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If I kissed Charlie… I don’t think she’d push me away.
But. That’s something to be explored later. Once this is all figured out, Charlie can make up her mind about me without all this other crap hanging over her.
Crap that’s wearing her down, despite everything I’m doing to try to cheer her up. After yesterday—the incident at the restaurant, seeing how tired Charlie is, how much she’s struggling—all I want to do is help her, but I feel like I’m failing.
I talked to Leo about it yesterday, once Charlie was down for the night. We had just wrapped up all of our work, Leo was grabbing a cold slice of pizza, and I was sitting at the kitchen island frowning at nothing. No segue, I just asked, “How did you know what would cheer up Georgia back when she was at the safehouse, when she was feeling so down?”
He put the pizza down and turned to face me. After a moment, he said with a smile, “I wasn’t sure. But I hoped. I thought about the things she said she liked. I realized what I did wasn’t as important as just doing it. Showing her that I cared.”
Then Leo quirked an eyebrow at me. “Thinking about doing something for Charlie?”
“Yeah. I’m worried about her. She tries not to show it, but she’s struggling. I want to do something to cheer her up.”
“Well, you play video games together every night. You go to the park. And what about all those springs? Which I don’t get, by the way. The water you brought back was terrible.”
“I know it is. But now we’re committed to trying all of them.” Charlie and I actually have a spreadsheet for all the springs, with our observations and ratings for each of them. Not that I was going to admit that to Leo.
Leo regarded me steadily, an inscrutable expression on his face. “So you don’t think those trips are enough? You don’t have to entertain her, you know.”
A flash of anger heated my chest. “I know I don’t have to,” I retorted. “I want to.”
“Hmm.” Leo took a bite of his pizza, then asked, “So you want to do something special for Charlie? Any reason other than just being nice?”
“I’m her friend. I care about her.”
“Mmhmm.” Leo’s voice dripped with skepticism. “Just a friend. Okay.” He shot me an if you say so look. “Well, if you want to do something for your friend, maybe you should take her somewhere. New environment, away from all the negative associations she has with Saratoga.”
These guys. Once they meet a woman, it’s like they think they know everything.
But it was a good idea.
Which is why I’m surprising Charlie with a trip to the north end of Lake George. It’s beautiful, not nearly as crowded as the touristy south end, and I think—I hope—it’ll be the perfect distraction. And to make absolutely sure that no one will be around to upset her, I’m going to take her out on a boat for the day.
Once I checked the weather forecast first thing this morning—mid eighties, sunny, no storms in sight—I started planning my day for Charlie.
Instead of going to the gym before breakfast, I rushed out to go shopping. Rather than rummaging through Charlie’s apartment for supplies, I wanted to have everything ready to go. A giant cooler, with lots of food and drinks to fill it, sunscreen, towels, and some fancy bottles of Saratoga water as a joke.
While Charlie was in the shower, I got everything together. I filled the coolers with ice and made sandwiches and packaged up servings of fruit and veggies. The towels and sunscreen went into new tote bags that got stacked alongside the cooler.
And then there was one small bag—just for me to carry—containing a satellite phone, my Ka-Bar and Sig, and a first aid kit that would rival one in a hospital. Because no matter how risk-free I think this trip will be, I’m always prepared for any possibility.
Now I’m sitting at the kitchen island waiting for Charlie to come out for breakfast, really hoping she’ll think this is as good of an idea as I do.
When she comes into the kitchen, her gaze meets mine right away. She’s wearing another sundress, this one covered in bright pink flowers, and there’s a little flush on her cheeks that matches it. Her eyes go dark as she looks at me, and I have to wonder—is she remembering waking up in my arms yesterday evening, her body half draped across mine?
And now that I’m thinking about it, someone else is remembering it, too, and I have to sternly command him to stand down. Charlie does not need to see him making an entrance this morning.
She gives me a cute little smile, half shy, half seductive. “Morning, Ry.”
I smile back at her. “Morning, Charlie.”
Jumping up from my seat, I head to the coffeemaker and grab the thermos I’ve had waiting beside it, quickly adjusting myself while I’m behind the island. Then I meet her halfway from the hallway to the kitchen, holding the thermos out to her.
Her brows arch up in surprise as she takes the thermos. “What’s this for?”
I tease her, stating the obvious. “It’s coffee.”
“Well.” Her eyes crinkle in amusement. “I figured that. But why is it in a travel mug?”
