Chapter 17 Charlie
charlie
I led him through the living room and kitchen, pointing out the quirks of the old house—the stubborn cabinet hinge, the dent in the fridge from when I tripped carrying groceries. He didn’t say much but took it all in like he was committing every detail to memory.
When we ended up back in the living room, he leaned against the doorway, arms folded casually over his chest.
“So,” I said, crossing my arms too, mirroring him. “When do you want to do this?”
His grin spread slow and easy, telling me I was about to regret asking. “Today.”
When I agreed to this whole getting-married thing, I didn’t think it was going to be today.
There was a knock at my door, and when I opened it, Jennie’s familiar face greeted me. “No way. This is where you live?” She glanced around the room, her mouth falling open.
“My parents are wealthy, but surprise.” I waved at her. “Also, I’m getting married in a couple hours. I need you to be there.”
Jennie’s eyes widened before she burst into laughter, practically collapsing onto the floor. “This is going to be the best gossip at Monday’s lunch. Please tell me you’re one-hundred-percent serious.”
“Yes. I don’t have anyone from my family here, and his mom, stepdad, and sister are going to be there, so I need you to be there for me.” I pointed to a few dresses on the bed. “I need you to help me pick something white.”
“This is a joke.” Jennie stopped laughing. “This has to be a joke.”
I collapsed onto the floor next to her and sighed as I fell, lying flat on my back and staring up at the ceiling. “I wish I was joking. Can you keep a secret? I’m not ready to tell the other girls yet.”
She flopped down beside me, and we both lay there, eyes fixed on the ceiling above. The silence stretched between us.
“Of course.” She reached over and grabbed my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Her hand was warm, but it didn’t chase away the chill that had settled in my bones. Everything felt so surreal, and as I lay there, the quiet sadness crept in, the realization that I was teetering on the edge of something life-changing and irreversible.
“You have to promise me that when it’s time to break the news, I get to be the one to tell the girls.”
I exhaled a quiet laugh. “You got it.”
“I assume it’s to the hottie brother?”
“He’s coming to pick us up in a couple hours.”
“Dare I ask why?” Jennie turned her head to look at me.
I met her gaze and told her the truth, omitting what exactly Austin needed the medication for and making it more abstract.
She listened to me intently, nodding along as she continued to squeeze my hand.
When I was done, she let out a deep breath. “That was a lot.”
“It is,” I agreed. Everything felt so heavy, yet at the same time, I felt so free. “I feel like the last of my chains to my family are coming undone, and as wild and big as this decision is, there’s also a lightness to it.”
“And that’s making it heavy?”
I shrugged. “I guess I’m more so nervous.
I’ve never been roommates with a guy before.
I’ve never even been friends with a guy.
I barely know him, which should probably scare me more than it does, but it doesn’t.
Somehow, it just feels like I’m doing something good for Austin, and in turn he’s helping me out. ”
“You don’t think your mom will be so mad that she’ll pull your inheritance?”
“Nah.” My mother was old school, but she was also a romantic at heart. “She fell in love and got married for love. She may threaten me with it, but if I told her I was in love, she’d never think about pulling it. I also work so I can survive.”
Jennie gestured around us. “Not in a house like this. This is a lakefront property, babe.”
“Okay, so maybe not this, but this house is already purchased, so she wouldn’t do that.”
My relationship with my mother was complicated.
I did love her, but the way she had raised me came with its flaws.
There were the constant critiques in front of the mirror, the pressure to look a certain way, and the way money was always tied to control.
And then there was her favorite pastime—rushing to set me up with the sons of her friends, like finding me a husband was the most urgent thing in the world.
It was the kind of Southern matchmaking that left no room for me to figure out who I actually wanted.
Despite all of that, she was still my mother, and after my father’s death, it felt impossible to walk away from her.
We were tangled up in a cycle of dependence and obligation that made it hard to separate who I was from who she wanted me to be.
“I’m going to do it. It sounds wild, but I’m going to do it. Plus, if we aren’t actually dating after this then I’m free to just enjoy my time here without the pressure of finding a husband.”
