Page 20 of Of Course, Cutie

I swallowed— it was definitely a gulp this time. “Yes. Thank you.”

“Of course, cutie.” He winked at me and took the glass from my hands, letting his fingers brush against mine. His touch sent a shock through my system, like the sweetest fucking torture.

The front door opened, and a group of guys in ties and button-down shirts wandered into the bar. I cleared my throat and picked up my backpack. “That’s my cue to leave. I’ll see you on Saturday! Tell Tess that I’m excited to see her.”

Burke nodded and rubbed his beard a final time before turning to his customers. I headed over to say goodbye to Evan and Sienna. I kicked the back of my brother’s knees, making his legs buckle a little. “Goddamn-it, Charlie.” Evan laughed and turned to pull me in for a hug. “Are you heading out?”

“Yep.”

“Give mom and Sophia a hug for me.”

I snorted. “Not Bea?”

Evan laughed. “Bea, too. She’s usually too pissy for hugs, so I didn’t want to subject you to her moods.”

“The girl just needs a night out.”

“When’s Jack taking Sophia? Aren’t they supposed to be working out a shared custody thing?”

I shrugged. Our ex-brother-in-law was a fucking tool and a shit dad. “We don’t trust Jack with Sophia. Remember when Bea was with dad, and Jack let baby girl fall down the stairs because he was playing video games?”

Evan clenched his jaw. “Right. Asshole.” My brother ran his hands through his hair and glanced over at me. “You know what, I’ll come over tomorrow and give everyone hugs myself, okay?”

I laughed. “That would probably mean more, dude. See you tomorrow.” I waved at Sienna and headed out the door, but not before stealing one more glance at Burke. He was busy pouring drinks for his customers, but he paused to give me a wave and a smile.

Shut up, heart. Work with me lungs.

I pulled out my phone as I walked to my car to send Matteo a text. Mattie-boy!!!! Burke invited me to watch movies with him and his daughter on Saturday! I’m freaking the fuck out! What should I wear?

YES, GIRL!!!!! Um, we’re going shopping as soon as I get off work. You’re getting DICK this weekend!!! I’m so happy for you! I have tears in my eyes. I’m crying, Charlotte!

My heart raced as I drove home. I was not getting dick this weekend. I was watching Tinkerbell movies with Burke and his six-year-old daughter. What about that scenario equaled dick?

But I was thinking about dick. I was imagining what it would feel like to have Burke between my legs. Bea told me that sex hurt like hell for her the first time, but her first time was with Jack, and he was an asshole. Damn, Bea had probably never had good sex in her life.

When I arrived at my mom’s house, Sophia wandered around the living room, dumping out buckets of toys on the gray oriental rug. My sister was curled up on the couch, staring at her phone with red-rimmed eyes.

I scooped Sophia up in my arms and covered her soft squishy cheeks with kisses. “Hi, angel-face! Hi, baby girl! I love you love you love you!” Sophia squealed and struggled in my arms, so I set her back down to resume her destruction of the living room.

“Bea, you good?” I asked and collapsed next to my sister on the gray sectional.

She rolled her baby blue eyes and tucked her blonde hair behind her ears. “No.” Her lower lip trembled, and she tossed her phone on my lap. I picked it up and saw Jack’s stupid face on the screen. He had his arm around a skinny little brunette that wore way too much makeup and not enough clothes.

“Can I troll him? I’m gonna troll him.”

Bea let out a sob and snatched her phone from my hands. “Why is my life falling apart? Why is everything so hard? I can’t do this anymore!”

I slid my arm around my older sister and kissed the top of her head while she cried. “You have to keep doing it for Sophia. You have to.” Bea’s body shook with grief, and I hugged her tighter. “Hey, I’ll watch the spawn tonight. Go to Evan’s bar and get trashed. He’ll let you drink for free.”

Bea nodded and swiped at her tears, smearing her mascara. “Yeah. He’s told me that a few times.” She hiccupped and covered her face with both hands. “I should, right? I need to get trashed and stop thinking about everything.”

“Yes.”

Bea let out a shuddering breath. “Okay. Okay, I’m gonna do it. Thanks, Charlie-girl.” She squeezed my hand and let out a dry laugh. “It’s always been funny to me that I’m ten years older than you, but sometimes I feel like you’re the big sister.”

I laughed, too. “Well, when you’re the youngest, you get to watch everyone and soak up their wisdom.”

“You didn’t get any from me, that’s for damn sure!” Bea wiped her tears again and then tried to smooth her hair. “I think you were born already grown up, Charlie.”

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