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‘No, I’ll find some other place to say.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘I don’t want to bother Kevin, I know he likes his alone time with you.’
‘You’re welcome to stay with us, Charlie,’ Rick added before Gayle could snap at me again. ‘If you don’t mind the kids, that is.’
I smiled at him. ‘You have a new baby on the way. And a whole schedule with the kids. I’m not gonna add myself to the mix for you to worry about.’
My phone pinged with a message. I reached into my box and checked the screen, looking around the street after seeing it was from my Uber. For half a second there I’d hoped it was William and that hurt.
‘Okay, that’s for me.’
Rick looked between me and Gayle and sighed. ‘I’ll head upstairs, Charlie. I’ll give you a call tomorrow just in case you change your mind, yeah?’ He leaned down and gave my cheek a kiss.
I smiled. ‘Sure. Talk to you soon.’
When he left it was just the two of us.
‘You’re staying with me until you leave.’
‘I…’
‘I get it, you probably want to stay with William, but I get to have you for at least a few days.’
William…
Sure I’d love to stay with him, but he was renting his place from my dad, and I didn’t want to get out of one of his houses only to move into the next. Plus, would William even want me to stay with him? I knew he would… but maybe he was still mad after this morning.
‘I have no idea if he’d be interested in that. And I have Pepp, too. Would Kevin even be okay with that? He isn’t exactly a small puppy any more.’
‘That’s because he isn’t a puppy. He is a horse baby.’ She lifted her shoulder and then dropped it. ‘Kevin loves you, he’ll be just fine with Pepp because of that.’
The protest was at the tip of my tongue, but she stopped me by seizing my arms, forcefully turning me around and pushing me towards my waiting Uber. ‘Stop worrying. We’re actually doing better, slightly, but still better. And not only that, it’ll be good to have you around. You know he likes you, so again, stop worrying. You’ll stay at my place. You owe me at least that much now that you’re gonna be full-time with Valerie.’
‘Is that jealousy I’m hearing, Gayle? Colour me surprised.’
‘I’ll colour you red tomorrow. Come on.’ She opened the door on the waiting black Prius and I sat on my ass. ‘Go pack up, I’ll come by after I get out of here and help out.’
I put the box next to me as Gayle shut the door.
‘Would you mind if I take a call from my husband before we leave?’ the driver asked and I nodded to her with a small smile.
The window was already open so I leaned out of it. ‘Thank you. I’m not gonna refuse your help.’
‘Don’t worry. And I’ll leave when William comes around. Did you hear from him? Do you know where he is?’
‘Still with the ex, I’m guessing. He left a note in my room that said we’ll talk later, but I have no idea.’ My eyes slid to my phone, but I knew there was no word from him. My heart squeezed in on itself just a little. Not because I was jealous of him being with his ex-wife – I knew that he really didn’t want her back. But she was pregnant and what if…
‘Don’t go there,’ Gayle muttered and my gaze snapped to her. ‘Anyone can see your emotions play on your face, Charlie. I always tell you. Whatever you’re thinking I’m sure it’s not that.’
I shook my head, trying to let go of my bad feelings. I forced a smile I wasn’t quite feeling. ‘I’m not thinking anything. Promise. I’ll see you tonight then?’
‘Yes. I’ll bring food and a bottle of rosé.’
‘Perfect.’
The driver finished her call so I looked out the window and waved at Gayle. The car started moving and my gaze snapped to the building, to the 20th floor of Atlas Communications. Not that I could make anything out, but I still gazed up. I didn’t feel upset, not really. I actually felt free and happy, but there was just a little tiny place in my heart that was sad to let go.
My phone started ringing as we passed the building so I reached for it.
Nora calling.
I cleared my throat, took a deep breath and let it all out as if I could get rid of all the stress and bad energy clinging to me before I hit the green button. ‘Hi Nora!’
‘Hey! Did I catch you at a bad time?’
‘Oh no. It’s good. How are you?’
‘I’m good, Charlie. How are you?’
I didn’t know her enough to recognize exactly what I was hearing in her voice, but I could tell it wasn’t something positive. ‘Great. Thank you. How can I help you?’
