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“Make it four weeks. But I swear, if there is so much as a tiny scratch on it, you will pay for it with yourblood.”
“Deal!” He launched from his seat, his well-formed face spread into a wide smile as he made himself comfortable in her kitchen.
Charlie observed him with critical eyes. At twenty-seven, he wasn’t a boy anymore. She thought him hopeless. His lifetime of being coddled by their mother had ruined him. It was such a shame.
Ryan had so much potential. He was a tall guy, good-looking, and had a decent, albeit misguided, heart. With soft, boyish brown eyes and a charming smile, he could easily be mistaken for a K-Pop star. But he’d rather be the expired frat boy still clinging to his good days. If he carried himself better and tried, he could be a man of substance. Yet he refused to get a job or submit to any form of responsibility.
Charlie had long resigned to the fact that Ryan was going to be her burden for the rest of her life. She hoped their mother planned to leave a hefty nest egg for him. She had her own matters to deal with.
“So what’s the deal? Extra bad cold feet? Are you screwing someone else?” Ryan asked as he took out a can of seltzer from her refrigerator.
She shot him a deadly glare and stood by the kitchen island across from him. “Don’t be crude. I’m not screwinganyone. I just don’t want to be married.”
“Really? I thought all you rich chicks wanted was a solid rich husband to settle down with. Like Aera.”
Aera Lee was their neighbor growing up and her long-term friend. She was two years older, and Charlie trained with her in archery, but only Aera was good enough to make it to the Olympics. In high school, Aera garnered enough sponsors to participate and train in Korea with top coaches, so they lost touch for a bit. At twenty-five she married the son of a wealthy conglomerate, went back to Seoul, then retired from archery at thirty-two and moved back home.
“So what if my friends wanted that life? I don’t,” Charlie argued. “I will not be stuck as a baby making machine.”
“Too bad. I liked Mark,” said Ryan as he crushed the seltzer can.
“Matt,” she corrected gruffly.
Ryan shrugged. “It doesn’t matter now.”
“Are you done here? Don’t you have somewhere to be? Some girl to take out?”
His lopsided smile flashed as he stretched an arm out. “I do, actually. Keys, please.”
“Right, you came here for the car, not to check on me. I should have known.” Charlie pointed to the garage door by the kitchen pantry. “It’s hanging on the hook. Be careful with my car or I willskinyou.”
“Come on, of course I wanted to check on you, too.” Ryan came over and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. “Ditching your own wedding is the coolest thing you’ve ever done.”
“Really?” Ryan hardly said things like that.
“Yep. You were always so stuffy and go-by-the-rules. You did what you were told every time. It was lame how you were always so perfect,” he said. “But I guess it’s different now. Good luck!”
He waved to her before disappearing into her garage. Not a few minutes later, she heard the run of the engine and the sliding of her garage door as it shut, her brother leaving with her beloved car; its fate unknown.
I’m sorry, baby. But I’m desperate, she bemoaned. If Ryancould keep their mother away for the time being, it would make her life so much easier. And worth the risk of her precious and expensive Aston. She’ll make it up to it. Like a premium wax! If it’s still in one piece when she gets it back.
Sighing, she sat on a barstool and planted her head against the counter. What a mess.
There was no one available for advice. Sarah and Alex were away in paradise. The girls at the country club wouldn’t understand. Her mother was out of the question. Aera was a viable choice, but she was missing in action lately. The person who had made her feel comforted and validated was Richard Min, but she couldn’t bother him anymore. Besides, she didn’t have his number.
You’re on your own, lady.
Just then, the doorbell rang again.
Please,nother mother.
Making sure her footsteps were mouse-quiet and her shadows hidden behind closed curtains, she peeped at her next guest.
Matt.
Without hesitation, she opened the door. The mid-afternoon sun glittered on his sleekly combed hair. His face centered on his thick eyebrows and upturned, monolid eyes. His smooth cheeks and chin were free of stubbles and large pores. Charlie always thought he’d make a good candidate for a dermatology commercial.
He stood straight, his build lean, and as usual, he was neatly dressed in a white button-down shirt and dark chinos. Her ex-fiancé looked surprised to see her.
