“I’m pretty damn lucky.” Charlie looks over at me.
“Are you Derrick’s boyfriend?” Amelia asks Charlie.
“I am,” he answers her.
“Don’t hurt him or we will kick you in the shins,” Becca adds, which makes us all laugh.
“I promise I won’t hurt him,” Charlie says, holding up his hands, which seems to please the girls.
The rest of the crew arrives, and pure chaos ensues.
Because there are so many people staying here and Stacey wanted everyone on the farm, so did Jackson for security reasons, there wasn’t enough space inside the home, so Camryn organized gorgeous temporary cabins that are dotted around the farm for all of us to stay in. She handed us our key and a map and off we went to explore.
“I can’t believe I’m in Australia,” Charlie says in awe as he looks around the bush. There’s a flock of black cockatoos flying over causing a loud racket, the sounds of the cicadas add to the noise, and there are sheep dotted along the horizon, too. “I have to call my family.” He pulls out his phone.
“Might not have the best reception here,” I warn him.
He looks down at his phone. “Two bars should be enough.” He presses the screen on his phone and I hear it dialing.
“Sweetheart, you made it.” I hear his mother’s voice.
“I have. It was a long ass flight. Here, look where we are in the middle of nowhere,” he says, turning the camera around.
“Oh wow. You really are in the middle of nowhere. It looks very dry,” His mother states.
“Derrick said they have been going through a decade-long drought. I don’t know how they are surviving. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like not having access to water for our animals.”
“Guess, they are used to that kind of weather. If we don’t have a good snow melt, we can have a tough summer,” she explains.
Charlie nods, then indicates for me to come over. “Mom, did you want to say hi to Derrick?” My heart leaps in my chest as my nerves suddenly take over.
“Yes, please,” she says excitedly, which makes me not feel so afraid. He turns the camera around and I wave at the screen. “Oh wow. You’re so handsome. Derrick, it’s so nice to finally meet you.”
“It’s really nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Nash.”
“It’s Caroline.” She giggles. “Charlie, when are we going to meet Derrick in the flesh? Your father will be very upset that he’s missed your call and meeting him.”
“When we get back from Australia, I was hoping we could catch up,” Charlie asks.
“You do? Oh, this is wonderful. Let me know the weekend and we can fly to you. Will you be in LA? It would be easier to get to than Midnight Falls.”
“Yes. We can meet in LA. Everly is there now, she’s looking for apartments,” Charlie tells her.
“To rent?”
“Yeah.”
“For just her?”
“No, for the two of us. Derrick did offer for us to move in with him, but I didn’t want to put that pressure on our relationship, not yet anyway,” Charlie explains to his mom.
“That is so kind of you, Derrick. Why don’t we look at apartments to buy when we are down catching up?”
“Mom. We don’t need you to buy us an apartment, we are happy to rent.” Charlie moans.
“Sweetie, please. Your father and I want you both to be safe.” Then she turns to me. “Where do you live, Derrick?”
“West Hollywood, I bought a bungalow there. It’s walking distance to my business,” I explain to her.
