“Fine! What I’m thinking is, I just… I don’t know how this is all supposed to work, okay? Not only do you have an entire life already, but I do too. There is so much on my plate right now, with school, my exams that are sneaking up on me way too fast, and work. Not to mention, I’ll be starting as an EMT soon! Oh, and my lease is almost up, and I just found out my landlord is raising the rent, and I can’t afford it.” Blowing out a breath, her body sags in the seat. “So,that’swhat’s on my mind.”
“Move in with me.” The words roll off my tongue effortlessly.
“What?” she hisses. “Graham, no. No, I can’t do that.”
“Yes, you can,” I push with zero hesitation. “There’s plenty of space, a spare room, a huge yard, and then you have help and support. I may not be able to take school and exams and work off your plate, but I can offer you a place to live and make sure you, and our baby, have everything you need.”
There’s a moment of pause as Charley seems to digest what I said, icy-blue eyes red rimmed and misty again. “That would be too weird,” she finally murmurs, shaking her head. “It’s not like we’re dating. We’re having this baby and raising him or her as co-parents and friends. Besides, don’t you think it would confuse Ellie Mae?”
My heart squeezes at the mention of my daughter, knowing Charley’s considering her in all of this. “We can raise the baby and be co-parents under the same roof,” I say. “There’s no rule that says we can’t or shouldn’t. As for Ellie Mae, she’s not even two yet. Not only do Inotthink it’ll confuse her, but I also think showing her that family can look many different ways is a good thing.”
Heaving a sigh, Charley drops her head against the back of the seat. “Goddamnit, Graham,” she grumbles, angrily swiping a hand across her newly wet cheek. “Why do you keep saying allthe right things? Why are you so nice and perfect and…ugh!And why the fuck do I keep crying? These hormones are no freaking joke.”
I reach over and grab her hand, knowing it’s probably against a rule of hers, but it feels like she needs it. Charley turns her head, tear-soaked eyes finding mine as her chin trembles. “We don’t have to figure it all out today, but I promise you, wewillfigure it out. You aren’t in this alone, you won’t go through any of it alone. We’re in this together, okay?”
Charley nods. “Okay.”
“I’m serious about you moving in, though,” I say. “Please say yes. It’ll save you so much money, you wouldn’t have to look for another place when you know there ain’t shit available, and it would take some stress off.”
Lips pinched together, I can see it in her eyes that she wants to argue. “Fine,” she grits out. “But I’m helping with the bills and the house payment. That’s a rule.”
We’ll see about that.
“Good girl.”
“Graham Thomas Astor,” she scoffs, whacking me on the side of the arm.
“Yeah, yeah.” Using air quotes, I say, “The rules.”
Holy shit. She’s moving in.
Charley’s carrying my baby, and we’re going to be living under the same roof.
Teenage Graham is bursting at the seams.
10
Charley, Then
“Ican’t believe you made all of this.”
Graham’s cheeks pinken, and I don’t think it has anything to do with the warm spring weather. “It’s no big deal,” he says with a shrug.
“What’s all of this anyway?” I ask while watching him pull out various Tupperware containers, all filled with food that looks way too fancy for a couple of high schoolers to be eating at a sunset picnic in a sunflower field.
Holding up one of the larger, rectangular containers, he says, “These are tomato, basil, and artichoke sandwiches.” His gaze flicks up to meet mine, and he smiles as he adds, “This is actually one of the few sandwiches that gets better as it sits. The tomato and artichoke juices mingle, making the flavor even better.”
“Oh, the juices mingle, huh?” I tease, a smirk curling my lips as the color on his face deepens. “Keep talking dirty to me. I love it.”
Graham chuckles and rolls his eyes. “Yes, you perv.” Then, holding up a round container, he says, “And this is a watermelon and feta salad.”
“And those?” I ask, gesturing toward the smaller one still inside the bag he brought everything in.
“Oh, those are a couple red velvet cupcakes I stole from the kitchen.” Graham opens the lid, showing me the yummy dessert. “Grace made them with my mom last night.”
“Look at you two,” I murmur, playfully shoving his arm. “A chef and a baker. Maybe y’all can go into business together one day.”
He snorts. “Yeah, no. That would never work out. I love my sister, but she’s too much of a control freak to share a business with somebody else.” Quiet for a moment, like he’s thinking over what he wants to say next, Graham adds, “It would be cool to open my own restaurant one day, though.”
