11. Noah
11
A fter running a few errands in town, I spend the rest of the day working from the booth Charlie and I shared when I found her here yesterday morning. It’s probably not far from what I was going to do even if my ex wasn’t living incapacitated upstairs.
But she is.
And as angry as I am at Roger, I’m relieved as fuck Charlie isn’t living in that apartment anymore. Had I known sooner it was in the shape it was…oh hell, I don’t know what I would have done.
I don’t know if there’s much Charlie would let me do.
By sundown, I shut my laptop and move to the bar for a beer.
Once the last guest heads up to their room, Dad twists the cap off a bottle and clinks it with mine. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s not fighting me on keeping her on house arrest, so…I’d say surprisingly well.”
“That’s good. That girl just can’t catch a break, can she?”
“Apparently not,” I mutter.
He sighs and I recognize it. “Look, Noah. I know you two have a messy history.”
Of course he does, he was here for it.
“I can keep an eye on her and Tess can run up to help until Charlie’s…back on her feet.” He smiles at the pun.
“I’m moving her into my house, Dad.”
He takes a breath. “Does she know that?”
“She thinks I’m on crack,” I mutter dryly before taking a swig.
Dad chuckles. “Look, I can give her the suite.”
“No. It’s fine. I’m rarely home and I’ve got a spare room.” That’s a lie. My spare room is currently occupied.
“Okay, well when she chews your butt out for interfering with her life, please insist she move into the suite when it frees up this Friday.”
She won’t say no.
“I’ll lock up,” I tell him. “You should head home.”
He nods before reaching for his car keys. “The room next door to her is open tonight. Key is in the lockbox.”
I meet his knowing eyes. Appreciating the fact he knows I’m not leaving her tonight. “Thanks.”
He smirks. “Goodnight.”
Chase walks through the door, crossing Dad on his way in. “What are you doing here so late?” I ask.
My brother runs a hand through his hair. “Contractors screwed up in the kitchen and now our oven isn’t working. Thought I’d pick something up here.”
“Kitchen staff is gone but help yourself.”
Chase mutters a thanks and pours himself half a glass of the Summer Ale. “Rough day at the office?”
“Just need to clear my head. What about you? How’d it go this weekend?”
My brother shakes his head. “It was a wild goose chase, Noah. Every lead is a dead end.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning no one’s willing to talk. And people keep dropping names of those we already spoke to.”
I scratch my chin, remembering the last time he and I followed a few leads. “It does feel like we’re running in circles, doesn’t it?”
He nods, resigned. It hurts me to see him like this. This should be the happiest time of his life. He’s about to marry the girl of his dreams.
But I get it. He won’t be happy until he makes all her dreams come true. And that’s to find her family.
“It just seems odd. I can’t believe no one would be willing to talk after all this time. Especially when it’s their own daughter looking for them.”
Chase stops twisting his glass, his eyes drifting away.
“Chase?”
“When we meet with some of these leads, we don’t…tell them who she is…”
“What? Why?”
“Pepper is afraid that…if she says her name, if her parents find out she’s looking for them…they’d stay hidden.”
“Christ.”
“I never told you this.”
“Got it,” I mutter.
I rinse our glasses and start the dishwasher after Chase heads into the kitchen just after ten.
My phone buzzes on the bar and I reach for it, sliding it open.
Charlie: Hey.
Shutting off the water, I call back to my brother that I’m heading upstairs and don’t wait for a reply.
I’m at her door in less than two minutes, giving it a quick knock before turning the knob and cracking the door slightly. “It’s me. You decent?”
“Noah?”
I push it open and step inside in a panic. Charlie is sitting up in bed. Almost exactly as I left her hours ago. Still in those lavender stripe pajamas. “Are you alright?”
“Y-yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I thought you needed help. Do you need to get to the bathroom?”
Her eyes are alert with no hint of drowsiness or pain. I scan the surroundings for signs of struggle to walk but nothing’s moved.
She shakes her head in confusion. “What are you doing here? I thought you left hours ago.”
I release a breath and close the door. “I’m…staying tonight.” I don’t tell her I’ll be right next door.
She glances to the side. “Why?”
I hold up my phone, reminding her of her text. “In case you need something.”
Her brows shoot up. “Oh. I was just on the phone with Pepper and she mentioned she likes midnight blue for the bridal party.” She cocks her head with a hard glare.
“Okay…do you…not like midnight blue?”
“No bride picks midnight blue for her bridal party in Spring . She’s clearly trying to appease someone here.”
I press a finger to my chest. “You think I asked her for midnight blue?”
“That’s the color of your sports car. Your suits, your ties, did you mention something to Chase?”
“Hold on. You think that I had a conversation with my brother about wedding colors?”
Her eyes shift to the side. “You’re right that doesn’t make sense.”
I shake my head and step further in. This seems as good a time as ever to let her know this is her last night at the Inn. “How are you feeling?”
“Good.” She scrunches her nose. “Although I have an awful taste in my mouth from chewing a crushed antibiotic earlier.”
I move to the full glass of water on her nightstand and grab it. “So drink more water.”
“I can’t. I’ll have to pee.”
“Drink.” I hold it out for her.
She mutters something under her breath about crawling later and takes it. “Fine.”
I watch her finish the entire glass before taking it from her. “Thank you.”
Her phone pings with a message and I assume it’s Pepper until I hear her whisper. “Oh perfect. Confirm…ride.”
“What’s that?”
“I just preordered my Uber for tomorrow morning for work.”
“You do realize you’re not healing over night?”
“I know. But earlier, when I put my foot down, it didn’t send shooting pain up my spine so I must be getting better.”
“That doesn’t mean you can walk all over town.”
“I’m not. I’m getting a ride and Emily said I can sit at the checkout desk all day.”
I rub my eyes. “Yeah, you’re not going to work tomorrow. We have plans.”
“Who has plans?”
“You and me. I’m moving you into my house.”
She stares at me. “I need legal advice. Do I call the police now, for a premeditated crime? Or do I wait until after you’ve kidnapped me?”
“You’re not living here.”
“Dear God, Noah, I don’t know if you remember this, but you and I don’t talk. I’m the girl who gave you the reputation of the guy who was cheated on at his family's establishment. I’m the person you’ve been waiting to leave town for three years so you never have to see me again. I’m the constant reminder of the reason you don't date anymore. I am not under any circumstances moving into your house.”
Good God.
I’m going to hell for the guilt I’ve let her live with .
Charlie’s cheeks blush and she’s fired up, her eyes powerfully piercing. These are her true colors. The ones she’s been holding back all these years. Her anger, her shame, her insecurities…her regret.
I swallow down the rebuttal no one needs to hear and bite right back. “You’ll do it for Pepper.”
She inhales deeply and turns away, her eyes glistening. “I have to pee.”