have to go pick up Laney."
"I'm ready," he said kissing her lips. "Let's go."
They left the shop and went to pick up Laney. It was Mason's idea for them to hang out that night. Laney couldn't have been anymore excited when she saw Mason come with her mom to pick her up from summer camp. Her face lit up as she saw him standing there and he was the first person she ran to hug. She got even more excited when she found out they were going out to eat and then to the movies. Mason let Laney pick where they ate and what movie they saw. Naturally she chose Red Robin and then chose to see the movie Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer. After the movie was over they went back to Charlie's house and Mason carried a sleeping Laney up to her room and tucked her into bed. "Thanks," said Charlie as he came back down the stairs.
"You're welcome. Your kid has a sleep issue doesn't she?"
"What does that mean?"
"That she always falls asleep in the car."
"Pretty much," said Charlie. "That's how I used to get her to sleep when she was a baby now it's like whenever she rides in a car at night she falls asleep."
"I see," he said as they walked into the living to sit down on the couch. "I really do enjoy spending time with you guys."
"And we enjoy spending time with you," said Charlie with a smile before she softly kissed his lips. "I really do love you."
"I love you too," he said with a smile. "You are so beautiful."
"Thank-you," she said. "So do you want to watch a movie or something?"
"How about or something?" he asked with a smile as he picked her up off the couch and carried her to her bedroom where they spent most of the night making love. It went against Charlie's house rules about having a guy spend the night while Laney was in the house but it was too late to take Mason home so he just stayed with her which she enjoyed to the fullest. She loved being in Mason's arms and waking up next to him in the morning. Some of her best nights and mornings were with Mason.
*A/N: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for taking the time to read. You guys are great. Thank-you. =)