Hurt flashes in Lauren’s eyes. This is getting too complicated already. I feel like I can’t win with anyone while I’m keeping us a secret.
I rise from my chair. “Do you two mind helping clean up before you head out?”
Charlie nods, going into his natural helper mode. He may be a bit of a troublemaker, but he’s also the best guy I know.
“What do you need me to do?”
“Can you take the garbage out? Lauren, maybe you can clean the counters off, and I’ll get the floor?”
They both nod, and as soon as the door closes behind Charlie, I grab Lauren by the waist, pushing her up against the fridge and pressing my lips to hers. As much as I hate to do it, I quickly break apart from her. The look of amusement paired with the way her breath catches makes me want to pull her back in for more, but instead, I blurt, “I want to help you at the booth tomorrow. I just can’t be super enthusiastic about it in front of Charlie. The version of me he knows wouldn’t be.”
She nods, a grin taking over her dazed expression.
I kiss her again. “He’s going to be back in probably two more seconds, but I need to see you later. Hiding us all day has been torture.”
“Charlie is supposed to stay over tonight.”
I throw my head back, groaning. “That co?—”
“But I can sneak you in later if you want.” The smirk on her lips is enough to stop my heart.
“Yes, I very much want that.” I unabashedly pull her in for another kiss, but the sound of the front door opening startles me. Instead of keeping my cool, I accidentally shove Lauren away. Now a solid two-and-a-half feet across the kitchen, she narrows her brows as if to askwhat the hell was that?Or, I guess in Lauren-speak it’d bewhat the heck was that?
Charlie dusts his hands off. “What else do you need me to do?”
“I thinkthat’s it.”
“That’s it? You just asked us to stay and clean up, and all you had me do was take out a measly garbage bag.”
“Yeah, I guess the kitchen is in better shape than I thought.”
“You’ve been acting kind of weird since I got back. Are you okay?”
Honestly, I’ve never been better.“I could say the same for you, California Boy.”
He rolls his eyes, draping his arm over Lauren’s shoulders. “Come on, Lo. Let’s go. I’m ready to swap whatever voodoo stuff is going on over here for an ice cream chat.”
He tosses one more look over his shoulder before they head out, and I can tell the poor guy is genuinely concerned. It simultaneously warms and breaks my heart.
I do my best to distract myself by putting the last of the dishes in the dishwasher and starting it, but a buzz in my back pocket catches my attention.
Lauren
My place. 11 pm.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Lauren
As soon aswe are inside my house, Charlie rifles through my freezer. “All right. What flavors do you have?”
I slide onto a barstool at the kitchen counter. “You were serious about the ice cream talk tonight? We just baked cookies.”
He turns to face me, a carton already in hand. “And I don’t know about you, but one measly little cookie isn’t going to ruin my appetite.” He grabs the other carton from the freezer. “Since when did you start turning down ice cream?”
Since I realized an ice cream talk could last for hours and delay me seeing your best friend.“Okay, fine.”
“Do you want chocolate thunder or mint chip?”
