AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips, considering my statement. “I guess you probably don’t or you’d have someone. I’m sure an attractive millionaire like you would have girls lined up to date him, regardless of how youcome off online.” She said the last words in a mocking tone, and I shook my head, fighting back laughter.
“You’d be surprised.”
Little did she know my loner status was every bitnotmy choice as much as it was my choice. I didn’t know how to be anything other than what I was—which apparently was cold and unapproachable. Even if I woke up tomorrow wanting to settle down with a woman, I doubted I would be able to find any that would enjoy my company—genuinely, that is.
She glanced around the room again, her soft waves falling loosely around her shoulders. “Why are you staying with yourbrother, anyway? You mentioned you aren’t close, and you must have the money to stay elsewhere.”
“My mom wanted us to reconnect,” I admitted.
“That’s it?” She didn’t sound convinced.
“And…I suppose I do too. We’ve never been close, and I don’t have many people to talk to.”
Her face brightened at that. “Well, now you do.”
Before I could ask what she meant by that, she picked up the framed picture sitting to the side of the kitchen island.
“Is this the whole family?” She flipped over the picture.
“Yes.” I winced at what should have been a harmless question. It was my parents, Oliver, and me in Florida when we were kids. I remembered that photo. Just before it was taken my father had complained there wasn’t enough to do on the beach and such a mindless vacation would rot our minds. My mom had called him a prick. After the picture, she’d taken Oliver to rent jet skis. Meanwhile, my dad took me back to the hotel so that he could work and I could finish an extra credit assignment for school.
Charlie must have seen my eyes darken because she immediately set down the photo and back peddled. “I’m sorry. Was that too personal? You can tell me to shut up.”
“It’s fine,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “Family is just a sore subject for me.”
I hoped that would limit any follow-up questions. Being vulnerable didn’t come easily to me, especially since half the time I wasn’t sure how to process my own emotions, let alone share them with others.
“Ah,” she said, still staring at the picture. “You and Oliver look so much alike,” she muttered.
I nodded. “Everyone used to say that. Unfortunately for my mother, my father’s genes were just too strong.”
“I’m sure she loved that.” She smiled up at me, and my chest swelled with some unrecognized feeling. The fact that there was clearly a lot more to the story, but she didn’t ask any follow-up questions, made me feel like she understood me. She didn’t press me to open up. I appreciated her even more than I already did.
“I’m sure she wished Oliver looked more like her.” I surprised myself by sharing. “He’s always been her favorite.”
She tilted her head and considered my words. I half-expected her to say the generic,I’m sure she didn’t have a favorite.
“That must have been hard,” she said instead.
I shrugged. “It was just the way our family was. My Mother and Oliver against my father and me. Sometimes I wished she would pick me for once—gift me the warmth she gave Oliver every day. Instead, she saw too much of my dad in me. I don’t think she could separate the two of us, and unfortunately for me, she didn’t care all that much for him. Made me feel isolated at times.”
“I’m sorry,” she continued. I looked over to see her eyes glassy. “I-I don’t know what to say. I don’t want to ask you too many details if you aren’t comfortable sharing.” The words tumbled out of her. I don’t think I had ever seen her look so flustered.
“Charlie,” I stopped her by reaching out and grabbing her leg. “It’s fine—I’m fine. You don’t have to say anything.”
“But it kills me to think of this kid feeling alone like that.” A tear fell from her eye as she glanced back down to the picture.
“Are you crying?” I asked.
“No—yes. Shit. I’m sorry.” She grabbed for the paper towel I had handed her earlier and dabbed her eyes. “I can get a bit emotional with stories like that.”
Despite my heavy emotions, I chuckled. “I didn’t even tell you the story.”
“But it’s a sad one,” she said, staring at me. “I can see it in your eyes.”
My breath caught in my throat as we stared at each other for a breath too long. It felt like gravity pulled me closer to her. She bit her bottom lip and searched my face for something. I should back up—I should tell her to go—I should—
Before another coherent thought could cross my brain, Charlie leaned in and brushed her lips onto mine. They were soft and slightly wet. I couldn’t deny that I had imagined this moment happening. Heat built within my gut, and my hands instinctively went to her hair. I pulled her to me for a moment, losing myself in the way her mouth felt. Her lips parted but before I could deepen the kiss, I jerked back.
