4. ~ James ~
CHAPTER 4
~ James ~
S omething wasn’t right with Char. She’d lied to me earlier about her walk-by. But most importantly, she was always up for milkshakes, and she’d just abruptly ended our call with a quick ‘text you later’ after what sounded like a scuffle with her phone, along with a whispered conversation.
Was she actually on a date? Because if she was, and had to whisper about me to some dude and fight over her own phone, I wanted to find the man and give him a good shake before punting him out of her life. A woman like Char deserved better than that. All women did.
Also, were milkshakes on the table: yes or no?
Turning my phone over in my hands, I considered the idea that she might be upset with me for waving the pricey gift shop necklace in front of her. I’d been so caught up in being the one to show it to her, anticipating the way her face would light up, that I hadn’t even thought about the money part of it.
I sighed, hoping I was just being paranoid, and that Char would soon text me about meeting up.
Nothing against Alana, my date, but I’d been relieved when I’d arrived at Earl’s to discover they were closed for the night due to a water leak. Obviously, like me, she’d only agreed to our date because of my mom. The two women worked together in the Salvation Army offices, and my mom had been the one to set us up. When I’d called Alana to let her know about Earl’s, she hadn’t suggested another place or time. And neither had I.
As for my mom, she meant well, but I could find my own dates. Preferably ones who kept me on my toes with their lust for life, and weren’t too skinny. A beefy guy like me needed a woman I could hug without worrying about snapping her spine like a toothpick.
Which brought my mind back to Char and her delicious curves. What was up with her?
Why had she been so eager to get off the phone? And more to the point, why was she dishing out mistruths and keeping secrets?
And why hadn’t I cancelled my date and tagged along with her when she’d asked?