Chapter 11 – Annabelle
Chapter Eleven
ANNABELLE
Why did I go back in? Because I wanted to prove to myself I have a spine.
That I can stand up for myself, but I have learned that never goes well.
I don’t know why I try. People don’t really want to hear what I have to say.
They’re not going to change their mind. I also don’t want to spew venom, letting them turn me into a person I am not.
Still, it doesn’t stop the hurt of feeling like I can never find my place in the world. The pigeons across the street were nicer to me, but I also had bread. It was a transactional birdship.
“Here.” I hand the card back to Charlie.
I didn’t know a credit card could be metal and so heavy.
You could assault a person with that thing.
He hesitantly takes it from me. “I'm not upset with you,” I tell him. “Thanks for trying to help.” He came to my defense, and it was sweet of him. Honestly, it’s one of the nicest gestures anyone has ever done for me.
“You're not mad at me?” His expression is a mixture of skeptical and sheepish.
“No, you're doing your job.”
He takes the card from me. “My job?” His brows furrow, and a look of confusion now takes over his face.
“Yes, for your boss.” That’s who had to have sent him here. I don’t think our paths crossed by coincidence. It all makes perfect sense now.
“Right.”
“Wait, is your name really Charlie?” I ask. “Or—”
“It is.”
“Well, I'm sorry you got stuck on babysitting duty, or whatever this is.” I wave my hand between us. I can't believe I thought this man was into me. That we truly had some sort of connection. I should have known that it was all in my own head.
“I’m not on babysitting duty. I enjoy my time with you.” I search his face, wanting to believe him. I swear he appears sincere, but I have never been the best judge of character. I too often give people the benefit of the doubt.
Charlie is warm and inviting. I don't know why. It could be his size. He’s tall with broad shoulders, and with his brown hair and green eyes and the bit of scruff that he didn't shave today, he reminds me of a big teddy bear. Hell, even a bear shifter. Wow, lay off the proposal romance, Belle.
“I've enjoyed hanging out with you. It was the highlight of my day when we had our kind of book club.”
I laugh. We hadn't really gotten to the reading. “I did too. Did you make the book stuff up?”
“I was only going to check on you, and then I found I wanted to speak to you, so I suppose I used it.”
“You were ordered to talk to me?” I playfully eye him.
“No one would have to order me to do such a thing.” I find myself softening more to him.
“Is boss man worried I'm getting into trouble? Maybe embarrassing him?”
“Boss man?”
“Your boss,” I laugh. “My husband.” I do act quiet around my husband. Well, if you can act that way through communications.
“You're far from embarrassing, Belle.” He nods toward the building. “It's them that should be embarrassed. I promise it will be handled.”
“Don't tell him.” His words cause me to start to panic a bit. I don’t want my husband to think that I can’t keep up my end of the deal.
“But you—”
“Please, I'm here to make his life easier for whatever reason. He's done so much already for me.”
“Your pleas are hard to deny.”
My teeth sink into my bottom lip as I study him. “We could be friends.”
“You want to be friends?”
“Oh.” I step back. “We don't have to; it was just an idea.” Why did I suggest that? I know it goes beyond the whole lonely thing. He’s also an employee of my husband’s, and I’m not sure being friends will be acceptable.
“I would love that. I was only taken aback that you'd want to.”
“I don't have many friends,” I admit. I don’t have anything to lose at this point. He's already seen me at my most embarrassing moments, so it's not as hard to tell him these things.
“I don’t either.”
“Really?” I tilt my head. “Now that is hard to believe.”
“Why do you say so?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “You kind of remind me of a big, cuddly bear. It’s inviting and makes you easy to talk to.”
“Cuddly?” His lips turn up on one side, and I think I might spot a dimple in his cheek.
“I mean you did kind of roar at those jackasses back there.”
“I want to go back in there and finish them.” A small growl leaves him, proving my point.
“But that could get us both in trouble.”
“It will do no such thing.”
“You think Mr. Wickham would have a problem with us being friends?”
“No, he would be more than okay with it.” He sounds so sure.
“Then instead of going back in there and unleashing the beast, let's get out of here.” I pull out my bus card. “I’ll let you swipe it too.” I playfully wiggle my brows. “Ride’s on me.”
“The bus?”
“Yes, the bus.” I laugh.
“I haven’t taken the bus in years.” That I can see. He might work for Mr. Wickham, but it clearly pays well going off his suit alone. “But if you want to, then that’s what we’ll do.”
“I do.” I loop my arm into his. “This way.” I give a small tug. “Are you hungry?” I ask, wanting to keep hanging out. Especially now that I know it’s more than okay.
“I could eat; where would you like to go?”
“Actually, back to my place?” I suggest. I have been hating the living space.
It’s too big and empty. I swear my voice echoes in there when I talk to myself.
Which is a habit I have. Charlie would fill up the space.
“I can whip up something. I love cooking, and it's more fun when there is someone to feed and talk to.”
“I would love that.”
“Ope!” I squeak when I see the bus. “We'll miss it.” I tug on his arm hard, making him jog with me, and we make it on time. I laugh, swiping my bus card twice. “Here.” I tug him down to sit next to me.
“That was oddly fun.” He gives me a warm smile. I smile right back at him.
“It was.”
Less than an hour ago, my stomach was tight with nausea. Now it’s warm with a flutter inside. That coldness that's been lingering around me for the past week is starting to melt away, a spark of hope and something new blooming in its place.