These Things We Do

“So....”
“How long before that video goes viral?” Charlie asked the man sitting on the couch next to her.
“Someone took a video?” Sean asked. She nodded. “Well shit. Now I’m never going to live this down.” They both laughed and he turned pink.
“It was by far the best welcome home I have ever received. And.... It was kinda romantic.” This time it was her turn to blush, thinking about how it felt to have Sean’s lips pressed against hers. She didn’t expect him to kiss her, so she was surprised at first. But she certainly wasn’t complaining. Actually kissing him was so much better than she had been imagining. Charlie hadn’t wanted to admit it, but she had started to really notice just how attractive her best friend was. It made their video chats a little distracting, especially when he would be shirtless. But he never seemed to notice her wandering eyes. Charlie thought about what Johanna Timonen had said to her in the car after picking her up from the airport:

“You and Sean have a thing. We all know it, even though most of the guys have dropped it. We see the looks you two give each other. It’s the same looks Kimmo and I gave each other when we were your age. I don’t know what you’re worried about, Charlie. If you’re worried he doesn’t feel the same way about you that you feel about him, I promise that’s not the case. That boy is head over heels for you.”

The two continued talking about the surprise, and Sean wasn’t too shocked to find out that Kimmo was the one behind it all. That explained his cryptic words during practice, as well as the impromptu visit by Johanna. Eventually, they ran out of things to say about the events that had occurred a few hours earlier.
“Charlie? What are we doing?” Sean asked. “I-I don’t want to mess up this friendship up. But...” He paused, looking down at his hands. “But there’s something I just have to get off my chest. I like you, Charlie. A lot. More than I have ever liked anyone before in my life. When I’m with you, I feel like I’m invincible. And when you’re not around, I feel like there’s no hope in the world for anything. When you told me you were being deployed to Afghanistan, I felt like my whole world was going to collapse. I’m so confused because you’re my best friend and you’re not supposed to think about your best friend like this. But fuck, Charlie. I’m absolutely crazy about you. I constantly want to be around you and I get so jealous when you talk to anyone else. I know all the guys think you’re hot and stuff so I’m afraid that one of them is going to woo you over and take you away from me. Which I realize I have no right to say since you’re not technically mine and all. But that’s how I feel and-”

She cut him off by pressing her lips to his. Classic Sean, rambling like an idiot.
“You’re crazy if you think any other man could ever hold a candle to you, Sean.” She said, brushing her fingers across his face. “I’ve always been yours. We’ve both just been too stubborn and stupid to realize it.” They were both quiet for a moment, thinking about what had just been said. Her heart was pounding so loud she thought there was no way he couldn’t hear it.
“Will you be my girlfriend, Charlie? Please?” He asked.
“Do you really have to ask me that? Of course I will.” She smiled. He let out a comical deep breath and she couldn’t help but giggle. Her giggle soon turned into a laugh, and before she knew it she couldn’t stop. He was laughing with her and everything just felt right. This was the way they always were together. This was typical Charlie and Sean. They stopped laughing and looked at one another again.
“I can’t believe you told me you loved me when I left,” she said with a smile.
“You know me. I was really nervous and you know I just blurt things out when I’m like that,” he said sheepishly. She kissed his cheek.
“It certainly made sleeping in your sweatshirt all those nights a little awkward. I couldn’t help but think about what you really meant by it. Like, did you just mean it as a friend or what. I just kept hoping you really meant it.”
“What can I say? I have no filter. Wait- you slept in my sweatshirt every night? Which one?” He asked.
“Umm. I may have stolen your team issued hoodie. The one with your number on it? It just smelled like you and I knew I was going to need something to comfort me.” She could see the shock pass over his face.
“I have been looking for that thing for ten months! I thought I left it in a hotel room or something. Jeez! I should have known you took it. It did disappear right when you left. I’m glad you did, though. If it comforted you, it was worth being confused about for all that time.”

Charlie couldn’t help but become overrun with happiness. She knew he wouldn’t be mad that she took it, but to hear him say that with so much care in his voice meant the world to her. He had no idea how much she had come to rely on that hoodie. She felt silly at first, relying on an article of clothing for comfort. But one of the guys on base had eased her mind when she saw him with his wife’s sweatshirt. He told her it was one of the most common things military members did to remind them of home. The smell of a family member or loved one was calming, and helped them ease the stresses of being so far away for such a long time.

After kissing his lips again, Charlie put her head on his chest, the place she knew she could hear his heart beat, and Sean rested his head on hers and began stroking her hair. It was a position they had always found themselves in while watching movies late at night. But this time, Charlie realized why it had always felt so perfect. She belonged in Sean’s arms, and that thought kept a smile on her face as she drifted off to sleep.

She was woken up by the sound of her cell phone ringing. She jumped up to get it, hoping not to wake Sean who had also fallen asleep on the couch. When she finally found it in the dark apartment, she saw that it was her brother Andrew.
“Hey, Drew.” She said quietly. “What’s up?”
“Tell me why I had to find out that my baby sister is home early by seeing a video online of her best friend kissing her in the Flyer’s locker room.” Her brother stated, clearly angry.
“Umm... I mean... I didn’t really...”
“It’s okay, Char.” He laughed. “I’m only messing with you.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “I saw the story about the school on the news. I’m assuming that’s why you’re home early?” She confirmed his statement. “I guess that means I’m coming to Philly for a few days, huh?”
“Oh Drew, I would love that!” She exclaimed as she felt Sean’s strong arms wrap around her middle and he nuzzled his face into her neck.
“I’ll be there on Wednesday. Your boy starts a home-and-home with Columbus on Thursday, and I’d like to have a little chat with him before he leaves for the weekend.”
“Don’t be like that, Andy. Please?” She begged. She only called him Andy in special circumstances, and this time she knew she had to. For Sean’s sake.
“We’ll see, baby sis. I gotta go now, okay? I’ll see you in two days. Love you.”
“Love you too, Drew.” She said, and hung up.
“So. I guess your brother saw the video, huh?” Sean asked. She nodded. “I’m going to go ahead and assume he’s not too thrilled with his little sister having a boyfriend?” Again she nodded. “Well then. This should be a fun visit.” They both laughed.
“I promise I’ll talk to him and make him see that you’re a good guy. I thought he liked you from what I’ve told him. But I don’t know. He’s probably just being an over-protective brother and all. Since dad isn’t around anymore to scare off the boys.” She shrugged and laughed.
“I wish I could have met your dad,” Sean said.
“I wish you could have, too.” she admitted. “He was a huge Flyers fan. He would have loved you.” He kissed her forehead and
“It’s late,” he said after glancing at the clock. “Will you stay the night with me? I promise we can even sleep in my bed instead of on the couch.”
She agreed and was surprised when he picked her up bridal-style and carried her to his room. He placed her on the bed carefully and pulled back the sheets so she could get in. He turned and took his shirt off, causing her heart to skip a beat.
“Like what you see, babe?” He teased.
“I always have, Couts.” She responded quickly, using his nickname. “Now get in here next to me so I can cuddle up with you.”
He chuckled and obeyed her request, bringing her in for another one of his mind-blowing kisses before they relaxed into the pillows.
“Good night, Sean.”

Notes