Chapter 25
twenty-five
Cash
I spent the next two hours sight-reading her songs, spellbound. Even if a single word hadn’t been about me, I still would’ve been impressed. She could write music.
I’d always known playing, singing, and performing were equal for me—a three-way tie for first. Writing came in a close second. Charlie had a great voice. No doubt. Kind of smooth with a raspy edge to it. Like Miley Cyrus and Billie Eilish had a love child. But writing songs? Charlie had something different. Something next level.
Every few minutes, I’d check her location on the Stalk My Friends and Family app. Around ten p.m., her dot started to move, which meant I had about half an hour until she got here. I carefully put everything back the way it was when I’d come in. Then I gave the notebook a longing glance before exiting the room.
Dad and Mom were in the kitchen when I floated down the stairs. Their voices hushed when they saw me. They said nothing, waiting for me to speak, but there was hope in their eyes.
“She’s in love with me.” My face split into a massive smile, the joy trying to burst through the balls of my cheeks. “There’s an entire composition notebook full of proof. And Dad?” I exhaled slowly, my heart still feeling the aftershocks. “She can write music.”
He smiled. “I heard.”
“He sat at the bottom of the stairs for the first hour, listening,” Mom said, looking so happy for me. “What’re you going to do, bud?”
“Nothing, tonight. She’ll be tired when she gets back. Definitely tomorrow though. I won’t be able to sit on it for long.” My hands went to the back of my head. “She’s not going to like that I went through her songs. But now I know.”
“What you need is to take that girl somewhere she can’t escape.” Dad laughed under his breath. “ Make her talk. Make her tell you why she’s been acting like she doesn’t have feelings for you.”
Mom’s expression said she didn’t think much of that idea. “Well, wherever you do it, just know that I already promised Addie that she could have friends over for a sleepover.”
“What if you take her out on the lake?” Dad said. “She won’t be able to get away and no one will bother you out there.”
“That’s…” I chewed the inside of my cheek. “Actually a great idea.”
Dad snapped his fingers. “Take her out in the dinghy. The one without the motor. Row her out to the middle and tell her you’re not leaving till you get some answers.”
My mind trailed off, picturing it. After we confessed our undying love to each other, I’d take her to the hill Dad said I could build a house on someday. We’d lie in the grass, daydreaming about our future…
Mom’s loud guffaw brought me back to reality. “That sounds like a good way to tick her off.”
Dad’s eyes gleamed. “It worked on you.”
“Yeah, and you ticked me off. Also, it was a pool and my feet were touching the bottom. I could’ve swum past you if I really wanted to.”
“Then why didn’t you?” Dad asked, getting an attitude. He looked at me, lips pursed. “Some of these hard-as-potatoes women just need to be softened up in a body of water and forced to face their feelings.”
“Did you seriously just compare me to a boiled potato? Mkay, Mr. Collins.” Mom fought back a smile. “You know, not everything is about you, Ford.”
“Sure it is.” He grinned. “I brought that right back around to me. And hey.” He clicked his tongue. “It worked on you.” He spread his arms wide. “And look at your life now because I made you play a little game of Truth or Dare.”
“You are too much sometimes.” Mom picked up a kitchen towel and whipped it at him. But Dad caught it and gave it a yank, pulling Mom off balance. She shrieked as she fell into his lap.
He wrapped his arms around her and tapped her nose with his. “Take that back.” He looked at her with what I knew full well were his bedroom eyes. “I’m the perfect amount of much. Tell the truth.”
“Fine.” She melted against him, her fingers sifting through his hair. “You’re the perfect amount of much.”
He pulled her in for a kiss.
“Okay,” I said. “I’m heading to bed. Say a prayer for me, would you? I’m going to need it.”
Mom snorted. “You’re gonna need a lot more than prayers if you follow through on this plan.”
“Maybe hide the other oars,” Dad said. “So she doesn’t take a swing at your head.” Then he went right back to kissing Mom.
By the time Charlie got home, I was in bed, trying—and failing—to fall asleep. I couldn’t stop thinking about her songs and what this all meant. And I couldn’t stop worrying about what I would do if even after knowing what I now knew, she still chose not to let me in.
When my alarm went off, I was beat, but excited. I got up and got to work, a man on a mission. I got the boat ready—cleaning off the cobwebs with a towel. Then I headed to the studio to get started early so I could get done early.
I avoided Charlie all day. I wanted to hear about the delivery but I wanted to get this right even more. I knew if I ran into her, I wouldn’t be able to keep any of it off my face for very long. So it was better to avoid her altogether.
That night, I caught her, coming down the stairs, eyes bright, wearing shorts and tennis shoes, like she was heading out.