Chapter 22
W hen Charlie knocks on my door that night, I’m giddy—and not only because I get to see my sweet, smart, hot-as-hell boyfriend.
I can’t wait to tell him about my day. I did it. I took the leap. All I had to do was say the words out loud— I’m going to be a painter —and within minutes, I made my first sale.
I swing open the door and jump right into Charlie’s arms, and he holds me tight as ever, my feet off the floor and my heart against his, where it should be. He takes a few steps to cross the threshold with me, and kicks the door shut behind us.
“I missed you so damn much,” he whispers.
“Me too.”
Eventually, he puts me down, and we kiss as if it’s been a hundred days since we last saw each other—not only four.
“So what did I miss while I was away?” he asks when we finally take a break. “Besides the fun time you had bonding with your sister.”
Charlie texted me often while he was in Denver, just to shoot the breeze, which warmed my heart. So I sent him live updates throughout the weekend—including all the naughty thoughts I was having about him after a few glasses of wine. Needless to say, Charlie enjoyed those messages immensely.
I smile. “Funny you should ask. I have big news…I did something brave today.”
Charlie’s grin lights up his entire face. “What’d you do?”
“I decided not to take on new design projects. And when I’m done with the ones I’m working on now, I’m going to pivot and focus exclusively on my art.”
“Wow, congrats! What motivated you to take the plunge? Tell me, please—I could use the inspiration,” he goes on with a chuckle.
“Well, it was a few different things,” I admit.
“I finally worked up the nerve to show my paintings to my sister, for one thing. And she loved them. She was really encouraging. I also called a friend from home who quit law to become a writer, and asked for her advice. And she reminded me how important it is to trust yourself enough to follow your dreams.”
Charlie nods, looking thoughtful.
“And then there’s you,” I tell him, my cheeks warming.
His eyebrows fly up. “Me?”
I step closer to him, and he takes me in his arms again.
“I’ve shown you who I am, Charlie. Not just the bubbly cheerleader on the surface, but the parts of me I used to be ashamed of.
My dyslexia, my grief…my history of depression.
And you’ve embraced all of me. You’ve made me feel so comfortable being my self that I want to lean into that.
I want to be unapologetically me. And in my heart, I truly believe I’m an artist.”
“I’m so proud of you,” he says, his eyes gleaming. “I know you’re going to do great.”
“Thank you,” I say with a huge grin. “Oh, and I forgot to mention the best part! When I told my design client today that I was switching gears, she commissioned three paintings from me. Can you believe it?”
“Of course I can,” he says, holding me tighter. “So does this mean you’ll show me your work soon?”
I nod. “Tonight. After dinner.”
I’m not even nervous anymore. Everything in my life is finally falling into place, and my relationship with Charlie is no exception. It feels so right. Why should I waste my time worrying about it?
“Sounds good. And again, I’m so sorry I had to cancel our plans last night,” he says, his eyes losing their glimmer.
“It’s not your fault that your flight was delayed.”
“I know.” He sighs. “I just hate disappointing you.”
The angst in his gaze breaks my heart.
“Charlie…can I ask you something?”
“Of course. Anything.”
I lead him over to the couch, and he sits next to me. “Has your work interfered with your relationships before? Because you seem really worried about that happening to us.”
“It has,” he says without hesitation.
My gut clenches, although I do appreciate the fact that he’s being so open and honest .
“I mean, ultimately, those relationships weren’t right for me,” he goes on, “and I’m more sure of that than ever—now that I’ve met you.”
His words give me butterflies.
“But being at the mercy of my demanding boss, who also happens to be my father, is a pretty big buzzkill when it comes to dating,” he continues.
“And I do want to move on from Sutton’s—eventually.
It’s just such a bad time. When my dad makes these new hires, it should be easier.
I won’t be leaving him in the lurch. But in the meantime, the idea of losing you because of this damn job wrecks me. The thing is, Jenna, I love…”
My eyes widen as I wait for him to finish his sentence.
“Um…I love what we have.”
I’m pretty sure he wanted to say something else.
“We’re so good together,” he goes on. “And I’d never forgive myself if I let my career and family issues come between us.”
I take his hand in mine. “You’re not going to lose me over this job, Charlie. I think we’re both too damn smitten to let that happen.”
My words elicit the most adorable grin on his face. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
Then he kisses me with such intensity that we almost skip dinner, and end up in bed. We surely would have, if not for the tempting smell of the takeout Thai food I ordered. So we put our make-out session on pause, and eat at my kitchen island while sharing a bottle of Riesling.
