Chapter 20
CHAPTER
TWENTY
Lizzie
“Oh my God, this place is so cute,” Em announces the moment we step inside the coffee shop.
“Isn’t it? It’s my fave,” Charli agrees as she approaches. “You must be Emberlyn,” she adds, pulling my sister in for a hug.
“I am. And you are definitely Collin’s sister. You look a lot alike.”
Charli snorts and links her arm through my sisters. “He wishes he was as good-looking as me.”
Em laughs. “You can call me Em. All my friends do.”
“And you can call me Charli. I only answer to Charlotte when it’s my mom, and she’s usually chastising me for something. Well, I suppose some of my old teachers still call me by my full name, but that’s it.”
Em giggles the sweetest sound that makes me smile. I love seeing my sister so happy and carefree. “Let’s order some caffeine.”
“A girl after my heart,” Charli replies, escorting her to the front counter. I stand back, waiting my turn, and listen as the other two discuss their favorite iced coffee flavors.
“I think I’m gonna try the salted caramel iced coffee, with liquid sugar and cream, large, please,” Em orders.
“Same,” Charli states before turning to me.
“Might as well make it three.” I pull out cash, thanks to healthy tips last night, but Charli waves me off.
“I got it,” she says, pulling out her card.
“Well, then let me leave the tip,” I announce, pulling some cash out and slipping it inside the jar.
When we have our drinks, we head over to one of the small, round bistro tables and have a seat. Em takes a sip, her eyes lighting up. “Oh my God, this is so good.”
“It’s one of my faves,” Charli agrees, taking her own drink.
I barely have my lips around the straw when my sister asks, “So, did you know my sister and your brother are doing the nasty?”
If I had sucked any liquid up the straw, I would have spit it out all over the table. “Oh my God, Em!”
The other two giggle. “Actually, I was pretty certain they were when my brother called and paid for her massage.”
“Aww,” Em sings, covering her heart with her hand. “That’s so sweet. Guys only do that kind of thing when they’re either sleeping with someone or want to be.”
I shake my head and take a drink of my iced coffee, wishing I weren’t the main topic of their conversation and wondering how my little sister got so wise.
“What are you two doing today?” Charli asks.
“We’re going shopping for a bit. I want to check out that thrift store Lizzie got my daybed from.
She said they have lots of things I could use in my dorm this fall.
Then, we’re going to the diner for lunch so I can get some of those fudge brownies to take home with me, and then Lizzie has to work, so I’m hanging out at the bar. ”
“Oh! You’re still going to be here later? I’ll come up. I’ll call my brothers and some friends.”
“Yay!” Em sings, clapping her hands. “I want to meet Collin’s twin brother and see if they really do look identical.”
Charli snorts. “They really do, but I can tell them apart. Mostly it’s the mischief Cade always seems to wear on his face that gives them away. Oh, and a small scar Collin has below his eye from when he was younger and fell out of a tree.”
“I have scars by my left eye too! I cover them with makeup, but they’re still there. I wrecked my bike when I was little. Broke my arm too.”
“I broke my arm when I was little!” Charli announces, the two of them falling into an easy friendship almost instantly. My heart soars with happiness. “Mine was because Collin and Cade dared me to jump a skateboard off the concrete steps at the church.”
“Ouch,” Em groans, wrinkling her nose. “I bet that hurt.”
“Don’t all broken bones?”
“Yeah, probably,” she replies with a giggle.
“Maybe we can all grab dinner beforehand.” Charli looks at me, her eyes wide, as if realizing what she said. “I mean, if that’s okay with you. I know you have to work, but I’d love to take Em with me to get food. Then, I’ll deliver her safely to you at the bar.”
“Oh, yes! Puh-lease, Lizzie?” my sister begs.
“I don’t want to put you out,” I reply to Charli, ignoring the way my sister gapes at me.
“You’re not, believe me! I know Cade will want to go. I’ll even call Cam.”
“Cam?” my sister asks.
“My youngest brother,” Charli says. “He and his friend, Quinn, are constant thorns in my side,” she grumbles, making a face.
“Younger brother? Like how much younger?” My sister’s eyes brighten.
“Still too old for you,” I reply, giving her a pointed look over my plastic cup.
Her mouth drops open. “I’m eighteen.”
“He’s twenty-four,” Charli says. “A touch too old for you.”
“Six years isn’t bad,” my sister disagrees.
