I clear my throat. “You won’t regret this. Much, anyway.”
“Somehow, I don’t believe you.”
CHAPTER 13
Magnolia
Twenty minutes after Nash leaves,Charlie opens the front door. Piper is still sleeping in her room. Her schedule is a little different since she doesn’t get home until two in the morning, usually. But Charlie is hardly ever home late morning like this.
“Why are you here at this time? You’re back early,” I say.
Charlie walks in the door, covered in dust. She locks the front door with our top chain latch before sliding out of her coveralls and unlacing her boots. The latch is the only thing that keeps the door from randomly popping open.
“Had to let the electricians do some work.”
Charlie is a general contractor and specializes in remodels. It looks like she’s been cutting a lot of drywall today, based on the white powder covering her hands and face. With the coveralls removed, it’s a stark difference between her clean arms and dirty face.
“I need a shower,” Charlie announces. “Sometimes I wonder if I should get a regular job like you.”
“Hey, guess what? I’m still fired.”
Charlie tiptoesthrough the living room, leaving a little trail of dust in her wake. “At least you’re consistent!”
Piper walks into the kitchen as she finishes twisting her hair up in a messy bun. “Oh, don’t forget. She’s already picked up another job.”
I stick out my tongue at her. I made the mistake of mentioning my fiancée-for-hire gig to her.
“Wait, let me shower, and then you can tell me everything.” Charlie marches down the hall toward the one bathroom.
“But hurry up because I have to go to work soon!” Piper yells after her.
“What time is your shift tonight?” I ask as I walk into the kitchen to survey the damage.
“I have to be there at four this afternoon,” Piper replies.
I stare at the inside of our empty fridge.
None of us are really meal planners and preppers. It’s not really a big deal because our schedules are so random. Except it’s not good when you’re hungry and you have nothing to snack on.
“I’m starving.” I open the fridge. There’s a bottle of Sprite. “I should go to the store. But I don’t want to.”
“I’ll bring home some peanuts,” Piper promises.
“I ate the last of the cereal this morning. I guess we’re gonna have to buy groceries this week.” Charlie says from down the hall. “By the way, I met your boyfriend!”
“Charlie Baxter! Get your butt back out here!” I yell.
She tiptoes back toward me and grins sheepishly. “He was coming down the stairs when I got home.”
“He left a long time ago!” Oh this is bad. I love Charlie. One of her endearing qualities is that she’s incredibly blunt. It also means you never know what she’s going to say to someone.
“Yes, we were talking for a while. I like him.”
“You like him?”
“Yeah, he seems nice and respectful of you.”
“You realize he’s not actually my boyfriend, right?”
