Fulfillment by Golland, M. (best large ebook reader .txt) 📕

tilted myhead to the side in frustration. “Bryce.”

“So just playit for him. Don’t even acknowledge anyone else.” She sipped herdrink again then focussed her attention on Derek, having convincedherself that her advice was my solution. “We haven’t had vanillayet,” she added.

“Oh,” I gavethe kids another quick glance, checking to see they were stilloccupied with their handheld devices and not catching on to thefact that their mother and Carly were now talking about sex. “Whynot? That’s unlike you. You normally devour vanilla then jump rightin to chocolate or even Rocky Road.”

“I do not,”she scoffed.

“Yes, you do.There’s not many flavours you haven’t tried.”

“I likestrawberry, Aunty Carls. Do you like strawberry?” Charli asked, nottaking her eyes from her iPod. Charli, you eavesdropping littlerabbit.

“Yes, Charli,I love strawberry. It’s my favourite.” Carls pressed her lipstogether as if to say ‘Mmmm’.

“Mum, what’syour favourite?”

I don’tknow. Are we talking about sex or ice cream flavours? “I likevanilla with sprinkles and topping and chocolate chips,” I answeredquickly. There, I think that about covers everything.

“Yeah, metoo,” she smiled at me. “Can I have some now?” What?

I looked atCarly, her amused face revelling in the fact I had to somehow digmyself out of this dilemma. “What Charli? What do you want?” Iasked flustered.

“Icecream.”

“Um, sure.” Idug out my purse. “Nate?”

“I’ll havewhat she’s having,” he replied, unperturbed and like Charli noteven removing his eyes from the little screen. This is theweirdest conversation ever.

Carls waslaughing. I shook my head at her.

“Here, Charli,go up to the bistro desk over there and order two ice creamsundaes.” I handed her the money and pointed her in the rightdirection. “Nate, go with her please.”

“Huh?”

“Go withCharli to order your ice cream or I’ll change my mind,” Ithreatened in a joking manner.

“Oh, okaythanks.” He placed his iPod in his pocket and walked off withCharli.

When they weregone, I turned to Carls. “Why haven’t you fucked Derek yet? Carls,what’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing. It’snot him. It’s me.”

“What’s wrongwith you then? Is your fiery whole singed?” I said as I choked onthe wine I had just swallowed.

“You’re such abitch. No, I really like him, and I don’t want to screw thisup.”

“You’re notgoing to screw this up, Carls,” I said quietly, as I pulled herhands into mine and squeezed them with reassurance.

“How can yoube so sure?” she groaned.

“Well, Ican’t, Hun. But I know you, and you’re awesome. Derek seems to likeyour awesomeness as well, so just be yourself and go with the flow.Don’t try to change who you are.”

“It’s not thatsimple,” she whinged.

“Carly?”

“Yes,” shereplied, her tone laced with hostility.

“Do you wantto fuck Derek?”

“Yes,” shesighed.

“Well, that’sfucking great, because I want to fuck you, too,” Derek said as hestepped up beside Carly. “How bout tonight? My house. I’ll evencook you dinner first.”

Carly lookedlike she had shrunk about two sizes.

“I won’t bite,Carls...” He bent down and leaned closer to her ear, “unless youwant me to.”

Her eyeswidened and a small, embarrassed smile appeared on her face. Icouldn’t help but smile along with her.

“Sure,” sheanswered, shakily.

“Good.” Hestood back up as if he had not just blown Carly’s mind. “Alexis,how you feeling?”

“As nervous asfuck,” I answered, continuing with his blasé attitude and abilityto easily change the subject. I held up my hands to see if theywere shaking. Surprisingly, they weren’t.

“Don’t be. Thelast time we rehearsed you were fine. I will pick up the chords ifyou falter. Now, Lucy is gonna call Charli up on stage as soon asour set finishes, then you’ll be next.”

“Okay,” Inodded.

Carls stillhadn’t moved, still slightly stunned but now staring greedily atDerek.

“Hope you likechicken. I make a mean satay,” he declared before he kissed herquickly then headed back to the stage.

I watchedCarly come back down to earth in the seconds after Derek left.

“I don’t,” shesaid as she finally made eye contact with me.

“You don’twhat?”

“Like satay,”she admitted.

I laughed.

“But fuck!I’ll eat it for him. I’ll even eat it off him if he wants.” Shedropped her head to the table in surrender.

***

Charli andNate returned shortly after, eating their ice cream sundaes whilewe watched the band kill some popular covers and play some of theirown songs. I hadn’t yet had a chance to listen to the CD that Derekgave me for my birthday, but after hearing the two songs theyplayed, I was going to make it a priority—they were greatsongs.

“When do I getto sing?” Charli asked excitedly. Geez, I wish I had herenthusiasm.

“Derek saidwhen they finish this first set of songs, Charli,” Carls explained.“So what are you going to sing?”

“I’m going tosing “True Colours”. Lucy has been helping me practice. I like thatsong because it’s about rainbows.” Oh, my, God! When has Lucybeen helping her practice?

Just as I wasabout to ask her, Lucy called her up on stage. She jumped up like agrasshopper and made her way toward Lucy. Bryce took a seat besideme and placed his hand on my thigh.

“We have avery special guest here today to perform a song for you,” Lucy saidinto the microphone as she adjusted her seated position behind thekeyboard. “I’d like to introduce you all to Miss Charlotte Summers.She is going to help me sing “True Colours” by Cyndi Lauper.”

Charli took aseat next to Lucy and moved the microphone down so that it waspositioned perfectly in front of her mouth. “Hi everyone,” she saidhappily, addressing the room’s occupants with confidence.

Lucy startedplaying the keyboard, making my heart beat heavily in my chest,excitement and anticipation radiating through me. I sat straight upand beamed at my brave and beautiful little girl, waiting for hervoice to fill my ears.

When it didsound throughout the roof top, it brought a tear to my eye. She wasso confident and smiled as she sang each and every word. Lucyjoined in on the chorus which made Charli smile even brighter, andbefore I knew it, I was dabbing my eyes more often.

Bryce squeezedmy leg and whispered into my ear. “She has been practising alot.”

“When? How?” Iasked, dumbfounded.

“Sometimesit’s easier to hide something blatantly than it is to hide itfurtively.”

I shot him aquick glance. Shit! Did he know about my surprise? I smiledtimidly and turned back to Charli. She was more than half waythrough the song with no