“I’ll just call Dad and see what he thinks of you dating someone with an age gap,” I tease.
Her eyes narrow. “Sure. And be sure you tell him you’re doing the nasty with your employee.”
My mouth drops open. “He’d be fine with it, because he dated Mom when she worked there. But you dating someone six years older? No way.” I grin at her smugly, only because I know it’ll piss her off.
Em rolls her eyes dramatically. To Charli she states, “I was just kidding about your brother. I just wanted to get a rise out of Lizzie.”
I let out a huff as her words wash over me. I should have known she was just asking to piss me off. “You’re terrible.”
She takes a victorious sip of her drink before glancing at Charli. “So tell me about Cam’s friend. The one that made you snarl when you mentioned him.”
Charli’s eyebrows shoot for the sky. “What? I didn’t snarl.”
“Oh, you definitely did. Spill the tea, new bestie.” Em looks positively delighted to hear new gossip, especially involving Charli.
“No tea. Quinn is annoying at best.”
“You like him!” Em announces, drawing the attention from the few other patrons inside the coffee shop.
“You’re off your rocker! He’s the most opinionated person alive, and he’s always right. He does anything and everything he can to push my buttons. Quinn is the typical younger brother’s annoying best friend, and he will never be anything more than that.”
I can tell Em doesn’t believe her, and to be honest, I’m not sure I do either.
She’s incredibly defensive and adamant of her annoyance of him, which is a big red flag.
I can totally see where my sister would believe there’s more there than just irritation at the man, but it’s not my place to call her out more.
At least not now.
We sit and chat for the next thirty minutes, until Charli needs to head to the salon for her first appointment of the day. She says Saturdays are usually her busiest day, because more people have that day off.
When we all stand up and Em walks over to the trash can to dispose of her cup, Charli looks my way and quietly says, “If you’re not okay with her going with us, that’s fine and I’d completely understand.
But the offer stands. We can take her to dinner and then bring her back safely afterward.
We can even bring you something to eat.”
I nod. “I’m okay with it, if she is.” The truth is Em is eighteen, and I trust Collin’s family. Despite only knowing them a short time, they’re good people.
Before either of us can say anything about dinner, Em blurts out, “So what time is dinner? We’re still going, right?”
I crack a smile as Charli replies, “We are. I’ll text my brothers and find out what time works best for them. Do you like Mexican?”
“Love it!”
“Great, that’s the plan. I’ll text Lizzie with a time. I can swing by and pick you up.”
“Sounds great!” Em replies, pulling her new friend into a hug. “See you soon!”
Charli gives me a quick hug before slipping out the door and heading for the salon. Em and I exit and get in my vehicle. The resale store isn’t too far away, but I figure if we buy anything, it would be more convenient to have a vehicle there than to have to lug it all back to where we left it.
With a smile on my lips, we set out for the next part of our time together, and I wouldn’t change a second of it.
“Hey.”
I offer a small smile and step back, granting him access.
“Nope, come on.”
I quickly scan his appearance, from his worn blue jeans to his fitted T-shirt and the work boots on his feet. “Where are we going?” I ask.
“For a ride.” He flashes me one of his smiles, one that seems more comfortable and natural than it did before we started hanging out.
“I know you’re sad your sister just left, and I don’t want you sulking in this apartment for the rest of the day or going downstairs to work early on your much-needed day off. So, let’s go.”
I just stare at him, hating the fact he’s right.
For the last thirty minutes, I’ve been super sad Em left, enjoying our time together and needing it more than I realized.
And yes, after I switched the laundry, my plan was to go downstairs and catch up on a little paperwork in my office.
I know Guy has the place under control, so I don’t have to worry about him, but I figured there was something useful I could do to keep my mind occupied.
I huff and turn around, heading toward my bedroom.
“As much as I love seeing your ass in those cutoffs, I’m gonna need you in jeans, closed-toed shoes, and a T-shirt. Oh, and something to pull back your hair.”
I pause and meet his gaze, raising a single eyebrow.
“Not for that, dirty girl.” He winks and grins, setting my heart fluttering in my chest.
I move to my bedroom and change into the clothes he suggested before grabbing a hair tie and a pair of boots. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I ask, returning to the living room and taking a seat to put on my boots.
Collin is standing at the windows, looking out at the downtown area. “No.”
I gape up at him, earning a small victorious grin.
“Come on, slow poke. We have stuff to do,” he informs me, clapping his hands together and heading for the door.