27. When He Was Ready
27
WHEN HE WAS READY
T he drive home wasn’t quiet, but it wasn’t full of active conversation either.
“Do you think Marco missed me?” Charlotte asked. “I hope he’s not mad.”
“I doubt he’s going to be mad,” he said. “He probably had as much fun as we did socializing.”
“More fun than us,” she said. “Though I hope he wasn’t doing what we did last night. He’s not fixed yet. Don’t need any little Marcos running around.”
He laughed. “I’m sure they kept him away from anyone that he shouldn’t have been around. Are you going to get him fixed?”
“I am,” she said. “It’s the responsible thing to do even though I see you squirming in the seat.”
“I know,” he said. “I’ve got to be a responsible parent.”
She was glad that Foster was so laid back and relaxed on the drive back. Even last night, she worried he might get a bit moody around his family, but he wasn’t.
It made her wonder why there were times he said he hated people so much when she hadn’t seen too many signs of it.
Sure, he’d come home cranky from work, but weren’t they all like that at times?
“You don’t have to sound so upset over it,” she said. “You can be the good guy to Marco.”
“I think I already am the good guy,” he said, smirking.
She thought it would be uncomfortable this morning when they woke up.
It felt as if Foster needed her to say she loved him. Her heart was there, so why not voice it when he was asking?
The fact he didn’t say it back did bother her.
How many times in her life had men not said the actual words to her?
But she told herself that she wasn’t going to get worked up.
It was still a new relationship. Foster was a much different man than anyone else she’d been with.
He was complex in a way she couldn’t even put her finger on and wasn’t going to try.
What he made her feel was worth telling herself to not get upset.
She was positive he’d tell her when he was ready.
“You are,” she said. “Not just to Marco either.”
When they got into town, he turned and said, “Do you mind if we run to the store quickly since we are passing it? I’ve got to pick up a few things. I’ll be fast. Then we can get Marco. Or I can bring you home and you can go get him if you need to.”
“I’m fine stopping at the store. I’ll get a few things for the week too.”
He pulled over and parked. “Did you want to stay at my house tonight?” he asked. “Or is two nights in a row too much?”
“Not too much,” she said, smiling. He didn’t seem like anything changed for him with her declaration of love.
Of course he admitted he already knew she felt that way.
Frustrating when she couldn’t admit that she knew that about him.
“Good,” he said.
They walked in and each got a cart. She didn’t expect him to say they should do it together so both split up.
There was freedom in the fact he didn’t keep her by his side.
When she was checking out, he turned the corner and got in line right behind her.
“I’m faster than you,” she said.
“I couldn’t find what I was looking for,” he said.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“Ribs,” he said. “I’m dying for them and was going to see if you wanted them tonight or tomorrow, but as I said, I couldn’t find them.”
“Then you shouldn’t have said you wanted to see if I’d want them. Now I’m thinking of them,” she said, grinning.
“I can call and see if there are some in the back,” the cashier said. “Could be it wasn’t stocked.”
“I already asked,” he said. “Not a big deal.”
“There is another store on the way home,” Charlotte said. “I can run in quick. Now I want them.”
“And you want me to give you what you want?” he asked.
“It would be nice,” she said, winking. She paid for her groceries and if the cashier found the situation odd, neither of them let on.
It’s not as if they lived together and it wasn’t something she was even thinking of.
She liked her independence and her small home.
A place that she could call her own.
She knew for a fact that Foster needed his space too. That he wanted her to stay two nights in a row was new for them, but it wasn’t that big of a deal either.
With their groceries loaded, they stopped at the second store. She ran in quickly, found the ribs, paid and came out holding the bag up in triumph.
He was laughing when she climbed in. “You found some.”
“They are frozen though.”
“That’s fine. We can make them tomorrow,” he said. “It will be better if I put a dry rub on them and let it sit overnight.”
“I had no idea you liked to grill so much,” she said. “I do like to eat so it’s working out for both of us.”
“My mother thought I should have gone for culinary at one point,” he said. “I like to help out in the kitchen.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because then it wouldn’t have been helping the family,” he said.
She frowned. “Have you always put everyone else first in your life?”
He laughed at her. “Considering I struggle to be around my family for more than a few hours, I don’t think anyone would say I put them first.”
“I think you make a bigger deal than it is,” she said. “You were fine last night.”
If she hadn’t known how he felt at times, she wouldn’t have realized it last night.
There was nothing in his actions that led her to believe he didn’t like people or didn’t want to be around his family.
Was he not honest about that?
He let out a sigh. “I can’t explain it. When it’s just a few of us, most times it’s fine. I get along with those three great because we honor the other’s space even though we work together.”
“I don’t know that anyone was honoring your space or privacy last night. Or at least they did enjoy busting on you.”
“I think some of it was to see how I’d react in front of you. A test of sorts on their end.”
She frowned. “Did they think you’d lose your temper or want to leave? I just don’t think it’s as bad as you’ve said.”
“It hasn’t been for years,” he said. “I had a short fuse when I was worked up. I’ve learned to get a better handle on it. Or I’ve matured. I’m not sure. When you live with that many people in that close proximity, there is no room to breathe and recalibrate. I think I have enough of my own air now, that I’m not affected as much. I’m not sure if that makes any sense.”
“It makes total sense,” she said. “I struggled to be around my parents for years, but when I moved away, it was easier to have them in small doses.”
“But you have no relationship with them now?” he asked. “Nothing?”
“Not really,” she said. “It’s been years since I’ve seen them. I get the obligatory birthday and holiday text messages, but we don’t talk. Or haven’t in close to a year. It’s better that way. I stopped calling my mother and she never really saw much of a need to call me once she realized I was rebelling against her.”
“Rebelling how?” he asked.
“That I have a relationship with Amanda now. My parents ruined what they could have had with her. When she met Drew and got engaged, they wanted to get back in her life. She said no way. Amanda isn’t a mean person. She isn’t someone to lock anyone out and probably gives people more chances than they deserve.”
“Except for your parents,” he said. “But it sounds as if they didn’t deserve another chance.”
“They don’t,” she said. “They only wanted to be back in Amanda’s life for who she was married to rather than the fact they did their daughter wrong and wanted to make things right. Amanda knew that. She didn’t invite them to the wedding. Nothing. They found out about Liam, but I’m positive they don’t know about Harper. I didn’t tell them. She wouldn’t have.”
“My mother would have found out,” he said, laughing. “She has a way of finding everything out.”
“Because your mother cares,” she said. “That is the difference.”