Chapter 4
brAD
My first instinct was to avoid Charlie and his parents. I messaged Chuck yesterday that I wouldn’t be there to watch the last games of the regular season today. He’ll definitely give me shit for missing, but I’m not ready to face him.
But as soon as Chuck messaged me about the welcome-home party, I realized I needed to get my head out of my ass. I can’t hide away. Charlie and I will be working together. And planning Minni and Chuck’s surprise anniversary party. Better to get any awkwardness out of the way.
I drum my fingers on the table, nodding at Dani Rae as she brings over the coffee and fills my cup.
“Are you ready to order, Coach?”
I give her a quick smile. “I’m waiting for—um, someone.” I stumble on my words as memories from the county fair flash through my mind. Dani Rae’s startled face. Her ruined dress.
She hurries off, not seeming to notice. What was I thinking?
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?”
He shakes his head. “I’m being ridiculous.”
Once he starts eating, he seems fine. We don’t talk much as we focus on our lunch. Unfortunately, word travels fast in small towns, and it’s not long before we get visitors.
“Charlie, my boy. So good to see you. You look well. How’s your mama?”
I roll my eyes at Jed from the lumber yard. He damn well knows how Minni is since he’s on the city council.
“She’s fine. How’s Sara?” Charlie asks with a smile.
I want to yell at Jed to go away. But since I can’t do that, I watch Charlie as he chats with him and every other person who stops by to see how Charlie’s doing.
He greets them all with a friendly smile and warmth in his voice.
From the town librarian to Mrs. Still, Charlie’s third-grade teacher.
Each person ends their visit with a similar message.
“I hope you’re sticking around this time. ”
He smiles and nods, but the slight strain around his eyes gives him away. Do they even realize they’re smothering him?
“Sorry. We should have met somewhere else.” There’s a lull in visitors, but that doesn’t stop the lunch crowd from sneaking glances at Charlie.
“It’s fine.”
I shake my head. “It’s really not. People need to mind their own business. I swear, I’m going to grab the next person to stop by and…” I wave my hand, losing steam as I realize how I sound right now.
“What are you going to do, Coach? Wrestle them to the ground?” There’s a tiny smile at the corner of his mouth, and I get lost in thoughts of kissing him there. Charlie coughs, and it brings me back.
Would I wrestle the townsfolk for Charlie? “Maybe. You think I won’t?”
The amusement in his face fades, and he leans closer. “I don’t need you to fight my battles.”
“I’m not—”
“You are. And it needs to stop.”
He’s right. And I have to be okay with that. This need to protect Charlie isn’t new. It’s a feeling I share with the majority of Dixon Hills. After what happened to Charlie when he was a kid, who can blame us?
But that’s no excuse. Charlie doesn’t need our protection. He can take care of himself.
I just need to convince my brain of that fact. And judging by the way Charlie’s glaring at me, I need to figure this out pretty damn quick.