“Yeah?”
“Can we try dinner again? Come here and I’ll cook for you.”
Her face doesn’t show any emotion, but her eyes glimmer in the sun. “You cook now?”
I chuckle. “I do live on my own.”
“I thought your mom sent you leftovers every day,” she teases.
“She would deliver me meals twice a day if I let her.”
Charlie laughs. “She’s a good mom.”
“She is. So dinner tonight?”
“Not tonight. I’m really tired already.”
“The day just began.”
“I know.” She pushes her hair over her shoulder. “My sister’s dogs are going to be the death of me. Well, not really, but quite possibly my cat.”
“My offer still stands. You’re welcome here. As a friend.”
She smiles. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you, Owen. I, uh, I…” She runs her eyes over me again and a slight flush covers her cheeks. “I need to go. I’m working with my dad today.”
“Have fun lawyer-ing.”
Her smile widens. “I actually will. I’m really looking forward to going back to work and arguing with people.”
She’s joking, but I can only imagine how it would feel to get your ass handed to you—legally, of course—by someone like Charlie. I bet when she walks into a courtroom, her opposition sees her as easy, as nothing more than a pretty face. And then the Pitbull in her comes out.
She’s always been like that, standing up for what she believes in, and she doesn’t back down or get shaken. Her sweet disposition makes her unsuspecting, and those who go against her are often not prepared.
Including me.
I had no idea how fast I’d fall for her. How deeply I’d love her. How she’d become my whole moon and stars and reason for living.
Until she was gone.
“I’ll see you later,” she says, and I like that much better. It’s not a goodbye, yet I’m still not sure I believe her. Watching her dash down the driveway and into her dad’s Lexus, I don’t step back inside or close the door until she’s out of view.
I go into the kitchen, turn on the coffee pot, and find something to eat. I don’t have to work today and should go back to sleep. My head still hurts, my stomach is unsettled, but I’m starting to think it has less to do with the booze and more to do with the feeling that I’m never going to have another chance with Charlie.
I need a leg up. Do some sort of grand romantic gesture. She said she wants me to prove to her I’ve changed, and I’m going to do it. Taking my coffee onto the screened-in porch off the back of my house, I watch the water from the fountain in the pond rise and fall.
Trading my coffee for my phone, I text Quinn to see if she’s awake. As soon as she replies, I call her.
“Are you okay?” she answers.
“Yeah, why?”
“You never call this early. You’re never awake this early.”
“Charlie just left.”
Quinn gasps. “She stayed the night?”
“No, she brought my truck back to me after driving me home and then taking herself home last night.”
“Ouch. That wasn’t your finest hour. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, don’t worry about that. But I have a favor to ask.”
“I’m not building you a sex robot.”
I laugh. “How’d you know that’s what I wanted? Can you make it look like Charlie?”
“Gross, Owen.”
“Dean said you were able to look at Charlie’s social media accounts even though she has them all set to private. Could you possibly look at them again?”
“I can, but why?”
The sunlight reflects off the water, blinding me and making my eyes water. “I want to get her back, Quinn. And I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to her I’m not the same guy I was before.”
“So, having your little sister internet stalk her is your answer?”
“Technically, yes. I mean no. I invited her over for dinner and was hoping she posted about a restaurant or a meal she liked or something so I could make it for her.”
“That’s actually pretty sweet. And yes, I’ll look through her profiles. She accepted my friend requests so it takes the creep factor way down.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll text you if I find out anything. I hope this works. You two were so good together.”
“We were. And we will be again.”
I end the call, finish my coffee, and get up to go to the gym. Working out always makes me feel better. I mostly lift but decide to hit the cardio today to burn off steam, which ends up leaving me feeling like shit after waking up hungover.
I go home, shower, and fall asleep in bed watching TV. I wake up to a text message from Quinn, saying Charlie’s posted about some fancy pasta dish from the same restaurant a few times. Quinn went so far as to find a “copycat recipe” of the sauce for me and sent a bunch of wine pairing suggestions.