Garrett smirked. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I don’t like this. Charlotte didn’t tell me anything.”
“Didn’t tell you what?” Charlotte asked, appearing right behind the booth.
She had pulled her hair up into a bun, but some curls escaped around her temples. There was a bandage on her forehead, but other than that, she looked beautiful. Her jeans hugged her thick legs, and her holiday sweater pulled tight against her chest, but it was her smile that did me in. She was back to happy Charlotte, my favorite version.
“You and G have a thing?” Christian asked, his eyebrows disappearing into his hairline. “What is this?”
“Oh.” She laughed, her gaze softening at the player. She moved to sit on Garrett’s chair arm, like she had done it amillion times before. She looked comfortable with him, and he with her. He grinned at me, almost like a taunt, and he rubbed her lower back. She smiled down at him, the two of them sharing an inside joke that made me see red, and not the fun Christmas kind.
“I’m volunteering in her journalism class to show I’m mature and giving back to the community.”
“Yeah, and it has nothing to do with you hitting on my friend who happens to teach English across the hall.” Charlotte rolled her eyes, the gesture so much like her brother.
“Hey, Christian, can I talk to you for a quick second?” Penny asked, her brows pulling together. Her voice sounded meek for her, like something was wrong.
Char frowned, her gaze seeking mine with the same concern.
“Sure, babe.” Christian hit the table, and the two of them left the seating area. It was rare to see both of them without a smile, and judging by Charlotte’s continual assault of her bottom lip, she was worried too.
“Is everything okay with them?” she asked, pulling the sleeves of her sweater over her hands. She always loved doing that. Gwen did too. It made me smile.
“Probably. Shit.” Garrett stared down at his phone, sighing. “I have to take this. It won’t be more than a few minutes. It’s my boss. I took today off, damn it. Would one of you order me another coffee?”
I nodded, watching him walk away. That left Char and me, and her energy was almost tangible. “Penny for your thoughts.”
She stared down the hallway, the worry leaving her face. “I’m thirsty. I’m fantasizing about a delicious holiday cocktail.”
“You almost had to live in your car forever. I think you deserve a drink.”
She slid her gaze to me, her lips quirking. “Look at you joking. Humor looks good on you, Hop.”
Warmth spread through me at her compliment. “My treat. Let’s get you a Candy Cane Sex on a Beach.”
“That is so not a drink.” She chuckled as she stood.
I followed her toward the bar. The only spot free was toward the right, near the hall Penny and Christian had escaped to. She leaned over the copper top, humming a holiday song as she read the drink names. “These are absolutely ridiculous.”
“A gingerbread old-fashioned sounds divine.” She licked her lips and wiggled her brows like a cartoon character. “I’ll take one, please,” she said to the bartender.
“I think you may be—”
“Shh!” She held a finger to my mouth, her head tilted to hear better. It took a second, but then I heard it too. Penny and Christian.
“I don’t want to do this anymore,” Penny said, her voice shaking.
“We have to. You know why.”
“I don’t anymore. It’s… Christian, is this even what we want?”
“Fuck.” Christian groaned. “Makes me want to cancel the entire thing.”
Charlotte’s body tensed. My stomach bottomed out.Cancel the entire thing?
The wedding?
Shit.
