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Gisele, Gemma, and Eunice made their way in front of her and gave Charlie a hug.
“Congratulations, honey!” Gemma said. “This place looks fantastic! Now tell me, because I’m your good friend, it means I get discounts on the procedures, right?”
Charlie chuckled. “I thought friends were supposed to support without asking for cutbacks.”
Gemma’s jaw slacked. Gisele and Eunice giggled from behind.
“Relax, G, Charlie’s only kidding. Come on, let’s go inside!” Gisele pushed them in while Eunice quickly mouthed a congratulatory remark before disappearing.
Alex and Sarah came after, clearly dressed for work. Alex’s gray scrubs and Sarah’s pantsuit looked more stern than the expressions on their faces.
“Hey, babe! You did it!” Sarah wrapped Charlie in a hug. “Your hard work is paying off. The turnout looks amazing.”
“Yeah, not bad,” Alex said, looking at the advertising displayedagainst the building wall. “Men’s facial, huh? Can I get in on one of those?”
“Sure, you get a complimentary thirty minute massage with it if you choose the premium,” Charlie informed him. Alex whistled when he observed the price sheet by the entrance.
“Now that’s steep,” he remarked.
“You can afford it,doctor.”
Alex laughed, then brought her in for a tight hug. “Congratulations. I’m proud of you.” After pulling apart, he looked at his watch. “I’m sorry to cut things short, but I’ve got some catching up to do with patients. The month-long vacation only set me back a hundred plus appointments.”
Sarah snickered, then faced Charlie. “Me, too. Paperwork calls me, and a few boring depositions for me to review.”
“No problem. Thank you for coming.”
“By the way, you invited Rick?” Alex said.
Her eyes widened. “How did you know?”
“He’s over there.” Alex pointed to a group of women to their left. Charlie saw them flocking around a very familiar tall man.
Rick. He came! She didn’t see him earlier, and understood why. His attention was on the women who seemed to be very interested in talking to him. And she couldn’t blame them.
Hair slicked back and dressed in a gray polo shirt and black jeans, he looked marvelous. Their eyes met, and he excused himself from his admirers.
Alex crossed his arms once Rick reached them. “So you two are friendly enough for Rick to get an invitation?”
Charlie froze, trying not to peek at Rick. “Friendly” was not the word she’d used to describe her and Rick right now.
“I’m sure she invited anyone who could come,” Rick said. “This is an event that needs as much exposure as possible, right?”
“Right,” she agreed.
“Yes, but you actually came,” Sarah pointed out smugly. “How very supportive of you.”
Rick shrugged. “I had the time.”
“As much as I like to hang around and chat, I really have to go,” Alex said, then to his wife. “I’ll drop you off at your car.”
Sarah nodded, gave Charlie a kiss on the cheek, and waved goodbye. “We’ll chat soon. Congratulations again, hon! Bye, Rick!”
The couple left, and Charlie was alone with Rick. She didn’t know how she appeared as she stared at him, but her chest filled with fuzzy emotions.
“You came,” she said in wonder that it came out as a whisper.
“I said I would,” he said matter-of-factly. One corner of his lips tilted a fraction, but it was enough to drown her.
