“Never seen you more terrified,” Parker jokes.
“I may look strong and tough, but deep down inside I’m a princess. That ziplining scared me. Honestly thought a dinosaur was going to come and eat me.” This has the table laughing.
“Charlie, it’s good to see you up here for dinner. How’s things? Jackson here says he’s trying to entice you to move to LA. Why the hell would you want to do that?” Hudson asks him.
“That’s what I said, when I have the mountains,” Charlie answers, then turns and looks at Everly. “But I’m considering it because Everly needs to start up her own business. Because she is fucking awesome.” Everly shakes her head at her brother’s compliment.
“What do you do again?” Parker asks.
“She wants to be an accountability coach. She saved me.” He stares at her, and you can see the gratitude he has for his little sister. It’s sweet, endearing, and kind of sexy. Everly reaches out and squeezes his hand.
“He did the hard work, not me. I was just there for support.”
I notice Parker’s eyes dip as he takes her in, but then I notice I am not the only one and see Charlie glare at Parker, making his brothers laugh. Thankfully, Everly doesn’t see any of this.
“I’m going to go grab something to eat,” Parker says, getting up from the table.
“Me too,” Everly adds, which has Jackson and Hudson laughing even more as a panicked Parker and Everly walk off with a glaring Charlie.
“Come on, they are cute together,” I say, nudging him.
“He’s too pretty,” Charlie grumbles.
“He’s a model,” Jackson adds.
“Exactly. He has a reputation.”
“Anyway, enough about them, how are you going? We missed you today,” Jackson says.
“Yeah, sorry. My leg was playing up and the thought of doing all those activities …” Charlie mumbles.
My brows pull together. I didn’t realize he was supposed to come today and that his leg hurt. Jackson doesn’t seem to share my concern.
“You seem to be walking okay now?” Jackson asks him.
“That’s because I rested it,” Charlie snaps back.
“Is that what you two call it?” Jackson smirks, looking between Charlie and me.
“Don’t involve me in whatever this is. Hudson, you want to grab some food?” I ask him.
“Sure,” he says, standing up and joining me at the buffet.
“Guess something’s brewing there.”
“Yeah. Jackson’s trying to get Charlie out of his shell. Since the accident, he’s hidden himself away. But it seems like he just needed the right motivation, which might be one Aussie stylist to help him break free,” Hudson suggests.
“Me? Doubtful, I don’t have those kinds of healing powers.” I grab a plate and shuffle in line.
“I think you’d be surprised. I’m assuming something is going on between the two of you, and not because you’re my two gay friends,” Hudson adds.
“Flirtation, yes, but Charlie is adamant that he just wants to be friends. He’s not ready for more,” I explain to him as I start heaping food onto my plate.
“What do you want?”
“I like him, but I’m not going to push someone into anything they are not ready for. I’ve learnt my lesson, there.”
“Because of the rockstar?” Hudson asks.
