‘You should see your face,’ he said, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He shrugged. ‘So, I’m guessing Amy’s idea is a non-starter?’
‘How much have you had to drink?’ I asked him.
He smiled. ‘Not enough. I’m pretty sure I should have started much earlier.’ A fleeting expression clouded his features.
18
‘Are you sure you don’t want us to stay and help clear up?’ I asked Charlie’s mum, for the second time.
‘No, dear,’ she replied, patting me on the arm. ‘But thank you for the offer. Charlie and Alex have moved the tables back to the garage for me, and I’ll be setting the dishwasher to do its thing in a bit. There’s really not too much else to do.’
‘Well, if you’re sure. Thank you again for having me.’
She caught my hand. ‘It was a pleasure! It’s lovely to meet you after hearing so much about you from Charlie. I have to say,’ her voice dropped a little quieter, ‘I thought there might be something more to you and Charlie initially. I mean, he’s not the chattiest of boys, we all know that. That’s just our Charlie. But I know you two have spent quite a lot of time together since Marcus started seeing Amy. Lovely girl, by the way. I do like her.’
‘Me too.’ I smiled. ‘But just so you know, there’s nothing between Charlie and me. I mean, other than friendship.’
‘Oh, no! I know. I asked him. I mean, I was sort of hoping he’d say yes because he’s always so cheery when he’s been around you. I can see why too now. You’ve a lovely, sunshiny personality. It brings out the best in him. His dad brought me out of my shell too when we first met. I suppose that’s what good friends do – bring out the best in each other. But, you know, I just thought I’d ask Charlie. Encourage him along. He’s a wonderful boy, but he does occasionally need a kick up the backside when it comes to women.’
I laughed.
‘But he told me that neither of you were that way inclined towards each other, and just enjoyed being friends.’
‘That’s true. I don’t think I’m Charlie’s type anyway. I’ve never been the most academic in my family. I’m not sure we really have a lot in common in that area.’
His mum stopped in her tidying and looked at me. ‘Being academic isn’t everything, Libby. And from what I’ve heard and seen of you, you’re a bright, beautiful and creative young lady.’ She rested her hand on my cheek momentarily. ‘Don’t let anyone, including yourself, tell you any different.’
I smiled and nodded against her hand and closed my eyes briefly, thinking how muchmymum would have loved Charlie’s.
‘Thank you.’
‘In the meantime, I’ll continue to live in hope that he finds someone just as lovely as you. I have to say, it’s a bit of a shame, as I think you’d be really good for him.’ She gave me a wink and I felt a hint of colour warm my chest and face.
‘If it makes you feel better, I don’t think Charlie’s ever short of offers.’
‘I don’t doubt it.’ His mum glanced over to where Alex, Charlie and his dad were peering up at some tree lights. ‘I know he’s my son, so I’m probably a little biased, but he is a very handsome boy.’
‘I think that bias is perfectly acceptable. And yes, he is. No doubt about it. I think we just became really good friends super quickly – you know how that happens sometimes? And then, well, you don’t look at your mates as potential boyfriends or girlfriends any more. You sort of go past it. I don’t know. Does that make sense?’ I fiddled with my hair slide and tried to decide who exactly I was trying to convince.
‘It does, dear. It does.’
‘And Charlie will find someone lovely who deserves him when the time is right.’
‘I’m sure he will. So long as it’s not that temptress that lives in the flat next to him!’
‘Aha, the delectable Elaine! She’s quite something, isn’t she?’
‘She certainly is. And I’m far too polite to say what.’
My eyebrows shot up and I rolled my lips together to stop the laugh bursting out. ‘I don’t think Charlie is planning anything in that direction, so I shouldn’t worry.’ I thought of our unexpected, but very enjoyable, day out along the coast that we’d taken for the sole purpose of helping Charlie avoid Elaine’s further advances that day.
‘Talking of directions, our Alex has hardly been able to stop looking in this one the whole time he’s been over there.’
I glanced over at the boys automatically. As Charlie’s mum said, Alex was indeed looking this way. She pulled a move and fluffed her hair, pretending to soak up the attention. Alex grinned, and waggled his eyebrows. Charlie followed his eye line, then punched Alex on the arm.
‘He’s as good as one of my own, that boy. You’re in safe hands there.’
‘Oh! I’m not… we’re not…’
