Page 57 of More Than Friends

“Yes, I am.”

“No, you aren’t.”

“Are we going to keep arguing about this, or will you just listen to me?”

I open my mouth to respond, but she lifts her hands to stop me.

“No. I don’t want to hear that Ava isn’t my responsibility and that you didn’t have me move in with you so I could watch Ava. I want to watch Ava, and you’re not going to stop me.”

My jaw flexes, and I try to think of another reason to tell her no. I just don’t want to feel like a burden to her or for her to feel like she has to fix things for me. “Char, you deserve days off.”

“Let me worry about that. I’m perfectly fine spending my days off with Ava. We’ll have girls’ day while you work, because what you’re doing now isn’t sustainable, Jude. Accept the help, and just say thank you.”

I don’t know why I do it. It happens so fast that I can’t even think better of it. One moment, my hand is pressed against Ava’s back, and the next, it’s reaching out and taking Charlotte’s hand in mine. “Thank you.” The words come out a bit hoarse. “I’m not taking all your days off, but maybe this week, we’ll start with you watching her for two days and then go from there.”

“Okay,” she responds, her voice barely above a whisper. Her gaze darts to where my hand still sits on top of hers. I hadn’t even realized my thumb was brushing over her skin until I follow her gaze and find our hands still entwined.

“But you have to promise if it feels like too much, or if Ava starts to feel like she’s a burden, that you’ll tell me.” My words come out hurried because it’s one thing to worry in my head about Ava ever feeling like a burden for Charlotte, but it’sanother thing to say it out loud. I just don’t want Charlotte to feel like things with Ava and me are too much to handle.

I don’t want to give her any reason to leave. And that includes asking too much of her, especially when it comes to my daughter.

Charlotte’s head rears back slightly. “Ava could never feel like a burden to me.” Her words come out a little louder than they have been, but it doesn’t wake Ava. She stays fast asleep on my chest, completely unaware of her surroundings.

“You say that now, but what happens when you’re tired and you just want a day off, but instead, you’re having to watch a baby who isn’t yours?”

She winces but recovers quickly. Her smile is soft as she looks from our joined hands to me. “I know myself well enough to know that I won’t feel that way. I wouldn’t be offering to help if I thought I couldn’t handle it or if I didn’t want to. I know Ava isn’t mine, but I still care about her—and you—so please let me help.”

It’s silent as the two of us stare at one another. I’d give anything to get in her head to find out what she’s thinking. She hasn’t pulled her hand from mine, and I’m dying to know if feeling my skin against hers is driving her as wild as it’s driving me. It feels like a million different things go through my head. I want to tell her that I’m getting far too used to her being in our lives. I want her here forever, and I’ve never wanted someone the way I want her, and that’s terrifying.

She woke up one day and decided she was going to move to the Hamptons. She left her entire family and everything she’s ever known to come out here. I respect the hell out of her for it. She had a dream of moving to the Hamptons and chased it, no matter who she had to leave behind and miss to achieve it. But now, with my feelings growing deeper for her with every day that passes by, I can’t help but be scared about what happens if she wakes up one day and decides to leave. Nothing ties herhere to the Hamptons…to us. What if she decides she’d rather do photography somewhere else? She could leave at any moment, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Because of that, it’s scary to lean on her, especially with how deep the feelings I’m developing for her are.

“You’re not arguing, which I can only assume means you’re going to let me help you.”

My cheeks twitch with the hint of a blooming smile. “It’s as if you know me so well.”

This makes Charlotte smile—a real one. Her fingers move underneath mine, but she still doesn’t make an effort to move, so neither do I. I soak in the connection of our skin for as long as I can, even if it is just a hand hold.

“Well, perfect. While you’re staying silent, it’s time for you to hear the second thing I have to say. The same rules as before apply. No talking or saying no until I finish.”

My grip on her hand tightens as I keep my gaze locked on her. “Lay it on me.”

The way she bites her lip and pauses before speaking up tells me that I might like this idea even less.

THIRTY-FOUR

CHARLOTTE

Jude’s handon top of mine feels nice. I know I should probably pull my hand out from underneath his, but I don’t want to. I like feeling his skin against mine. Plus, I know that with what I’m about to say, he might be the one to break the connection anyway.

I pull my bottom lip between my teeth as I watch him carefully. We’ve briefly talked about him leaving the house and taking Ava to Pembroke, but it’s been days since then. I’d let it go for a bit, but now I’m ready to push it and really convince him that he needs to get out of the house.

“The second thing is, it’s time for you to go to Pembroke…with Ava.”

The only reaction he gives my words is the twitch of his fingers against mine. He keeps his face the same, his eyes wide and staring at me, while there’s the slightest hint of a smirk on his lips. “Why do you say that?” he finally asks.

“Because you can’t hide away in this house forever. Ava deserves to get out, and so do you.”

“I’m just fine here with you and Ava and the occasional visit now from Cal and Lucy.” He looks down at Ava for a moment. Despite the two of us no longer talking in hushed tones, she stillstays fast asleep and completely unbothered. “And Ava’s seemed happy as can be recently.”