The line finally thins, and Erin straightens, brushing crumbs off her hands.
“Declan! You made it,” she calls over. “Sophie’s been hustling. We might actually sell out.”
“That’s my kid,” I say, smiling faintly.
Charlie’s smile is small and careful, like she’s testing it.
“Hey,” she says, soft but steady.
“Hey.” My pulse jumps harder than it should. “Didn’t know you were volunteering.”
“I wasn’t, really. I just meant to drop off cookies, but…” she gestures to the half-empty trays. “The line got long.”
Erin laughs. “You’re a lifesaver. I’d have been buried without you.”
“Glad I could help,” Charlie says, then glances at the girls.
“Hey, you two, how’s rehearsals for your musical going?”
“Good,” Sophie says immediately. “Mr. Kenner says our harmonies are better.”
“Only because we finally stopped laughing in the middle,” Maya says, giving her a look.
Sophie snorts. “He made us redo Act Two three times yesterday.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” Charlie smiles, but her eyes flick toward the exit like she’s already halfway gone.
A loose strand of hair slips from her ponytail, brushing her cheek, and I have to stop myself from reaching out to tuck it behind her ear.
I should say something. Anything. Ask if she’s okay, if she’s got a second to talk, if her day was as long as mine. But the words jam up behind my ribs.
“You’re leaving?” I ask instead, quieter than I mean to.
“Yeah. I should let the pros handle the rest.”
Sophie waves at her from behind the table. “Bye, Charlotte!”
Charlie waves goodbye to everyone and disappears into the crowd, sunlight flashing off the glass doors as they swing shut behind her.
I’m still looking at the door when Sophie nudges me with an elbow.
“Why are you being weird?” Sophie asks suddenly, glancing up at me.
My stomach tightens, because she’s right.
“I’m not,” I say, too quickly.
“You kind of are,” she starts, but then Maya yelps as a brownie slips off a plate and hits the floor. Sophie bursts out laughing and rushes to grab a napkin.
I exhale, the sound barely audible over the hum of the room.
The cafeteria noise swells back up, but all I can hear is the hollow space she left behind.
I tell myself it’s better this way.
I don’t believe it.
Chapter Nineteen
