He eyes crease with concern, but she simply responds, “Okay.”
I take a deep breath. “When I told you my mom was killed in a car wreck, that was a lie.” I toe the grass, eyes following the movement—this is hard enough to say as it is. If I have to look at her, I’m not sure I’ll be able to speak. “She was a drug addict, died of an overdose. I also spent a year in foster care before Trey turned eighteen and got custody of Garrett and me.” I sneak a peek at Charlie’s face, relieved to see her soft smile instead of shock and horror.
She pushes up onto her tippy toes and brushes a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you for telling me.”
I nod, the corner of my mouth ticking up into a half smile. “Let’s go.”
Charlie and I bypass the house altogether and walk around back to where Garrett and Trey are hunched over the smoker. The scent of mesquite-smoked pork sets my mouth watering.
“God that smells good,” Charlie says. I nod in agreement.
My brothers are too intent on whatever ridiculous argument they’re having to notice us, at first. Finally, Garrett’s head pops up, and a smile stretches across his face. “Charlie.” He throws his arms apart and pulls her into a hug. She giggles and pats his back in response and Garrett winks at me over her shoulder.
Asshole.
“It’s nice to see you too,” Charlie says, her whole face lit up into a beaming smile that sets off fireworks in my chest.
Trey, being the less touchy-feely type, thrusts out his hand for her to shake. Charlie’s eyes widen as she takes in his size, tilting her head back, until it’s almost horizontal, just so she can see his face. To her credit, her smile never wavers, even when sherealizes his hand is too big for her to wrap her fingers around. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Likewise,” Trey replies, giving her a toothy grin.
Garrett holds out his elbow. “Milady.” She threads her arm through his, chuckling as he gives her a walking tour of our backyard—which goes something like: “tree, tree, bush, rock, snake.” She jumps at the last one and Garrett laughs his ass off. Charlie just gives him a friendly smack on the arm before letting him lead her off again.
Trey stands beside me, watching the two of them act like idiots. “I like her,” he says, and though I’d never admit it, his approval means a lot to me.
I stuff my hands in my pockets and sigh. “Me too.”
“That’s good.” Trey claps me on the back. “Try not to fuck it up.”
I rest my hand on my heart. “Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Bro. Really. I mean that.”
He laughs and we make our way over to where Garrett is still entertaining my girlfriend with his stupid antics. “Hey, dumbass,” I say, taking Charlie’s hand. “Can I have my girl back now?”
Garrett takes Charlie’s other hand and squats down to rest his head on her shoulder. Charlie rolls her eyes. “Sorry, Ry,” Garrett says. “She’s my girl now.” Charlie’s eyes bug out, and she presses her lips together as if physically trying to hold back her laughter. Garrett just continues, deadpan. “She told me your thingy…” He wiggles his pinky finger.
I go to smack him, but Trey beats me to it, smacking him upside the head. “Stop mooching Ryan’s girl and give me a hand dickwad.”
Garrett releases Charlie’s hand to rub his sore head, then follows Trey back to the smoker saying, “Dickwad? I do not know this dickwad, you speak of.”
Charlie’s laughing so hard, tears are running down her face. “He’s such a goof.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, but he’s probably only half-joking about stealing you away from me so just keep that in mind.”
Charlie wraps her arms around my waist and looks up at me with a knowing smirk on her face. “Are you jealous, Ryan Morgan?”
“Of that jackass?” I jab my thumb at the smoker, where my brothers have resumed arguing. “Nah. I can take him,” I say, grinning as I absently twirl a lock of Charlie’s hair around my finger.
She lays her palms flat against my chest, her eyes two emerald pools I would happily drown in. “Well, you don’t have to worry about him because I’m all yours.”
Those words hit me like a hammer to the heart and I find that I’m strangely breathless when I reply, “Say it again.”
That beautiful smile lights up her face. She presses a soft kiss to my chest and gazes up at me, her eyes reflecting all the things I can’t say. “I’m yours, Ryan Morgan.
“Damn straight,” I say and press another kiss to her soft, sweet lips.
If this is a dream, I hope I never wake up.
