For a stretch, Dash and Paige talk me through the steps I’ll take for Pig’s adoption, but none of that is complicated, and soon, the conversation turns to Charlie and me. Here together.
“Your job doesn’t mind you taking another trip so soon after our wedding?” Paige fiddles with a tortilla chip as she stares at her friend. “I’ve been wanting to visit Luna in Nashville too. But Dash and I have to earn some more PTO.”
Charlie flicks his eyes to me, and I see the message in them.
Time to start easing into the big news.
“The thing is, I quit my job.” There’s a strained note under his normally easy manner.
“What?” Paige yelps.
“Yeah.” Charlie has the grace to appear chagrined as he meets his best friend’s eyes. “It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing. And I guess I wanted to tell you when I had a better idea of my next step.”
My fake husband glances at me again, and we both know his next step is going to be the real shocker of the evening.
“That’s ridiculous. I called you when Martin screwed me over, I had no job, and I was drowning my sorrows by watching a continuous stream of baking shows at my parents’ house. You do not need to have your life together to tell me what’s going on in it.” Paige points my way with a dramatic flourish. “And you told Luna!”
“Well, that’s the thing.” Charlie props his elbows on his knees. “Luna offered me a place to stay.”
Roommates is one way to present our new arrangement.
A bout of surprised silence blankets Paige and Dash as the couple glances between us. Then my sister-in-law grins wide, her entire demeanor flipping like a switch.
“You’re living together! That’s fantastic.” Paige turns her attention to me. “Dash thought you would bite Charlie’s head off. But I knew you would be friends.”
“Why’s that?” I can’t help doubting her assumption.
“Because Charlie is friends with everyone. Strangers on the street. The person he sits next to on a plane. The lady behind him in the grocery line.”
“I still could have bitten his head off,” I point out.
“Maybe.” Paige doesn’t seem convinced. “But you’re loyal. And you love me now, and you know Charlie is one of my only friends. I knew you’d try, which means he’d win you over.”
Another silence falls over the room as Charlie grins at me, and I process my sister-in-law’s odd way of speaking. Paige does that. Just offers bald honesty.
And, damn, is she perceptive.
Originally, I didn’t get off to a great start with my sister-in-law. Mainly because I only learned about Paige when she and Dash were dealing with a rough part of their relationship.
But since then, the woman has gotten as close to me as I’ll let people get, and I realize she’s right. When I first met Charlie, I knew how important he was to Paige, which was one of the reasons I was a nicer version of myself than I tend to be around strangers.
Still, I bet she didn’t predict what happened between her best friend and me.
“About that whole friendship thing.” I sit up straighter and shove away any hesitation, the way I do with most things in life. “Charlie and I got married.”
While Paige’s eyes grow wide, Dash’s narrow. Both of them showing disbelief in their own ways. Before the pair can start with their interrogation, I keep talking. I lay out my meeting with Uncle Mike, the dollar amount, and how this is the quickest way to get it and get Leo free of the criminal situation.
“Plus, Wai Po was right. I hate the idea of our dad getting the money. That’ll be a nice bonus,” I finish.
At some point during my explanation, Dash buries his face in his hands.
Paige, however, stares directly at Charlie, the two of them having a silent discussion with a connection only years of friendship can create. I turn my attention to my fake husband, wondering if I’ll be able to translate just from his face.
I can’t. And for some reason, I get hit with a spike of jealousy.
But that’s ridiculous. Charlie and Paige have been friends since they were kids, and I’ve barely known the guy for a few months. Of course, the two of them have an understanding of each other that borders on telepathy.
Charlie grins wide, the sudden exposure of his teeth stealing my breath. The man has a smile that can stop a heart. Or restart it.
