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“I knew it,” she whispered. Disguising my arousal had been futile, because when she ran the tip of her finger down the soft line of hair leading to the waistband of my briefs, I had to stop her.
Maybe we should have stayed downstairs when we got home rather than heading to my room, where I’d given her one of my T-shirts to change into and I’d stripped down to my underwear before we slid into bed. It seemed like a great idea at the time. I’d be with her in case she didn’t feel well during the night. Except the woman was testing my resolve. Sucking in a breath, I grunted, “Sweetheart, as much as I love you touching me, you’ve had too much to drink tonight.” When she looked at me with the prettiest eyes, I almost caved, but I couldn’t.
“Can we talk?” she asked.
Thinking she’d be asleep soon enough, I stroked her back with my hand. “Sure. What do you want to talk about?”
“Do you believe in love at first sight?”
Between people? Maybe, not really. Although when I held a football for the first time, I immediately loved it. “I’m not sure. I suppose it could happen.”
“Itcanhappen. I just think that when something so wonderful happens quickly, people cast it aside, not realizing what it really is. Sadly, some people let it pass by. Don’t you think that’s sad? Some may search for that feeling for the rest of their lives and never find it. It’s like seeing a rainbow in the sky, and it’s so close, but no matter how much you run toward it, you never reach it. There had to be a point when someone would run into it. Right?”
Tipsy Charlie was also philosophical Charlie. “Sure, I suppose.”
“Exactly,” she yawned. “I knew you’d understand.”
I didn’t, but before she began rambling, I offered, “Let’s get some sleep. We have practice in the morning. Sally is staying at Cami’s tonight.”
Lucas had texted me before we got home, letting me know about my sister’s plans. It was all for the better anyway. Taking care of two inebriated women wasn’t in my schedule for the evening.
“Right…” That time her yawn had a high-pitched squeak at the end of it. “Practice.” She snuggled closer to me. “Thanks, Collin. You’re the best.”
Charlie’s breathing evened out. I kissed the top of her head. “So are you.”
I felt the rise of her cheeks against my skin. “Good night.”
“Sweet dreams, Charlie.”
As soft snores filled the otherwise quiet space, I lay in bed, wondering about rainbows and love at first sight. I hadn’t lied to Charlie. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe in love at first sight, but I did think there was attraction at first sight. I’d been there before. Heck, I’d felt it when Charlie had taken off her helmet the first time I saw her.
Pulling her closer, I stretched to the side and turned off the small lamp beside my bed. Lowering my cheek to the top of her head, I inhaled her sweet scent and closed my eyes, knowing tomorrow was going to be a long day.
Chapter 24
Charlie
“I counted his abs.”
“What?” Sally’s appalled tone had me sinking farther into the comforts of Collin’s sofa, hoping it would swallow me whole.
After our practice, all I wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep. It was a wonder I missed only one kick with my sluggish leg. Sally was here when we got back. Thankfully, Collin was helping Mack move into his new house, so he wasn’t home to hear everything I had to say to my best friend.
“Please don’t be grossed out, since he’s your brother, but last night we were lying in bed, and I’m pretty sure I counted his abdominal muscles.” I dropped my head in my hands, and to my surprise, Sally laughed. “You don’t think it’s gross?”
“Nah, after seeing you two together, I think it’s cute. This is your year, Charlie. You’ve finally let loose a little bit and let the universe dictate your next move.” When my brows pulled together, she added, “You’re a planner. And there’s nothing wrong with that except when you stop yourself from having fun. Look at where you are right now.”
“That wasn’t the universe, that was you—” I thought back to the day Sally suggested I stay here. “Wait a minute… did you want me and Collin to get together? Did you set us up?”
Her shoulder hitched to her ear as she took a sip of her almond-milk latte. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said with the innocence of a nun.
“Sure you don’t.”
She giggled. “You’re my best friend, he’s my brother, and although some get weird about relationships between those two descriptions, I happen to think it’s a great idea. Do you know how many girls he’s been with that I’ve liked?”
I winced, thinking of how many there’d been before me. I’d never want to know that number, nor would I ask.
“Zero, that’s how many. It wasn’t that I had lengthy conversations with them or that he brought anyone home to meet the family, but if I happened to be here and unfortunately met one of them, then so be it. But, Charlie, he never ever looked at anyone the way he looked at you.”