Afterward, I take Charlie’s hand and lead him into my art studio. Maybe it’s the wine, but I’m totally calm when we walk into the room. Even more so when my boyfriend’s eyes widen with wonder.
I watch as his gaze moves over each portrait. First me, then my family, then Hunter, and Esther. I rearranged the canvases this morning, saving Charlie’s for last. I covered it with a sheet and separated it from the rest of the paintings, so I could surprise him.
“Wow,” he says on a heavy exhale. “These are stunning . I mean, I already knew you were talented, but…you have a real gift. The way you convey emotion in each piece, with these subtle lines around the eyes and lips…it’s so realistic, I feel like I’m looking at a photograph.”
“Thank you,” I say, leaning into him.
Charlie can’t take his eyes off my artwork, which thrills me. He points at the paintings at the top of the line. “So there’s you, then your mom, dad, and sister, I’m guessing? I can see the family resemblance.”
“Yup. And Hunter and Esther on the end,” I explain. “And…there’s one more I want to show you.”
I unclasp my hands from Charlie’s waist and walk to the other side of the room. When he joins me, I unveil the portrait I painted of him.
I watch as he takes it in.
First he sighs. Then he chews on his perfect bottom lip, which I’ve never seen him do before. Then his forehead crinkles. Next thing I know, he’s blinking back tears.
“When did you do this?” he asks, turning to me. His voice is barely a whisper.
I don’t know what to make of his reaction. Regardless, I tell him the truth. “I painted this after our first kiss. But the look in your eyes…that’s what I saw the first time we met. When we crashed into each other by the elevator.”
Charlie nods, then swallows. After a beat, he stares down at his shoes, his hands on his hips.
Whatever sedative effect that Riesling had on me is gone now. My palms are sweating.
“Jenna, there’s something you should know,” he says. “I probably should have told you this before…but I’m still trying to wrap my head around it, myself.”
My heart is hammering as I wait for him to explain.
“I was painfully shy as a kid. And it only got worse in high school. I didn’t look anything like I do now.
I had acne, for one thing. I wore braces for years.
I was tall and gangly—my fast metabolism wasn’t doing me any favors back then,” he says with a wry smile.
“All of that to say, I graduated without ever having kissed a girl.
“But that summer before I started college, I had this unforgettable dream about the most beautiful woman. We kissed, and it felt so real, I was convinced it was a premonition.” He lets out an uneasy laugh. “And if you think that sounds crazy, wait until you hear the rest.”
I nod, still nervous, unsure where he’s going with this.
“When I got to Dartmouth, I looked for her everywhere. I thought for sure she’d be in one of my classes, or living in the same dorm.
I thought we’d run into each other, and sparks would fly—and instantly I’d know it was her.
I waited an entire year. I lifted weights a lot, to pass the time.
That’s where these muscles came from. Then my acne cleared up, and I started getting attention from girls…
and finally I caved and took Amanda Meyer out on a date. She was my first girlfriend.
“I’ve had several more since then. But I never forgot the woman I kissed in that dream. I couldn’t forget her, because I kept dreaming of her, year after year. Bright blonde hair. Gorgeous olive-green eyes?—”
My breath hitches.
“Velvety pink lips. Petite.”
I bring my hand to my mouth.
“That’s why I looked at you the way I did when we first met,” Charlie continues, his lip quivering. “It’s because I already knew you, Jenna. You are literally the woman of my dreams.”
As tears start streaming down my face, Charlie takes my hands in his.
“I can’t explain it, but now I know it’s true.
The look in my eyes that you painted? That’s love.
I must have fallen in love with you in my dreams. And it’s taken all I have not to tell you how I feel. I almost slipped a few times?—”
I knew it.
“But I’m not holding back anymore. I love you, Jenna Andersen.”
I throw my arms around him and sob into his neck. His warm tears fall on my shoulder, too.
I want nothing more than to tell him what he’s longing to hear in return—but there’s something he needs to see first.
I unwind myself from Charlie and wipe the tears from his cheeks. “Come with me,” I say, grinning.
I race to my bedroom, plop down on the bed, and motion for my boyfriend to sit next to me. When he does, my heart swells. He’s the same sweet, smart, hot-as-hell Charlie he’s always been—but now I can add in love with me to the list.