Charlie breathed a sigh of relief the moment he set the phone down. He’d expected a twinge of regret, or to feel as though he’d just taken a huge risk, but…
It didn’t feel that way at all.
He turned the key Scott had given him over in his hand, marveling at it.
Scott felt the same way. They were both dancing around what this felt like, how easy it was, but their actions spoke louder than words.
Charlie wanted to stay. Scott wanted him to stay.
This wasn’t a mistake. He didn’t have to regret it.
Riley would have been so proud of him. For once in his life, Charlie felt just as brave as his older brothers. Sure, his bravery wasn’t like theirs. He hadn’t left home and headed out into the world to make his own way.
Sometimes he was ashamed of that, but not today. Today, he knew that sticking around had been the right thing. He knew that making this choice was the brave thing to do.
He wasn’t giving up his shot at a better future. He was taking it.
Scottwas the better future. Scott, and Hope Springs, and everything he had here… that was what Charlie really wanted.
Somehow, he was getting to have it.
Charlie looked up as the bedroom door opened, and all the dogs, who’d settled down with him earlier, ran over to Scott, milling around his legs in the hopes that he’d drop something from the plates he was holding.
He always gave them something. He was careful to make sure it wasn’t anything they couldn’t have, but they always managed to getsomethingfrom him. Just a taste.
He’d said it was to make them feel like they were part of his pack.
Charlie wanted to be part of Scott’s pack, too.
“How’d it go?” Scott asked, handing Charlie a plate stacked high with waffles, bacon, and scrambled eggs, as promised.
“They were disappointed, but I don’t care. There are lots of good librarians in the world. There’s only one Hope Springs. There’s only one you.”
Scott blushed darkly, settling back onto the bed beside Charlie. “No regrets?”
“None,” Charlie said. “Seriously. I was just thinking about that. I feel relieved. I didn’t want to leave. I never wanted to leave.”
“Then how come you applied?” Scott asked.
“It was before I met you.” Charlie shrugged. “Before I met you… I hadn’t dated in over a year. I had my heart broken last time when my boyfriend announced that this town was too small for him, that I wasn’t worldly enough for him, that he wanted bigger and better things.”
“Ouch,” Scott said between bites of waffle. “He was an asshole.”
Charlie shook his head. “Not really. We weren’t right for each other, but he wanted what he wanted, and that wasn’t me. Which is fine.”
“You’re enough for me,” Scott said. “More than enough. A little too much, sometimes.” He smiled.
“You’ll get used to me.” Charlie shoved a piece of bacon in his mouth, making soft, happy sounds as he chewed. Scott knew his way around breakfast foods.
He wasdefinitelythe right decision.
“Your whole family is kinda like that, huh?” Scott smiled wryly. “They’re cool, though. I, uh… I like the idea of being part of it. If they’ll have me.”
“Are you kidding? My mom has already mentally adopted you,” Charlie said. That was true. She hadn’t stopped asking about Scott since she’d first met him, and once he’d come to lunch, that was it. He was part of the family already, whether he liked it or not.
“I can live with that.” Scott nodded, chewing on the corner of his toaster waffle.
They needed a waffle maker.
