The diner seemed like the perfect place. Chuck and Minnie are my close friends. It won’t seem odd at all if Charlie and I eat lunch together.
I was so focused on appearances that I ignored the glaring issue right in front of me.
Charlie left immediately after the fair incident. When he came home, which wasn’t often, according to Chuck, his visits were brief.
So it’s highly likely the last time Charlie saw Dani Rae was when he spewed orange soda all over her pageant dress.
Way to go, Brad.
Charlie still isn’t here. Maybe I can call him. The burger place across town is noisy, but it would be less awkward. I grab my cell and pull up Charlie’s contact. I’ll need to call instead of text?—
“Hey. Sorry I’m late.” Charlie sounds breathless, as if he ran the entire way. He twists a strand of hair around his finger as he rambles. “Everything is still in boxes. I mean, I did label them, but that doesn’t really matter if you don’t understand your own system.” He laughs, sounding nervous. “But I made it. That’s all that matters, right?”
“Right.” Thank fuck my voice sounds normal. Not at all like the chaos brewing inside me. A rambling Charlie isn’t anything new. But wanting to kiss him definitely is. Maybe I’ve been jaded by dating apps and all the bullshit that goes with it. The lies people tell. Charlie is real.
He glances around, and my heart rate kicks up a beat or two. If he sees Dani Rae before he sits down, it’s all over. He’s likely to take off. Will he think I did this on purpose?
I jump to my feet and pull out his chair.
Pink spreads up his neck and stains his cheeks. “This is not a date, Brad.” Then his eyes widen as if he just realized what he said. “I mean, of course it’s not.”
I laugh, enjoying flustered Charlie way too much, and hold up my hands. “Just a friendly lunch.” He twirls his hair and glances at the door. My chest tightens at the thought of him leaving. “Please sit down, Char—Chas.”
He nods a few times too many and drops into the seat across from me. The ice water in front of him is freshly poured and still has condensation on the glass. He grabs it and starts gulping right as Dani Rae returns.
“Are you ready to order?” she asks, one dark eyebrow raised. Her usual welcoming smile is absent.
Charlie chokes on his drink, sputtering water across the table, barely missing me. “Dani—” He coughs a few more times. “Dani Rae, hi.”
Pulling a cloth from her apron, she throws it on the mess. “Hey, Charlie. I see some things never change.”
His skin flushes bright red, and I barely recognize the flash of anger surging through me. It’s been five years, so she can knock it the hell off. But I don’t say that.
Instead, I glare at her. “It’s Chas now.”
“What’s Chas?”
What’s wrong with me? I focus on breathing and not yelling as I grip my spoon so tight my knuckles turn white. “His name?—”
Charlie’s hand covers mine and my body wakes up. It’s a brief touch, only a second at most before he jerks his hand back, but I’m thrown off-balance. He gives a shaky laugh. “It’s fine, Brad. Really.”
Dani Rae looks between us, her brows furrowed. Then she either comes to some sort of conclusion or decides she doesn’t care because her face clears. “Are you ready to order, or do you want more water to spray everywhere?”
I hold back on telling Dani Rae what I think of her attitude. Charlie gives her a smile. “We need a minute, thank you.”
As soon as she’s gone, I start apologizing. “Charlie, shit. I wasn’t thinking.”
“It’s fine.”
“No—”
“Brad.” His tone hardens, matching his eyes. “Stop. I didn’t expect Dani Rae to be working here. But I’m fine now.”
Things are better after that. We chat about the project. Charlie’s enthusiasm is contagious. We don’t talk about the texts. Thank fuck.
When our food arrives, Charlie pokes his spaghetti with his fork. “Do you think she spit in it?”
I laugh. “She wouldn’t do that.” I hope not anyway. “But we can trade. Do you want my BLT?”
