Finally, every seat is taken and Charlie lets out a sigh of relief just as the Evil Joes march in through the back door. They are always late and Sophie swears they just like making an entrance.
Leo is right behind them.
Wes leans to the left so he can see past Sophie. “He’s still in town?”
Sophie turns around. “Well, I guess so. There he is.”
Wes throws his roll at her and she throws it right back, hitting him square in the forehead.
I act like Leo and I haven’t been texting, and like we don’t talk every chance we get when we’re at the golf course. I act like I don’t know exactly where he is at any given moment in this crowded room.
Leo and the Evil Joes end up at one of the tables on the other side of the room, but he’s sitting directly in my line of vision.
It is unsettling!
And when we do make eye contact, I think he’s trying to hide as much as I am.
He’d get as much pushback from the Joes as I would from my side, and he knows it. They didn’t want to share him with us back then, so there’s no way they want to share him with us now.
My phone on the table vibrates with a text. Charlie’s eyes go straight to it and I’m thankful it’s facedown.
I slide it toward me, not turning it over until it’s in my lap.
“Who’s that?” he asks.
If the heat coming off them is any indication, my cheeks are in full bloom when I see the letterLon the screen.
“Bailey,” I say.
He gives me an “Uh-huh” like he doesn’t believe me.
I swipe open the message, making sure no one else can read it.
L:Hey! What’s up? I’m eating dinner with my host family and they are much louder than I remember
I can’t stop the laugh that pops out.
“I don’t remember Bailey being that funny,” Charlie says. He’s got his eagle eye on me, watching my every move.
“She’s hilarious,” I say. Then I text Leo back.
ME:How strange! I’m eating with my family and they are also very loud!
Since Charlie is watching me, I don’t look up at Leo but instead watch those three dots move and wait for his next text.
L:We have so much in common it’s unreal
ME:How did you finish today? I thought I would see you but you were gone when I made the final round with Williams.
L:Holding my same place but I need to improve tomorrow
ME:I feel like you can do it!
I can’t help it. I find him across the room and he’s looking my way, too. Charlie is still watching me, but from where he’s sitting, Leo is blocked by Uncle Sal and Uncle Marcus.
“It looks like Uncle Michael is really happy,” Sophie says. “Hopefully we won’t scare Tim off.”
“Nonna would drag him back by his ear if he tries to run away,” Charlie says.
