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Cade
Even though I knew I’d regret it, I called her. With no plan in mind, no goal, just winging it like a man who lived his life with no fear of rejection.
I paced my living room as it rang, almost giving up before I heard a frantic, “Hello?”
“Charlotte, you’re breathless. Is everything okay?”
“Uh, yeah. I’m at my dad’s place, in my old room.” A nervous giggle escaped. “That’s weird, right?”
Nostalgia washed over me. “Not at all. It’s just like old times.” I could picture her lounging on her canopied bed, on her side facing me as we ‘studied’ together after school. Her soft voice had always made my spine tingle. I had to see her again and not just randomly around town. I needed concrete plans and a guarantee.
Her voice startled me out of my longing thoughts. “We used to talk all night on the phone and be so tired at school the next day. Remember when I fell asleep in Mr. Nolan’s class?”
“Charlotte. Have dinner with me. Please?”
“What? You’re full of surprises, aren’t you? And why? Do you want to question me about the accident some more?” Suspicion laced with a hint of teasing colored her tone.
Guilt charged through me. I wanted to help her, to talk to her, to have her trust me again. “What if I promise not to question you? Would that influence your answer?” Could I find out what I needed to know without driving her away?
“Probably, but I’m at my dad’s. I can’t tonight.”
I laughed, feeling a bit sheepish. “Not tonight, I have better manners than that. And I know better than to suggest tomorrow night, but I’m doing it anyway despite the short notice. I have to see you. Come to my place? Seven?”
“Okay, you’ve convinced me. I’ll be there. Can I bring anything?”
“We both know you can’t cook,” I teased.
“I’ll bring my famous brownies for dessert. We both know how much you love them.”
“Perfect.” Her famous brownies were Gwen’s creation, but I had never let on that I knew she was really the one who had always baked them. “Guess what? I’m in my old room too. But now it’s a craft room that my mother never uses.”
“That’s right, it’s Sunday. Do you guys still have the illustrious Barrett family Sunday dinner?”
“Yep, Mom has a fit if one of us misses it.”
“I love that. Dad is the same way with his barbeques. I missed so many of them. Too many.”
“It’s been hailing off and on for the last hour. In fact, it might snow tonight. Is he out back grilling?” I asked with a laugh. “Under that beat up old tarp?”
“You know it. Rib-eyes are on the grill as we speak. All the brothers are contributing. Well, except for Tucker. He’s getting spoiled today because his divorce is final now. And they don’t let me cook anymore. The fire in the oven last time I visited was the final nail in that coffin.”
“Except for the famous brownies, right?” I teased.
“Uh, yeah of course. The brownies—which I will bring to your house tomorrow night. Seven sharp.”
“Perfect. We can watch a movie, or on the off chance it’s a nice evening, we can eat on the deck and look at the stars.”
“I remember looking at the stars with you.” Her voice was barely a whisper in my ear.
My return whisper was a confession in hers. “I remember everything.”
“Cade . . .”
“God, Charlotte, I know—” A knock at the door interrupted what was about to be a foolish, early declaration. Of what, I wasn’t quite sure.
“Must be time for dinner. Tell everyone hi for me.” Her soft laugh made me smile.
“Yeah, it is. Tomorrow, Charlotte.”
“Yes. I’ll see you at seven.”
“I’ll be waiting.” I ended the call, my heart heavy with the realization that I had been waiting years for her and if I messed this opportunity up, I’d probably be waiting for her forever.
I opened the door to end up face to face with my sisters. Violet, my older sister, and my three younger sisters—identical twins Lily and Rose, and Holly, the baby. My brothers were at the house for dinner too, but they weren’t quite as nosy as the girls and were busy watching TV with my dad in the living room.
“We’re here for information,” Rose, clearly the ringleader, demanded. No preamble, no easing in, straight to the point. She had settled down with my partner, Trevor, a couple months back. They were married, she was the stepmom to his kids, and they were all happy as a could be. In other words, she was in prime matchmaking form, and I had better be on my guard.
My mother said she was staying out of my business with Charlotte and—stupidly—her declaration had lulled me into a false sense of security. My four sisters all up in my face right now proved that I had plenty of intrusive questions headed my way.
“Yeah, spill your guts, Cade. Are you and Charlotte dating again?” Lily, her identical twin, asked. Not surprising, as those two always backed each other up.
“I brought you a Coke, here.” Holly, my baby sister, passed me an icy tumbler then turned to take a seat on the sectional couch in the middle of the small central lounge area that the upstairs bedrooms surrounded. She flicked on the TV and pointedly started watching—owning her obvious role as “good cop.”
“I’m just here to observe.” Violet shrugged. “Or maybe referee?” She laughed as she joined Holly on the couch.
“No, we’re not dating.” I scooted around the twins, which wasn’t hard since they were tiny, and headed for the stairs.
“Oh, come on. Sit with us.” Holly said with a laugh. “You can watch ESPN with Dad anytime. We’re all in the mood to offer high quality advice. You want her back, don’t you?”
I stopped, hand on the banister as I considered their offer. “Maybe.” That was all I was willing to admit at this point.
Violet’s chuckle made me turn around. “We know you do. Let us help.”
“We’re not going to get all pushy and intrusive, I promise. I came on too strong before.” Lily was sheepish. “We just want to talk to you. We all love Charlotte. You used to make each other so happy.”
“I’m totally going to be pushy and intrusive,” Rose scoffed. “You need her back in your life. You haven’t been the same since she left. And I have an ace in the hole too. Trevor is your partner—”
“Yeah, and that’s a sacred bond, Rose.” I argued. “He’s not going to turn into your matchmaking minion. Where is he anyway?”
“Downstairs somewhere. And of course, it’s sacred. I only meant that he wants you to be happy just as much as I do.”
“Okay, but now we’re dropping this topic.”