“True.” There was another pregnant pause. “Should we get off the floor and get dressed?”
Jennie stood and grabbed my hands. The moment my feet hit the ground, she wrapped me in a huge hug. “I know we haven’t known each other for long, but I am really honored to be here today. Thank you for choosing me.”
“Thank you for being here with me.”
She pulled away, tears glistening in her eyes. “Now it makes sense why he asked that stupid question last night.”
I laughed because if I didn’t, I’d cry.
“Let’s pick a dress,” Jennie commanded, and we turned around, grabbing a few of the white pieces I’d set out.
“Let’s get married.”
Several hours later, I stepped out of my house.
My golden hair was curled down my back. I’d put on some makeup that matched the dress I picked.
Jennie and I had settled on an off-white summer maxi dress that was a little boho.
It tied at the chest area, which made my boobs look enormous, but she insisted that I needed to look good for my wedding.
Jennie borrowed a light blue summer dress from my closet, and we headed outside.
“Where is this big wedding?” she asked as we walked toward the front and past the gate.
“Austin’s mom has a garden in the back, so it’s at their house.”
“Who’s marrying you?”
“His best friend got ordained online. I guess you can do that pretty quickly.”
“Huh. Alright then, let’s—”
“Charlie?” Austin was getting out of his car.
He was wearing a pair of black pants and a blazer with a white shirt that was unbuttoned, showing off his tanned skin.
“In the flesh.” I gave him a quick spin, letting the dress fan out at the bottom as I twirled. I stopped and turned to whisper to Jennie. “That was dumb.”
She let out a hearty laugh, but Austin was prowling toward me.
“You—” he whispered, and before I could react, he slid his hands around my waist, firm and possessive.
He pulled me in close, our bodies pressing together as his fingers tightened around my waist. His chest brushed against mine, and the warmth of his breath fanned across my neck as he tilted his head, his lips hovering inches away from my skin.
It wasn’t a hug; it was a pull, a claim, and every inch of me was aware of him.
“Hi,” I whispered softly, the words barely making it past my lips.
“Hi.” He pulled back, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “You look stunning.”
His eyes slowly trailed down my chest, and I tilted my chin up, meeting his gaze. “Is it too much?”
“It’s perfect.” His hands dragged along the sides of my dress, grazing past my breasts, and I was immediately on fire from his touch.
He was a roommate . . . that I was marrying. He was just a roommate. We couldn’t be anything else.
“This must feel so silly since this is your second time getting married.”
Austin shook his head, wrapping his arm tightly around my waist, smashing our chests together. He brought his finger up to my chin. “I never . . . No.” He blinked a few times like he was realizing where he was all of a sudden. “This is . . . so . . .”
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and I cupped his cheek. He rested his forehead on mine, and for a moment, everything else faded away. The words didn’t matter because whatever was happening between us—this connection—felt wild and out of control.
“This is nuts,” I breathed.
“It’s perfect,” he whispered.
Someone cleared their throat behind me, and Austin reluctantly pulled back, his hand slipping away from my waist. I instinctively wrapped my arms around myself, already missing the warmth of his touch and the sense of security it gave me.
“Hi, Austin. I’m Jennie, her best friend,” Jennie said with a grin, stepping forward.
I laughed and moved over to her. “Sorry, that was rude of me. I should’ve introduced you.”
Jennie rolled her eyes playfully. “And miss that ridiculously hot moment? No way. I needed popcorn. It felt like I was watching one of those romance movies where the enemies finally become lovers.”
I playfully pushed her and she chuckled.
“Hi, Jennie,” Austin offered his hand.
He was so incredibly handsome, and after this evening, he was . . . mine.
On paper. He was mine. On paper only.
“Are you ready?” Austin gestured to his car, and I nodded.
“Let’s go,” Jennie said and piled into the back.
He held the front passenger door open for me, and we paused there for a moment.
I swallowed, taking in his blue eyes, his sheepish grin, the way his smile filled his cheeks. “I’m ready.” I nodded and jumped into the car.
He chuckled as he got into the driver’s side, and we drove the short distance to his mom’s house . . . to my wedding.