Chapter 206 How to Save a Life
The change in Charlie’s disposition was alarming to Andrea. He was certainly not his fun-loving, silly self, the man she’d gotten to know and love over the past several months. He sat in a chair on the back porch, staring out into nothingness while Case and Andrea did their best to get him to open up.
It wasn’t working very well.
Andrea had spoken to her sister earlier that day and knew that she’d broken up with Charlie while Case was still in the hospital. She’d said she couldn’t handle the drama, and Andrea believed that because Leslie hated overly dramatic situations. She had vague recollections of the two of them arguing in the waiting room at the hospital when she still didn’t even know if Case was alive. Frankly, she thought Charlie was better off without Leslie. Even though they’d had fun while they were together, Leslie was too serious for Charlie—at least when he was himself.
He wasn’t himself right now, though. “Charlie, do you want some tea?” Andrea asked, noticing he’d emptied his second beer can since he’d arrived a little less than an hour ago. “Jill’s sweet tea is the best.”
“No, thanks. I’ll take another one of these, though.”
“Keep drinking like that, you’ll have more beer than blood in your body.” She hoped she sounded like she was joking, even though she was serious, because she didn’t want offend him.
Charlie only blinked. Andrea looked at Case. She knew he’d already tried everything he could think of to get Charlie talking, and his friend refused to do anything but sit there and drink beer.
“Wanna go fishing?” Case asked him, his voice infused with enthusiasm.
Charlie shook his head. “No, thanks, bro. Don’t wanna kill anything else.”
“You didn’t kill anyone, Charlie,” Case said, shaking his head.
“But for the grace of God….”
“Charlie, man, you’ve gotta snap out of this. You do know they’re looking for someone else to drive your car this weekend, right? I’m fighting to get them to let me drive, and you’re willing to sit this one out. That doesn’t make much sense to me.”
“The only reason you’re having to fight to prove that you’re able to drive is because of my dumba*s. I’m a menace, Case. I shouldn’t be out on the road.”
“That’s bullsh*t and you know it, Charlie. It could’ve happened to any of us. It’s not like you meant to hit me in the corner.”
“That’s right. I didn’t mean to. But it happened anyway. Because I suck at driving!” Charlie ran a hand through his curly hair, making it stand on end. That was the angriest Andrea had ever heard him, and it scared her a little bit.
“You’re full of sh*t, Charlie! You’re just looking for excuses because you’re scared.”
Andrea’s eyes widened as she heard Case taunting Charlie. What was he doing? Trying to pick a fight?
“Scared? I ain’t scared of nothin’!” Charlie shouted.
“Oh, really, then? You sure the hell sound scared to me.”
“I’m not scared. I just don’t want to kill anybody!”
“You could kill someone driving down the road, Charlie. You could kill someone a thousand different ways every day. Hell, you could open your beer, and the top could shoot off and hit someone in the eye.”
“What’s your point, Case?” Charlie asked, each word measured.
“My point is, you need to get over this. Bill’s gonna be fine. Yeah, he’ll miss a few races, but we all know he wasn’t going to make The Chase anyway. You could. You will, if you get you’re a*s back in that car. But if you think your friends are gonna let you sit around and wallow in your own self-pity because you made a mistake, then you’ve got another thing coming.”
Charlie stood then, and walked across the porch, his hand still in his hair. Andrea held her breath, not sure how he might react. They both gave him a second, and then, Charlie broke into a mess of tears. Case went over to him, and Charlie buried his head in Case’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry, man. I thought I’d killed you. When they brought out those d*mn black shields, I knew for sure one of you was gone.”
“I know, man. I know. But we’re okay. You didn’t kill anyone.”
“This time.”
“You won’t. I believe in you, man. So does your team. So do your fans. It’s been a tough week for everyone, but we need you to get back out there on Sunday and show them what you’re made of. Charlie, you’re not a quitter.”
Andrea watched as Charlie swiped at his eyes, trying to get himself back together. “Thanks, man,” he finally said, stepping away from Case.
“You in for Sunday, then?”
“Yeah, I’m in,” Charlie said, and Andrea couldn’t help but smile and breathe a sigh of relief.
“Great. Now, let’s go toss in a line.” Case slapped him on the back and gave Andrea a quick wink before the two of them headed off to go fish. She couldn’t help but smile. Case had fixed Charlie. Was there anything the man couldn’t do?
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