Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Hope
My life was on eggshells. I considered the jobs that had popped into my life. Safety came from having a steady career with my feet planted firmly on the ground.
I was all nerves because Kir would be Charlie’s main confidant. He didn’t need me. He’d told me repeatedly that he gets bored at things, and I wasn’t sure how anything would go now that I was falling for him. I had no backup plan to stay safe.
I held his hand and we made it to Central Park. It was probably better to not ask any questions as I was a train wreck, unsure how to act, but not asking only burned me. As we walked on the first path, I took a deep breath then asked, “So how do you see my role in the company you’re?—"
“We’re,” he interrupted.
His brother was clearly the organizer. I nodded—arguing was the opposite of what I wanted. “We’re building?”
He pressed his hand on my waist and held me close.
“Well, Kir is going to secure the finances and get the legal team. We need to focus on the profitable routes to propose, hire, come up with company values, research the vacation locales people want, research where the supply of existing services is bursting. You will be particularly good at first writing our mission statement, connecting with airport personnel so they let us fly where we want, and I need you every step of the way.”
I tensed. It sounded like a perfect plan for his brother and him to run, and I would just work for them. I could quit and do something else. “You’re sure there is room?”
“There is room for everyone we trust to join us.”
I had a plan: date Charlie for however long it lasted but have backup plans for when we fall apart. I would have to keep my resume up to date. I smiled as we turned to head west. “I feel better.”
Near the end of the pond, we avoided another couple walking near us until the man in the black jacket asked, “Hope Williams?”
My eyes widened. He'd called me needy when he broke up with me. I froze, wondering how my tears might affect Charlie. “Ryan Windell?”
He laughed. “You’re still with Charles Norouzi?”
Because I wasn’t good enough? I held up my finger and smiled. “We’re engaged. And this is?”
He rubbed the back of his head. “Oh, yeah, Melissa Fine.”
Her eyes widened. Clearly, he hadn’t changed. I shook his girlfriend’s hand. I felt for her, but at least we hadn’t run into Patterson. He was way, way worse than Windell ever would be.
Patterson had dumped me at a fancy wedding then taken off because I wasn’t worth his time anymore, leaving me to pay for the hotel room. Charlie wasn’t like either of my exes.
“Well, we have to go,” Charlie said.
We waved and headed off. Once we were out of earshot, he asked, “Who's Ryan Windell?”
No need to ever be jealous. I sighed. “An ex who once said I was needy at my grandfather’s funeral.”
Charlie’s eyes widened. “Wait. Where?”
I shrugged. “He was… a jerk and probably still is. Anyhow, let’s head in.”
The doorman saw us, and we headed to the elevator. As we entered, Charlie asked, “Do you want to talk about your grandfather?”
Oh no. Talking about myself ended things faster than anything. I met his gaze. “What?”
We stopped on our floor, and we walked out together. “I mean, grieving is something that should be normal for everyone.”
So he was proving he was better than my ex, which was easy, since everyone would be.
Fuller opened the door for us as I said to Charlie, “I’m good. He probably wouldn't have liked you.”
Fuller fixed our shoes and scurried off.
Charlie asked, “Why not?”
I plopped on the couch. “' Big ideas are usually full of hot air that no one should be excited about …' His words, not mine.”
Charlie sat next to me. “What did he do?”
I tensed and knew he’d not understand me. We were completely different, but I guess it didn’t matter. “He was a loan officer at a bank.”
His shoulder brushed against mine. “Well, I can see where that could jade someone, but I promise I’m charming.”
I laughed. He was right. I was getting too worked up about liking Charlie too much. “You are that.”
He took my hand. “And we’re home now.”
“And alone,” I whispered. In bed, we made sense.
He patted my thigh. “When I was thirteen, I took Clarissa for a hot air balloon ride.”
My mind raced. “Clarissa? I think I met someone in your family with that name.”
He took my hand. “Elon’s wife. She’s the daughter of my father’s driver and Maman’s maid.”
My lips quirked higher. “Oh. So you took your brother’s girlfriend for a ride.”
His face turned red, and he cringed. “Oh, don’t say it like that. She’s more like a sister, and I knew she needed a laugh. I didn’t know what was happening at the time, but her parents had locked her away.”
My eyes widened. “Oh no.”
He nodded. “So then I took us up when the fair owners were having their lunch…”
“You stole it.”
“I borrowed it, but the problem was I had no idea how to fly the balloon.”
I pressed my hand on my stomach. “That sounds scary.”
He smiled. “No, but yeah… We floated for a few hours until my parents found someone who could talk us down.”
My heart thundered. How could he be so casual about an event that would have made me sick to my stomach for days? Still, I smiled and squeezed his hand. “I’m glad you were both okay.”
He sat up and met my gaze. “I took her up because she was sad, and I had no sense of responsibility… What I’m saying to you is that standing next to someone when they are upset is the foundation of a good relationship, and I want to be with you, every step of the way.”
So he was comforting me. I brushed against his face and sighed. “I agree, Charlie, but I have bad taste.”
“Had.”
True. For now, I'd failed up, but that was for another day. I took his hand and stood. “Let’s take fast showers and go to bed.”
He kissed my knuckles and wished I had his faith.