“I know this sounds crazy,” Austin continued, his voice softening. “It is, but there’s so much about Charlie that I love.”
Jacob, ever the skeptic, folded his arms. “Like what?”
Austin didn’t hesitate. He turned to me, his eyes soft, a small, gentle smile curving his lips. “She bakes when she’s stressed,” he said, his voice warm. “She puts so much thought into what she wears to school, making sure her outfits match whatever lesson she’s teaching. She goes to the farmers’ market every weekend without fail. And her laugh—God, her laugh—it’s impossible not to smile when you hear it.” He paused, his expression shifting, his voice dropping lower. “But mostly, it’s her warmth. The way she makes people feel seen, understood, and cared for. She’s the most genuine person I’ve ever met.”
The silence that followed was thick, but different now. Jacob looked between us, his guarded expression softening just a bit.
“She exudes warmth,” Jacob said. “Listen, I’ve always told Charlie she’s strong enough to know what’s best for her, but you have to understand why we’re in shock.”
“I absolutely do,” Austin replied.
Mom stayed silent, her gaze fixed on the screen, her expression unreadable.
“Mama?” I prompted.
She exhaled. “I don’t agree with this. There are so many more... cultured options... for you here, Charlotte. You married a hockey coach.”
“I did,” I said firmly, meeting her judgment head-on.
“Ma’am,” Austin interjected. His bright blue eyes flicked to me, holding my gaze for a brief moment before he turned back to the screen. “I love your daughter,” he said, his voice unwavering.He turned to me, and I met his gaze, unblinking. “I love you,” he whispered.
My throat tightened.This is fake. It has to be fake. It’s all part of the act.
My heart raced, and I tried to remind myself why we were doing this—to protect each other, to keep up appearances.
Beneath the phone, I felt it—his hand sliding onto my thigh. His fingers curled gently, giving a firm squeeze. Mom and Jacob were already talking again, their voices becoming background noise, but Austin’s focus was entirely on me.
I remembered what he’d said yesterday—how he wanted to kiss me in private, away from the eyes of everyone else. No cameras, no spectators, just us.
I let myself believe it.
Austin Hart might actually love me.
30
austin
My mom wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot, but hearing Charlie’s mother tell her she’d be better off coming home hit me harder than I expected. By the time I told them I loved Charlie, my jaw ached from clenching it so tightly.
Admitting how much I cared for her, how far I’d go to protect her, came naturally. Telling her mom I was truly in love with her wasn’t just part of the act—it felt like the only real thing in the conversation.
“Mom,” Charlie snapped. She pushed my hand off her thigh.
“This is beyond reckless. You’re throwing your life away for what? Some fleeting romance with a man who coaches kids? Take a real hard look at yourself.”
Charlie’s shoulders stiffened. Her jaw clenched. Hurt flashed in her eyes, even if she tried to hide it.
“Mama, I?—”
Her mom didn’t let her finish. “You could’ve had so much more. A real career, a stable life. Look at Jacob. He’s?—”
“Enough,” Jacob snapped, his tone cutting through the room like a whip. His sudden outburst caught even me off guard. “Stop comparing her to me. Charlie’s doing fine, Mom. Better than fine, actually.”
Her mom’s face twisted in frustration, her lips pressed into a tight line. “Jacob?—”
“No. You don’t get to tear her down every time she does something you don’t like. She’s not a failure just because her life doesn’t look the way you want it to.”
Her mom narrowed her eyes, her lips parting slightly as if she was about to respond, but instead, she hung up without another word. Jacob followed, and the screen darkened.
