Chapter Twenty-Three
Twenty-Three
LUNCH WAS AMAZING AND, HONESTLY, invigorating.
Charlie worried she was throwing herself into something that was none of her concern simply because helping people made her feel alive and …
needed. While she didn’t walk around commending herself, she was realistic enough to know that she was damn good at building bridges and connections for her clients, for helping them grow and gain perspective.
She had no idea what kind of university teacher she’d be, but she knew that she’d never be as good at that as she was at counseling.
One was about passion, and one was more about being capable of providing a service.
It had crossed her mind more than once that her relationship with her mother was as much her fault as Vivi’s, always giving what Vivi needed because it felt fulfilling.
It settled something inside of her to be needed.
Grayson walked beside her, his hand holding hers in the sweetest way.
She loved all of his little touches, looks, and kisses.
Even though she could tell he was trying to lay low for Bernie, he couldn’t seem to put any distance between them.
She felt the same, and it was like last night, when deciding they could have this for whatever time she was there had given her the freedom to let him in, even if not all the way.
Bernie used the strap on the guitar bag to hitch it on his shoulder and headed down to the dock to chat with Gramps, the mayor of Smile, whom she hadn’t met yet but had no doubt she would.
Charlie stopped before they reached the General Store, which looked like something out of an old movie.
It was a one-story whitewashed building with a pitched roof and a front porch that invited people to sit on any of the three rockers.
Each of the rockers was painted a different color. Charming was an understatement.
She turned to face Gray, who looked like he was tamping down a chuckle. She slipped her hand around his waist. “Are you laughing at me?”
He shook his head even as he leaned down to take her mouth in a soft, sweet kiss that was just long enough to make her want more. “Not at all. I’m just impressed by your take-charge, let’s-do-this-now attitude. You’re a force. It’s charming as hell.”
“I was just thinking the same thing about the General Store,” she admitted.
Gray wrapped both arms around her and kissed her again. It didn’t last long enough. “You are much more charming than the General Store. By a long shot.”
“Thank you. I think.” She tried to gather her words to explain why fixing this—or at least helping some of the people in this town—mattered so much.
“I love working with people and helping them navigate their journeys, finding their way back to themselves or others in their lives. I miss it. Eventually, I’ll go back to it.
” And back to LA. Because that’s where her life was, even if it didn’t feel like it at the moment. But for now, she could do this.
Gray stroked both hands through her hair, brushing it back from her face. “Hmm. That makes sense. You listen very well. You see people and what they aren’t saying. What happened that made you need a change?”
Her heart plummeted to her stomach. Nope.
She couldn’t go there. Not right now. Not even with him.
If she told him any of it, it would feel like lying to leave the important parts out.
If she told him the full truth, he could disappoint her and be another person who saw her last name as currency.
In her heart, she didn’t think he’d go there, but she loved knowing that when he looked at her with that sweet smile or glimmer of heat, all he saw was Charlie.
She set her hands on his chest and leaned in.
“I was wondering about another sleepover tonight?”
His smile was instant and hot. It made her wish they were back at the lodge in his private space. “That sounds excellent. I do have romance to check off the list.”
Charlie laughed, turning to take his hand again so they could go into the store.
He tugged gently to make her stop, then pulled her close. “Nice distraction technique, by the way. But you should know it just makes me want to learn all your secrets even more.”
The thought of him learning what brought her here, of him seeing her at her absolute worst, magnified by the editing the evil stepsisters had done, sickened her.
That couldn’t happen. She might be able, eventually, to tell him the truth, but he could never see that video.
It was mortifying, and any charm or appeal he thought she might have would be instantly dashed.
“Come on. Let’s go talk to Mo.”
LEAVING THE STORE WITH a small bag of snacks, including a couple of ice-cold waters to combat the heat, Charlie felt … renewed. The talk with Mo had gone well. From second one, she’d been on board. Now, they had to share the plan and put it into action on Sunday.
When she started to head for the dock, Gray took her hand and led her across the street.
“I want to show you something,” he said as they walked across the rainbow-painted crosswalk.
Charlie grinned. “It seems like if color can be added anywhere in this town, it’s done. It’s so cheerful.”
Gray swung their hands between them. “Wait until you see Tourist Lane. I can take you there on the boat, maybe tomorrow night. I’ve got a fishing expedition from three to eight but after that, we could go for a sunset ride.”
Turning her head, she looked at his profile. He had a strong jaw, lightly covered in stubble that was dark like his hair. He had a straight, proud nose and his hair was a little mussed from the day. Her fingers itched to muss it more.
“I’d like that. Thanks for trusting me with my idea. For bringing it to Mo with me.”
They’d walked past several shops, including an empty one with a FOR LEASE sign, a small café, a pet shop, a souvenir-type shop, and, just up ahead, she saw Beckett’s Bikes.
The entire front window was retracted into the ceiling like an auto garage. The outside was bright blue, and an adorable, vintage-style sign hung above the door. Beckett was setting a family of four up on a quadricycle.
Gray stopped, nodding to Beckett, who waved at them.
“We’ll let him finish up.” He pulled her over to the side of the brick building, put an arm around her.
She leaned into him the way he did the brick.
“Your idea is good. You’re right, we’ve let it go too long because no one wants to push them further away.
Mo’s been trying to get those two to bury their fight for years. ”
A man in his mid-twenties with dark hair came out of the shop pushing a bike and chatting with a guy suited up like a Tour de France participant.
He smiled at Gray. Gray lifted his hand. “Hey, Tev.”
Charlie grinned. “Between your family and Bernie, I’d say you know nearly all of the five thousand or so people on this island.”
