Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
E MILY
Annie, Shayna, and I observe from the bottom of Charlie’s steps that lead to the second floor, while Jack and Ben wrestle one of my queen size mattresses up the stairs. In their defense, it’s one of those foam mattresses that adjusts to your weight and it’s really heavy.
“Hell, Em. Did you have to pick the hottest day in July to move?” Jack teases. He wipes his brow on the shoulder of his T-shirt while they’re taking a break halfway up the stairs.
“Hey,” Annie scolds him, “don’t be mean to my friend.”
“Yeah, and July second isn’t the hottest day. Usually it’s July eighteenth,” Shayna adds.
Jack and Ben are attempting to hoist the mattress further up the stairs now. “Seriously, how do you know so much useless information?” Ben grunts out.
Before Shayna can respond, a blast of scorching air hits our backs as the front door opens. Trina walks in and sets a box on the floor. “You need me to get your end, Benjamin?” Her tone is teasing, but not sarcastic like she usually is with him. And she’s got a devilish grin as she watches them struggle.
Shayna stealthily glances in my direction, meeting my gaze, and raises a curious eyebrow while making a kissy face behind Trina’s back. She clearly notes the difference in Trina’s treatment of Ben, too.
I subtly shrug my shoulders and hold in my laughter.
“You’re hilarious. It’s easy for you ladies to judge when you’re sitting pretty down there with your boxes of towels to carry.” Ben feigns offense and we all laugh, even Trina.
“Hey, less talking and more lifting, bro.” Jack complains. Even from my spot below him, I can see sweat trickling down Jack’s left temple. Gross.
“Isn’t he so hot?” Annie asks, not really directing the question at any of us in particular.
“Thanks, babe,” Jack calls out to her.
I get an idea and go to the kitchen, grabbing some popsicles and handing them out to the women as we sit on the ground and watch the show.
Ben glances over his shoulder on another break. “Seriously? They get popsicles?”
Another burst of hot, humid air reaches us, and I turn to see Charlie and Finn carrying the other mattress in. Charlie may have three bedrooms, but he only had one bed. So, we put my couch and dining room set in storage and are using my bedroom furniture here in the guest rooms. Finn and Charlie pause behind where we’re perched and set the mattress they’re carrying on the floor while they wait for Ben and Jack to finish getting theirs to the top.
After about three more minutes, Ben and Jack finally make it to the top and they set the mattress down, taking a break. I look at Trina and notice as her eyes go wide, and her mouth falls open ever so slightly. When I follow her gaze, it’s leads to where Ben stands, lifting his T-shirt to wipe sweat off his face. His washboard abs are on full display. As his shirt drops back down, he spots Trina ogling him and smirks.
I swear I hear her mutter “Asshole” under her breath.
“Excuse us, ladies,” Finn says. Then he and Charlie saunter past with the second mattress.
It’s almost comical how much easier of a time they have getting it up the stairs compared to Ben and Jack—poor guys.
Shayna releases a satisfied sigh next to me and I don’t even have to look to know she’s gawking at Finn. Those two have it bad for each other and it’s adorable.
I’d like to say I’m immune to it all, but when I see Charlie’s triceps flexing as he hoists the bottom of the mattress, I nearly drool. Whoa. How did I miss those muscles when he was helping remodel my house? And the dark circle of sweat on the back of his T-shirt? Totally hot. I instantaneously appreciate how Annie thought a sweaty Jack was hot, because I’m thinking the same thing about Charlie right now.
Once both mattresses are out of the way, the rest of us work on carrying in my clothes, toiletries, and linens, while the guys carry in boxes of my books. I have them stack the book boxes in the upstairs bedroom I’m not using. I want to make sure they’ll be out of Charlie’s way. I could have put them in the storage unit, but I was worried they might get musty or damaged, so Charlie insisted they should come here. The next hour passes quickly as we all labor like elves and the mood in the house is jovial as we rib each other and joke around.
“I think that’s everything,” Charlie says, as he walks into the house with the last box of books. He uses his foot to close the door and sets the box down at the bottom of the stairs. “I think we still have a few hours before dinner. Do you all want to head down to the lake and hang out? Whoever wants to can fish on one end and the rest of you can swim at the opposite end.”
Twenty minutes later, our group walks along the wooded path to the lake on Charlie’s property. Between Charlie, Finn, Ben, and Jack, they carry a cooler full of beer, water, and popsicles, a few lawn chairs, and fishing equipment. The women tote beach towels and sunscreen.
As we walk, I get so caught up in taking in the beauty and serenity of the woods, I fall behind a bit. The enormous oak trees and scattered pines shelter us, protecting us from the blazing sun with their branches. Birds flit about, filling the air with chirps and peeps. When I think the surroundings can’t get any more beautiful, I step out into the clearing at the end of the woods and gasp at how gorgeous the lake looks, surrounded on all edges by majestic trees and flora of all types.
“What do you think? It’s the first time you’ve been out here to the lake.” When I twist my head to look at Charlie, he’s standing with his hands in the pockets of his board shorts, a slight smile curving the corners of his mouth.
“I love it. It’s absolutely stunning.” My voice sounds breathy, and I don’t miss Charlie’s eyes roaming to my mouth for just a split second.
Charlie clears his throat. “I’m glad. I wanted you to like it… I mean, you’ll be here a while, so I’m happy you’ll enjoy it.”
I open my mouth to answer, but I don’t get a chance because we’re interrupted when a whistle tears through the air, followed by Shayna calling to me. “Come on, Em!”
Charlie grins and chuckles. “You better go.”
* * *
CHARLIE
Over the next few hours, Ben and I fish, while Finn and Jack sit in lawn chairs sipping beers and keeping us company. My heart swells when I look around—both because of the physical surroundings and the company.
