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Just as I get comfortable, there’s a knock at the door. Not sure who it could be, I make my way to the door and pull it open. Lincoln stands there with a six-pack of beer and a pizza in his hands.
“Hey, man.” He steps past me as I close the door behind him.
“What are you doing here?”
“A man’s gotta eat. I thought I would buy lunch as a thank you for letting me stay here when everything went down.”
“I just ordered pizza.”
He shrugs. “Not like it will go bad.”
Before I get a chance to tell him about Charlotte, she steps off the bottom step. She’s wearing a tiny pair of shorts that mold to her skin, a tank top that shows her bra strap, and her still-damp hair is pulled up into some kind of twist on top of her head.
“Charlotte— Hi.” Lincoln waves.
“Hey, Linc.” She’s polite and even smiles at him.
“I, uh—” Lincoln is caught off guard, and if it were not for the fact that I don’t want Charlotte to feel uncomfortable, I’d let him sweat a little longer.
“Linc, this is my girlfriend, Charlotte,” I introduce them as if they’re strangers.
Charlotte’s eyes widen, as do Lincoln’s. I reach for Charlotte, and she comes to me easily. I wrap my arms around her, needing her close.
“I… I didn’t know,” Lincoln stammers.
“It’s new. We’ve been spending a lot of time together, and we just made it official this weekend.” I leave out that work is what brought us together. I know that’s still an uncertainty for Charlotte. Besides, we haven’t really discussed labels, so I’m pushing my luck here.
“Wow, congrats, you guys. I’m sorry that I just barged in here like this. I’ll just—” He points to the door. “I’ll just go.”
He takes two steps before Charlotte speaks up. “Linc.” He freezes and turns to face her. “You should stay and eat. I can go back upstairs if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“No.” She’s not hiding upstairs. I want her comfortable in my home. She has just as much right to be here as my best friend. Even more so if I’m being honest.
“It’s okay, Spence.”
“No. He’s right. This is your space as his girl as much as it is his.”
This is why this man is my best friend. He’s made mistakes, but he’s a good man. “He’s right,” I tell Charlotte.
“Look, Charlotte, I’m sorry. I know the way I handled things was wrong, but I really do feel as though it was what was best for Audrey. I’m married to my job, something I need to work on, and she deserved more than I was giving her.”
Charlotte nods. “Audrey tells me that there will be a day when the two of you are friends again.”
“I hope so.” Lincoln bows his head.
I’m floored when Charlotte replies, “Spencer is important to both of us,” she tells him, and there’s this feeling in my chest. It’s one I’ve never felt before, almost like my heart is bursting open.
“Please stay.”
“Are you sure, Charlotte?” Lincoln asks.
“Positive.” She turns to me and offers me a small smile, and I will always remember this moment as the one where I fell in love with Charlotte Krause.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Charlotte
It’s been really hard for me to concentrate today. Spencer dropped me off at my place last night after we spent all day yesterday together. I didn’t get to do my grocery shopping, and my laundry is piled up, but I’m not mad about it. Not even the slightest. This weekend with him was magical. More than I ever could have dreamed.