As the family on the four-seater rode off, Beckett joined them. “Hey, guys. How’s it going?”
Gray pushed off the wall. “Great. Business is good?”
“Gets better every summer. Just have to keep going. How’s your day, Charlie?”
She glanced at Gray before answering, then looked at his brother. The similarities were there but Gray carried himself differently. “It’s been wonderful. I had a great meal at Brothers’, we chatted with Mo, hung out with Bernie, and now I’m getting to see some more of Smile.”
“You taking her to Tourist Lane?” Beckett asked.
Gray shook his head. “Nope. Somewhere different, but I’m taking her there tomorrow.”
“You’ll love it. You two should rent a bike. That’s how I took Presley the first time.”
Charlie’s nerves stood up and shouted no thank you. “Oh, Gray’s going to take us on the boat.”
Beckett hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “Wanna rent one now? Or after dinner? Presley and I could go for a ride with you guys.”
Charlie shook her head, saw Gray watching her, and tried not to fidget too much. “We have things to do, don’t we?”
Both men stared at her and Charlie wanted to duck her head, but instead, she straightened her shoulders.
“Can you ride a bike, Charlie?” Beckett asked the question with zero judgment in his tone. It was gentle and seeking, like he might speak to Ollie.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. In most cases, she was happy to ignore it.
Now, however, she pulled it out, winced when she saw the screen.
“I have to take this. It was nice to see you, Beckett. I’ll meet up with you in a couple minutes, Gray.
” With that, she walked past the bike shop, swiping her phone open. “Mom.”
“Oh, honey. It’s over, darling. I’ve ended it.” A loud sob came through the line.
Charlie pulled the phone away from her ear, then pressed it close again. “You broke up with Eddie?” She took a right past the bike shop and then leaned on the wall.
“I would never choose a man over my daughter.”
Charlie closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the warm brick. “It wasn’t my intention for you to break up, Mom. If you really love him, we’ll figure something out eventually.” But Charlie had her suspicions that Vivi was ready to be in love more than she was actually in love.
Opening her eyes, she turned to the right, still leaning but now with a view of the water.
“I think he wanted something I can’t give him, Charlotte. He wanted to come first in my heart, and no man, other than your father, could ever do that.”
Her heart ached at the sorrow in her mom’s voice. “You might not ever have what you did, Mom, but you deserve to have love.”
“I think I got caught up in the romance of it all. The drama and allure of having my own show, but guess what?”
Did she want to know? A sense of unease trickled over her skin.
“They’re still interested in doing a special on us. Where are Bryce Colter’s girls now and how are they keeping his music alive?”
Charlie sighed even as she felt Gray approach behind her. “Mom. We can talk about that later. Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine. I’m headed out to Napa for a few days to pamper myself. Then I want to see you, so if you don’t tell me where you’re hiding, I will take to the socials and ask the world to help me find you.”
Groaning, Charlie stiffened. “Could you be any more dramatic?”
Vivica’s chuckle echoed through the phone. “Of course I could, sweet girl. Now, are you doing all right?”
She looked at Gray. He smiled and kept his distance, giving her room to finish her call.
He was thoughtful and sweet, expecting nothing from her and doing things to make her smile.
To make her feel. No agenda. Spending time with him was like a reward for all of the hurdles that kept springing up in her way.
She turned and lowered her voice. “I’m getting there.
I’m figuring things out. Did you reach out to Isaiah? ”
“Honey, you know I don’t like when I can’t reach you. This is a stressful time for me and not being able to see your face makes it worse. You know I need you close by.”
She wouldn’t let herself feel guilty for taking what she needed. She had the rest of her life to go back to LA, restart her counseling career—maybe she’d do private practice—and be there for her mother. Vivi was the parent.
Charlie was allowed to live her life. “Call me when you’re home from Napa.”
There was a long pause, like maybe Vivi was wondering whether or not to push harder. “Love you.”
“I love you, too.” She hung up, slipped the phone into her pocket, and turned back to the man who, without even meaning to, was showing her how to be in the moment and enjoy it. There was a chance he was burrowing into her heart but she wasn’t going to think about that.
“Oh, Charlie.” He stepped closer and her heart raced.
“Is that exasperation in your tone?” she asked.
He reached out, cupped his hand behind her neck, and moved into her. “Nope. Just curiosity. You’re like an Advent calendar. There are all of these little windows and something different behind every one of them. That was your mom.”
She nodded. “Yes. She’s not great at being apart.”
“You are rather delightful, so I can understand her wanting to be around you.”
Charlie stepped into him and put her arms around his waist, rested her head on his chest. His hugs felt like comfort and acceptance. Warmth and safety. Security.
When she felt more in control of her emotions, she tipped her head back, squinted at the brightness of the sun. “What did you want to show me?”
Grayson’s smile was slow and sweet. He kissed her languidly, like they had nothing but time and they weren’t standing in the middle of town, out in the open. Charlie pushed up on her tiptoes to deepen the kiss. She easily could have gotten lost in him, in the moment, if he hadn’t pulled back.
“I think kissing you gets better every single time,” Gray whispered, kissing the tip of her nose.
“We’ll have to do it lots and see,” she replied, loving the smile that earned her.
He tugged her hand. “Come on. I want to show you something special.”
He still held their bag of goodies in his hand as they hurried across the street to a small green space with a park at one end.
As he led her up the road, down a path, and through a wooded area, she felt excited and relaxed at the same time.
She didn’t know where they were going, but she was quite certain whatever he wanted her to see couldn’t be nearly as special as Grayson.