Growing up with no siblings and being the nervous kid with a stuttering issue, I didn’t make friends easily. And the few times I did make a friend, I could never have them over because my mom said it might upset my father. So, this—these people—it means a hell of a lot to me to have these friendships, and to share my oasis with them.
A flash of red in my peripheral vision attracts my attention and when I turn to see what it is, Emily is across the small lake, walking along the tree line. I watch her for several minutes as she investigates the flora. Eventually, she walks in our direction.
When she’s about twenty feet away, she calls, “Charlie? Do you know how many blackberry bushes you have around here?” In her excitement, she practically skips the rest of the way over to me. “You’ve gotta try these. They’re so delicious!”
Before I can answer her, she plucks a blackberry from her hand and brings it to my lips. On instinct, I open my mouth and sink my teeth into the juicy berry, savoring the flood of sweetness on my taste buds.
“Oops. You’ve got some right”—she reaches her hand up and swipes at the corner of my mouth with her delicate thumb—“here.”
Jesus. Thank fuck Trina’s too far away to have seen this. She’d be so pissed at me.
I swallow around the thick sensation in my throat. Between Emily standing here in a bikini top with a towel around her waist and the sensuality of her feeding me, I’m going to need a minute to recover.
Apparently unaware of the effect she’s having on me, an angelic smile spread across her face. “Okay. I’m gonna head up, take a shower, and then start dinner. You all should head up in about forty-five minutes. Sound good?”
I clear my throat. “Sure, I’ll corral everyone then. Unless you need help. I could come now and help.” My voice is gravelly with desire, and I hope she doesn’t notice.
“Nope. I got it. I’ll see you in a while.”
And off she goes. It takes everything in me not to turn around and watch her leave.
About three hours later, we’ve all filled our stomachs with another one of Emily’s delicious meals—stuffed manicotti this time—spent some time on the back deck, and our friends have left for the night.
After clearing the dishes and putting away leftovers, I excuse myself to go jump in the shower.
Once in the shower, I tilt my head back and let the hot water run over it and flow down my back. My sore muscles relax some under the heat. I grab the shampoo and scrub my hair and beard, allowing my mind to wander.
I’m happy Emily’s here. In fact, I love having her in my space. But if today was any indication, it’s going to be tougher to hide how I really feel about her while we’re living together. But I have to find a way, because I can’t act on what I feel—she’s my best friend’s little sister and I’m not the man she needs. And I know if I let myself kiss her again, or more, there will be no coming back for me.
When I’m done in the shower, I towel off, throw on some shorts and a T-shirt, and head back downstairs. I grab a cold beer from the fridge.
Through the French doors in the kitchen, I see Emily sitting on the back deck, a glass of wine on the table next to her and her head resting back on the top of the chair. Her eyes are closed, but she has the most serene smile on her face.
Goddamn, she’s beautiful.
I watch her for a few seconds, enthralled with how peaceful she looks. But I don’t want to be a creep, so I turn the knob and open the door.
Emily opens her eyes and turns her head to look at me, keeping it tipped against the back of the chair. A sleepy smile graces her face.
“You okay if I join you?”
“Of course. It’s your house, after all.”
“Well, while you’re staying here, it’s your house, too.” I sit down next to her.
“Today was a great day, wasn’t it?” She closes her eyes again.
“It was.”
I sip my beer and we rest in the quiet for several minutes.
“I love the sounds out here,” Emily says in a hushed voice. “Are those crickets?”
“Which sound? The chirping or the other?”
“The twinkling one.”
I watch her out of the corner of my eye, confused. “Twinkling?”
“Yeah, listen closer. I hear the chirping, but the other one sounds like what I imagine twinkling would sound like, if it were a sound.” She opens her eyes and looks over at me. “I’m serious. Close your eyes and listen.”
To humor her, I do as she instructs, and at first, I think she’s crazy. But then I hear it. I grin and open my eyes.
“You hear it, don’t you? I can tell.” Emily giggles and it’s such a sweet sound that I can’t help but smile wider.
“I do. It’s the katydids. And the chirping sound are the spring peepers.” I take another swig of my drink and she takes a sip of her wine.
“Are you gonna be okay with staying here alone on nights I’m at work? I do have a security system.” What I don’t tell her is that I had it installed just days after she agreed to stay with me.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” A devious grin pops up on her face, “Wait, no. I’m scared. I think we should get a puppy, so I’m not alone.”
“Nice try. Though I’d love to have a puppy. I just got a notification from Annie’s breeder that Bean’s parents are having another litter. They’re due in September.”
“God, can you imagine how much fun a dog would have running around this property? They’d probably run down to the lake every day for a swim and snack on some blackberries, too.”
I throw back my head and laugh. “Yeah, and then they’d smell like a lake, too. Anyway, it doesn’t matter, I can’t get one right now. Can’t leave it alone when I’m at work.”
Her face turns serious. “I could watch a dog while I’m living here. And, after I’m gone, maybe your mom could watch him when you work? Like Jack’s parents did for his dog before he and Annie got together?”
A scoff escapes me before I can stop it. “No. My dad would never allow that. I wanted a dog more than anything when I was a kid, and he outright refused to even consider it. God, he was such an asshole about it. I remember overhearing him and my mom arguing about it one day and he said, ‘Maybe if he was normal and had some real friends he wouldn’t beg for a dog.’ There’s no way he’d let my mom dog sit for me now.”
Her pretty mouth turns downward into a sad frown. Shit, I forgot myself and said too much.
“I kinda want to go back in time and kick your dad’s ass for little Charlie,” she whispers.
Welcome to my world, sunshine. Get in line.