“Dinner is served!” Eddie called.
We both jumped away from each other as if we’d touched a hot stove. Eddie smirked but didn’t say anything about our closeness and our very public display of affection in his establishment. He dutifully set down two heaping plates of spaghetti and meatballs, the only classy dinner he knew how to make; potato skins and boneless wings just didn’t seem appropriate for the occasion, though he did leave the bowl of peanuts on the table for an appetizer.
Charlie led me back to my chair as Eddie came back with a basket of garlic bread and another bottle of wine. “Thanks, man,” Charlie said.
Eddie patted him on the back. “Anything to make this night go smoothly.”
I watched Eddie retreat into the kitchen. Charlie’s face reddened before he dug into his food, trying to ignore my curiosity.
“What’s so special about this night that it needs to go smoothly?” I asked.
“Nothing. That’s just Eddie being Eddie,” he said, without looking up. “You know how he is.”
“I sure do. That’s exactly why I know he wouldn’t just do all this because he owes you a favor,” I replied. “Charlie, what’s really going on here? And who told you that you weren’t wooing me properly?”
“A mutual friend who wishes to remain anonymous,” he said, then grinned.
I twirled spaghetti around my fork, my mind racing until I cursed and dropped it on my plate with a clatter. “Tammy! She called you, didn’t she? That damn woman. I’m gonna wring her neck for ratting me out!”
“You won’t,” he argued and reached for my hand. “She was right on all counts, and this is my away of apologizing for it.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying...” He paused and swallowed hard, tugging at the collar on his dress shirt. “I’m saying I shouldn’t have been in your face so much, trying to force you to agree to something as crazy as marrying me without, um...”
“Without taking time to figure out if we can work?”
“Yeah, that,” he said, “among other things.”
I sat back in my chair, fiddling with the napkin in my lap as I looked at him doubtfully. “What other things, Charlie? Do you want this to work, you and me...together?”
“Yes, and I know you want the exact same thing.”
“Listen,” I said, “I saw Marlene today. She’d walk down the aisle with you tonight, just for the money. You wouldn’t have to deal with love, commitment, any of that junk. It’d be a business arrangement and nothing more, just long enough to get your inheritance. You don’t have to ask me. There’s a replacement, and her feelings won’t get involved like mine will. In the end, the two of you can happily go from divorce court to the bank, then be on your merry separate ways, no fuss at all.”
“Yeah, I know. She came over to the house just as I was on my way out. She laid it all on the line.”
“Well? Why not? I mean, it’s perfect, just what you want and need. Marlene isn’t too hard to live with. As a matter of fact, she’s perfect for the job. You need to jump on this while you can.”
He brushed a strand of hair out of my eyes. “She’s far from perfect for this role, Jaime.”
“Why? She’s gorgeous, and she meets all the criteria. She’s even funny once—”
“She’s not you.”
“Oh please, Charlie. We both know it’ll be messy and complicated with me. I won’t be able to make a clean break when it’s time for the end. Marlene will, without ever looking back or getting her feelings hurt.”
“I want to get messy with you,” he said, tears welling in his eyes as he looked at me.
“I’m still not sure about all this,” I told him. “It’s a lot to take in.”
“That’s why tonight is just about you and me. Let’s see where things go,” he said and stood from the table. He walked over to my seat and crouched beside me, reaching for my hands that were nervously squirming in my lap. “I don’t want Marlene, Jaime. I only want you.”
“I’m...flabbergasted,” I said, unable to think of a better word at the moment. “I mean, I just don’t know if—”
“Jaime,” he continued, cutting me off by giving my hand a squeeze, “I know we’ve both been holding back, especially you. I get why, but I think it’s time we let go of our worries about tomorrow and just let our hearts make up our minds for once.”
I bit my lip, staring deep into his eyes and waiting for my brain to catch up and tell me why it was such a bad idea, why I should say no and shove him away. Instead, my hands reached up to grab the lapels of his tux jacket, and I yanked him closer, until my lips pressed against his.