Free

Chapter 19

NINETEEN

Charlie

I walk through the door on a cloud of contentment, the kind that makes everything seem brighter. The air smells of garlic and rosemary, warm and inviting, wrapping around me like a hug. Garrett and Angela are sprawled on the floor with Elise, who’s squealing with delight on her play mat, all kicking legs and big, gummy smiles. The faint whir of the ceiling fan hums above us, mixing with the distant crash of waves outside.

Fluff, their fat, brown-and-white cat, waddles over with an imperious air, winding himself around my legs. I give him an obligatory scratch behind the ears, smiling when he purrs in approval. On the couch, Orange, the sleek tabby, sprawls lazily, flicking his tail like a metronome, the perfect picture of feline indifference.

“How was work?” Garrett asks, lifting Elise high above his head like she’s a weightless little bird. Her squeal of delight is practically a song.

“You’re home later than I expected,” Angela adds, her voice soft with curiosity. “Is that a good sign or a bad one?”

“Definitely a good one,” I say, sinking into the couch with a deep sigh of contentment. “You’ll never guess who I ran into.”

Garrett’s eyebrows shoot up in curiosity, while Angela starts tossing out random celebrity names.

“Tom Hanks?” she says, grinning.

“Dwayne Johnson?” Garrett chimes in.

“Oprah?” Angela gasps dramatically, earning a laugh from me and a delighted squeal from Elise.

“It was Nick,” I say, grinning as I glance between them. “He took my yoga class.”

That gets their attention. Angela’s eyes widen, hopeful and curious, while Garrett’s expression tightens, his natural grumpiness giving way to something more thoughtful. He doesn’t speak right away, but the shift in his demeanor is subtle and deliberate, like a soldier preparing for battle.

“What was he doing there?” Garrett finally asks, calm but probing.

I shrug, still marveling at the memory. “Trying yoga for the first time, apparently. He looked as shocked to see me as I was to see him.”

“And then?” Angela prompts, her tone teasing but clearly invested.

“And then he asked me out for coffee.” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face as I say it. “As a reward for, and I quote, ‘folding him in half for an hour.’”

Angela’s face lights up. Garrett’s does not.

“He asked you for coffee?” Garrett repeats, his tone neutral, but his jaw tightens slightly. He glances at Angela, then back at me, and I can almost hear the wheels turning in his head.

“It was just coffee, Gare,” I say quickly, rolling my eyes. “Relax.”

“Was it?” he asks, arching an eyebrow. “Because from where I’m sitting, Nick’s timing seems a little… coincidental.”

Angela swats his arm. “Let her breathe, Garrett. She’s allowed to have coffee with a friend.”

I flash her a grateful smile. “Exactly. Friends. That’s all it was. But it was… nice.” My voice softens as the word escapes, and I feel the weight of their eyes on me. “It felt good to spend time with him again. It reminded me of how easy things used to be between us.”

Garrett crosses his arms, the scowl deepening. “You’ve been through a lot, Charlie. So has he. It’s okay to be cautious.”

“Cautious?” I scoff, throwing my hands in the air. “It was coffee, Garrett. Not a proposal.”

“It’s not about coffee,” he says with a long sigh. “It’s about everything else. The history. The emotions. The way you lit up when you walked in here just now.” He pauses, his eyes searching mine. “The two of you deserve good things, Charlie. But rushing into something when you’re both still picking up the pieces? That’s a recipe for more heartache.”

I tilt my head, staring at him for a moment. “You sound like you’re worried about him too.”

Garrett doesn’t deny it. “Nick’s a good guy. He’s been through hell, and he’s trying to find his way back. I don’t want to see either of you hurt. You could be great for each other, and I’m rooting for that, I really am, but...”

“But what, Garrett?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.

“When way-too-soon meets way-too-broken, the odds of a happily-ever-after don’t seem great. You guys might need to be free from your pasts before you can have a future.”

Angela shifts Elise onto her lap, her voice gentle as she looks at me. “He’s just saying to take your time. It sounds like today was really good, and that’s wonderful. Just… let it be what it is for now.”

I sigh, stroking Fluff’s back as he curls up beside me. “I hear you. I do. But can we not overanalyze this? It’s one good day. Let me have that without turning it into something bigger than it is.”

Garrett’s gaze softens slightly, and he nods. “Fair enough.”

“Thank you.” I stand, pressing a kiss to his temple. “You’re a good brother, Gare Bear. Overbearing, but good.”

He groans at the nickname, and Angela giggles, bouncing Elise on her knee. “She’s got you pegged.”

The tension in the room breaks, replaced by the easy rhythm of family life. Orange hops down from the couch to investigate Elise’s squeals, while Fluff stretches lazily, as if declaring the matter resolved. I move to the kitchen, drawn by the savory aroma of garlic wafting from the stove.

Dinner chatter flows easily, punctuated by laughter and the occasional squeal from the baby. But as I sit there, the glow of the day still warming me, I can’t help but replay the moments with Nick in my head. The way he smiled at me over his coffee cup. The way his hand lingered against mine, just a fraction too long. The way my heart felt lighter, like it hadn’t in years.

I let myself savor it. One good day. No overanalyzing. Just this.

For now, that’s enough.