Chapter 8
brAD
When Chuck and Minni first invited me to Charlie’s welcome-home dinner, I was nervous about how it would go. But over the last two weeks, I’ve gotten to know this adult version of Charlie.
That’s not really the problem though. It’s how much I still want to know.
What would it be like to kiss Charlie? How does he sound when he comes?
Those things would get me banned from every family dinner going forward.
And it makes this dinner awkward as hell. But I couldn’t say no. They’d wonder why. And they invited Harper.
I still should have said no. Brad and Minni trust me. And I’m perving on their son.
Awkwardness is not something I usually feel in my best friend’s home. At least with Harper here, I don’t feel as exposed. I mostly listen as Charlie and his parents talk about his move back home. But everything feels different now. Off-balance.
Charlie reassures his mom he’s not moving anytime soon, and some of my tension eases. I didn’t even realize it was a worry. That Charlie would leave again.
It never bothered me before. Kids move away. But now? My chest hurts even thinking about it. “If you need help unpacking, Charlie, just let me know,” I offer.
“That’s perfect.” Minni turns to Chuck. “Isn’t it a great idea, honey?”
He nods in agreement. “Brad is great at stuff like that. He’s your guy, kiddo.”
Charlie grits his teeth. Is he upset that I offered to help? Or the term kiddo? Probably both. His eyes dart to mine, promising payback. I try not to squirm like a freshman on the first day of class. Jesus. What is happening to me?
“Brad’s very helpful,” Charlie agrees. When he says it like that, I’m not sure he means it. “We’re so lucky to have him on the Homes for Hope project.” He seems angry, but I have no idea why.
But it puts my best friend’s focus on me, and I try to act normally. Not that I know what that is anymore. “You’re helping with that? You didn’t tell us.”
“I did, Chuck.” I poke at the food on my plate. “You just don’t listen to me.”
“You said you were volunteering. You didn’t mention it was Charlie’s project.”
“At the time, I didn’t know.” I scoot back from the table, ready to make my escape.
“Anyway,” Charlie says with a forced laugh. “I’m learning, but there’s still a lot I don’t know about construction.”
“Brad can— Ow!” Chuck glares at Minni.
I bite back a grin. This, at least, is normal. “I’d love to help however I can, Charlie.”
But Charlie is not smiling. “So you’d help me out? Explain what all those big construction words mean? Just so I don’t look so clueless, right?”
Is this a trap? “Sure. Anytime.”
“Great.” He stands and throws his napkin down. “How about now?”
“Now?”
“Let the man eat his dinner, sweetheart,” Minni says. “This can wait.”
“He’s not eating his food, Mom. He’s poking at it.” Charlie crosses his arms and stares at me. And it feels like a challenge.
One that I’m more than up for. Except that’s the problem. Charlie taking charge and ordering me around makes for a very awkward situation. Jesus. I’m not a fucking teenager.
Charlie places his hands on his hips. His pose and his tone are both full of sass. “Problem, Brad?”
I glance at my destroyed food, willing my body to cooperate. “Nope.” As I stand, I slowly turn away from the table.
“Jesus, Grandpa. Don’t break anything.” Charlie sounds exasperated. “I’ll meet you in the study.”
I’m not sure which is worse. Charlie thinking I can barely get up because of my age, or the truth: I’m trying not to flash my boner situation to his parents and my sister. But it gets easier once he’s out of the room.
He’s angry with me. But why? I excuse myself but only make it as far as the living room before someone grabs my arm.
My sister shoots a glance at the hallway leading to the study and then the kitchen. “I need to talk to you for a minute.”
“Charlie’s waiting for me.”
“Yeah. I was there. That’s what I want to talk to you about.”
Did she notice something? My sister is fairly astute.
I take a deep breath, trying not to panic. “Okay, but hurry.”
She nods like she’s building up to it. “Charlie’s a nice guy.”
Another deep breath. “He is.”
“I just don’t want to see him get hurt.”
Oh God. The breaths are no longer working. “Harper—”
“Hear me out. You know everyone in this town. Including a lot of guys. Guys who might be interested in Charlie.”
What the hell? “That’s not— I’m not setting Charlie up with anyone. Not happening”
She waves her hand. “Just help him find a nice guy. Someone who won’t hurt him.” I stare at her, and she huffs. “Charlie deserves to be happy. And if he’s happy, he won’t leave again.”
My frustration fades. Harper is still trying to atone for something that happened over twenty years ago. “That wasn’t your fault—”
She shakes her head rapidly as if I’m breaking the rules by even mentioning it. And maybe I am. But the rules are old and might need to be broken. “Harper—”
Charlie stomps into the room. “Brad. Come on. I don’t have all day.”
I give Harper a helpless look and follow Charlie to the study. The room is a cross between a library and a craft room. I move toward the couch, maneuvering around baskets of yarn. Charlie steps in my path.
“I want an answer right now, Brad,” he says, glaring at me with his hands on his hips. “What the hell is going on?”
I’ve never seen Charlie like this. Embarrassed? Yes. Frustrated? Sure. Full-on pissed? Eyes flashing. Poised to fight. In my face? Nope. I step back because the closer he gets, the harder it is to resist him. And I must resist him. “I’m not sure—”
“Bullshit.”
I manage to hold in my smile. “Just trying to get clarification.”
He looks skeptical, but he takes the volume down a notch. “What does that mean?”
“Are you asking about what’s going on with us?” I cringe at that. Not that there is an us. “Is this about the other day at the restaurant? Or at your office?”
He wraps his arms around his chest, and I hate how vulnerable he looks. “All of it. I just don’t get you. And yeah, everyone else is being weird.” His eyes get huge. “Do they know about the party?”
“No.”
“About…?” He waves his hand between us.
I’m not sure if he’s talking about the texts or the tension between us. “Fuck, no.”
He laughs. “Okay. Then what’s going on?”
I shrug. Not sure if I pull it off. Everyone in that room is worried about him leaving again. Worried he won’t be able to make it on his own. Even though he already has. They want to cover him in bubble wrap and keep him safe.
“Let’s put a pin in that for now.” He shakes his head and tendrils escape his messy bun and fall across his face. My fingers itch to sweep them back. “This whole thing has been confusing. First, the texts—”
“Those were a mistake. I thought…” But my steam runs out.
His mouth twitches. “You sent my dad a dick pic.”
I spread my hands out. “It was a joke.”
Charlie’s eyes sparkle in amusement. “I disagree, Brad. That cock was no joke.”