“Okay. My side of the story, huh? Well, Dash and I have a brother …” And I go on to relate most everything. The Lamont family criminal enterprise. Leo’s entanglement in it. My uncle’s exorbitant price. My Wai Po and her inheritance full of caveats.
And then I start talking about Charlie.
I never meant to. The words simply spill out of me, as if I overfilled my brain with Charlie observations and now I finally have a place to empty them. All over his parents.
And the things that come from my mouth are honest and revealing.
How he’s done great as my fake husband, never letting me doubt we can last the full year. How we have a good time, living together, taking care of Pig. How I enjoy his guitar playingwhenever I’m cooking and wish I could be equally entertaining when it’s his turn to cook.
Then my mind brings up how we finished the last meal he made, and my words dry up. I take a hearty swig of my drink, letting the prickle of the ginger beer clear away my nervous, dry throat.
Why did I just babble for so long?I never babble.
I think it must be something about Rosa’s smile. The kind way she looks at me has me wanting to share every inner piece of my soul with her.
But vulnerability is dangerous. That’s how people hurt each other.
“You two sound like you’re doing well together.” Mr. Keller claps a hand on his son’s shoulder.
“Temporarily,” I point out, trying not to grimace with how much I hate the sound of the word.
There’s a lull, Charlie glancing off to the side, as if he saw something fascinating at another table. A pain sits just below my breastbone, but when Rosa speaks up, her voice distracts me from the ache.
“For a year. Of course. But you tied him down closer to home for now. We’re happy to have him nearby.”
Charlie offers his mom a smile. “You say that like you plan on sticking around New Orleans for more than a month or two.”
The Kellers share a look, and then his mom grins wide.
“I accepted a teaching position at the university.”
“Wait, seriously?” Charlie’s brows curve up.
She nods. “All the traveling was fine when we were younger, but I’m tired of sleeping in hotel rooms and sitting in airports for hours. Home has been looking better and better these past few years. We think it’s time to stand still. At least for a little while.”
Charlie’s parents are staying put in New Orleans. From the grin on his face, I know this has to delight him. This is what hesaid he wanted. To find a place to settle, where he can see his family regularly.
I bet at the close of our year together, Charlie won’t want to wait before moving down to New Orleans.
Not like anything will be keeping him in Nashville.
I’m the one who just made sure to remind everyone we’re temporary.
The lime in my drink must have been bad because there’s a sick sensation in the pit of my stomach. Luckily, I’m good at keeping unwanted expressions off my face. I offer a smile to the table.
We spend the next hour hearing gossip from New Orleans and the plans Mrs. Keller has for teaching her future class. And as I sit here with this family, overflowing with love for each other, I can’t help feeling like I’m playing a role.
Of course, we all already know this is a farce.
It just hurts because some part of me wants this to be real.
“Well, I think I’m done in for the night.” Rosa half sighs, half yawns. “Honey, would you mind pulling the car up? Wearing heels this tall was a mistake.”
The man chuckles as he kisses his wife on the cheek. “Of course.” He stands, smiling down at his son and me. “I’ll see you both at breakfast tomorrow.”
“I’ll walk out with you, Dad. Grab our car too.” Charlie turns to me. “Sound good?”
I want to point out I’m perfectly fine with trekking the block to our car with him, but that would mean leaving his mom alone at the table. No way am I abandoning Rosa, even if this makes me feel like I’m giving in to the patriarchy.
