“Genius,” he says. “They don’t need proper shelter.”
“Or running water.”
Charlie chuckles, and his eyes fall to my mouth and pause there. It’s because I’m smiling, I realize. A big, toothy grin that pulls at my cheeks. He suddenly gets to his feet.
“I should probably head out. Thank you for the tea. I’ll bring those end tables to you tomorrow,” he tells Nan. “I’ll leave my number in case you ever need anything when Alice isn’t around.”
“Speaking of,” Nan says with a devious smile. “We’re celebrating Alice’s birthday next week. July 1. Her brother and sister will be here. Why don’t you join us for dinner?”
“You don’t have to come,” I say to Charlie as I walk him down to the dock. “It’s just going to be a little party, but my siblings area lot.”
“I likea lot.”
“There’ll be feather boas and tiaras and glitter,” I say. I have a vision for the night, and Charlie doesn’t fit into it.
“That’s good news,” he says, coming to a stop on the dock. “I look fantastic in a tiara.”
“But it’s Canada Day,” I say. “You probably have plans.”
Green eyes bore into mine. “If you don’t want me to come, Alice, just say so.”
I chew on the inside of my mouth. I don’t know what I’m going to get with Charlie. He’s like the mystery roll of film I once discovered under the lining of my bag. I had no idea what I’d find on it.
He sticks out his hand.
“What are you doing?”
“I get the sense I haven’t made a good first impression, so let’s start over. I’m Charlie Florek.”
I frown, and he beams back at me.
“And you are…” he prompts.
“I’m Alice Everly?” I say, putting my palm in his.
Charlie squeezes it firmly, giving it a shake. His smile draws out his dimples. “Andyouare Alice Everly.”
Alice Everly. Alice Everly. Alice Everly.
I should pull my hand away, but for some reason, I don’t. I let him hold my small hand in his large one.
“Rumor has it that you’re throwing a big party on Canada Day, Alice. The whole lake is talking about it.”
I think of the boy in my photo, and the girl who wanted to hang out with him. I think of the way Charlie made Nan giggle.
“You should come,” I tell him. “I think I can put up with you for an evening.”
Charlie smiles, and it’s so genuine I struggle not to do the same.
“Don’t look too happy,” I tell him. “You’ll have to wear your own shirt.”
“No guarantees.”
He drops my hand, and mine feels so much colder. Charlie steps into the boat with grace, pulls the T-shirt over his head, and tosses it to me. “Wear it to bed, Alice. Picture me in your dreams.”
I wrinkle my nose, but it only makes him laugh.
“You’re…” I don’t even know what he is.
