Midnight Sun(24)

“Wow” is all I can say at first. The version of Charlie that would do something so reckless doesn’t fit with the one I’d imagined all those years, or the one I’m getting to know now.

“So, you’re a huge idiot” is what comes out my mouth next, because apparently I don’t want to be kissed by the guy I’ve dreamed about for years. I say it nicely, though, even as I shake my head in disapproval of both of us—him for being an idiot and me for also being an idiot. He’s laughing, so I guess I haven’t completely ruined my chances. “Thank you for telling me the truth,” I say.

“Thank you for calling me an idiot.” He smiles at me. “You know what the worst part is? I didn’t even want to drink that night. It was so stupid—I don’t want to be that guy, you know?”

“Then don’t be,” I tell him.

I know by the way he’s acting that he doesn’t normally let people see this side of him—the vulnerable part where he’s not the king of the party, the king of the school, the king of the pool. It’s probably easier with me, someone who’s not a part of that whole scene. Still, I’m flattered he trusts me with his “stuff.”

Which gets me to thinking: I should probably share my stuff with him, too. And he’s just given me another perfect opening. But then Charlie breaks the silence before I get a chance to.

“I love it down here. Especially when nobody’s around. It’s the best at night,” he says.

I decide to offer him something other than my diagnosis. It’s still personal and close to my heart, but not quite as life altering as divulging my medical condition will be. “I remember my mom taking me here when I was little.”

“Oh really?” Charlie sounds politely interested. He probably isn’t prepared for what I’m about to say next.

“Yeah, I have this vivid memory of her letting me sit on her lap and showing me where to put my fingers on the guitar strings.”

I take a breath as the mental picture washes over me full force. How can I miss someone so much who has been gone so long and who I had for such a short time to begin with? I touch the face of the watch I’m wearing, the one that was my mom’s. It always makes me feel closer to her. I imagine she’s somewhere up there among the stars now, light-years away, watching over me and keeping me safe.

“This was hers, actually,” I add. “I spent so many days staring at this watch on her hand, hoping someday I could play like her. She died when I was six. Car accident.”

Charlie goes silent. I hope I haven’t scared him away, that he doesn’t think I’m too damaged to get involved with. Because he doesn’t even know about the sun damage yet. I am pretty much damage central.

“Wow, I… I’m really sorry,” he finally says. “Here I am talking about an injury that was all my fault. I really am a huge idiot.”

I shake my head and smile up at him. “Not even. It’s okay. I promise. It’s nice to make a new memory here.”

“Hey,” he says, taking my hand. “Let me make it up to you.”

I follow him down the dock until we stop in front of a gorgeous, gleaming yacht. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before except possibly on TV, like maybe in a Kardashians’ vacation episode. He climbs aboard and offers me a hand up. I join him on deck.

“This is yours?” I ask, my eyes as wide as the full moon. I don’t get it. I thought he said his dad’s business was shaky. This yacht must have cost them millions.

“Not mine,” he replies, clearing that part up at least. “But I’m helping take care of it for the summer. It’s my job. So now you know what keeps me busy during the day. Your turn.”

I go for the easy joke, which isn’t even a joke at all. “You haven’t guessed by now? I actually am that little vampire girl Zoe was talking about before.”

I wonder if I should make it clear that I’m actually not kidding. Just get everything out in the open. Before it’s too late and I’m too invested and breaking the news has the potential for breaking my heart.

“I had a feeling,” Charlie says. I’m pretty sure he has no idea I’m as serious as a heart attack, and at the last minute, I decide not to set him straight, at least not just yet. Maybe tomorrow. Not tonight. “But what the heck. I’ll take my chances with you anyhow.”

He takes me on a tour of the boat, pointing out different parts of it as we go. “This boat is a Jespersen. Kevlar-reinforced mainsail. Deck is Burmese teak with bamboo inlays.”

I touch each of the components as he tells me about them. They reek of class and wealth. “None of that means anything to me, but it’s so pretty!” I exclaim. “How do you know so much about boats?”

Charlie slings an arm around my shoulder, and I snuggle into him. “Remember that scholarship?”

I nod. The light of the stars and moon makes it look like he has a halo. Like he’s my own personal angel.

“Well, they’re kind of related,” he explains. “The guy who owns this boat—Mr. Jones—is a Cal alum. Swam there just like I was supposed to. Once he found out about my scholarship, he kind of took me under his wing and taught me everything there is to know.”

“That’s nice,” I murmur. “Having someone believe in you that much. Especially someone outside your family.”