Page 37 of Stay With Me

Finally, on the third pull, the snowblower roars to life and Emily’s eyes widen. A huge, gorgeous smile spreads across her face.

“I fucking did it!” she shouts over the loud engine. She throws her hand up for a high-five.

There she is.

I high-five her, proud as shit and happy I got to help her get there. She turns the machine off and restarts it two more times, just because she can. A minute or two later, we head back inside.

“Will you stay for dinner? Trina’s coming over and we’re having homemade beer cheese soup in bread bowls.”

That sounds amazing, much better than the microwave mac n’ cheese I was planning on, but I don’t want to intrude.

“Nah. I don’t want to cut into your sister time.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re staying, I insist. Now come with me and I’ll have you cut the centers out of the bread while I finish the soup. “

I chuckle. It’s very difficult to say no to Emily. At least for me it is—hell, always has been.

She leads me to the kitchen, and we wash our hands then she shows me how she wants the bread bowls cut before she strolls back over to the stove and works her magic with the soup. It smells delicious.

“Hey, Charlie?” I pause my cutting and look over at where she stands at the stove. She’s stirring the soup, staring into the bowl.

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“Thanks for today. For thinking of me and coming over to help me with the snow. But especially for teaching me how to get the snowblower running so I can do it myself. I really appreciate that. You always seem to know what I need.”

Shit.

She doesn’t realize I’d do just about anything for her, no questions asked.

If it were up to me, she’d never have to do any of the crappy, tedious things in life. I’d be happy to do them all for her. But I’ll be damned if I’ll let something make her feel helpless if it’s in my power to teach her.

“Anytime, Em. Anytime.”

CHAPTER16

EMILY

The bass of the music vibrates through my body when Shayna and I walk into O’Riley’s Bar for their New Year’s Eve bash.

Shayna walks in front of me and I check out my work of art, pretty damn impressed with myself for how smokin’ hot I made her look tonight. It was easy though—she’s naturally gorgeous. But, left on her own, she’d dress in a burlap sack every day.

Lucky for her, I have an amazing fashion sense and am happy to share it with my best friend.

When I arrived at her apartment a few hours earlier and she was in jeans and a sweater, I got to work. If anyone deserves a night out, it’s her. She’s a compassionate hospice nurse during the day and kicks ass as the single mom of five-year-old Tommy when the workday ends.

When we spot our friend group, we make our way over to their table and I climb up on the tall chair next to Charlie.

He glances under the table and then looks up at me, grinning, and chuckles.

“I’m pretty sure you’re gonna need help off the chair when you go to stand. Your feet are pretty far from the ground, shorty.”

I snort. “Shorty? I thought my nickname was sunshine?” I challenge him.

“You can be both.” He winks at me, and it warms my insides. I love seeing Charlie relaxed and happy, jovial even.

Jack and Ben stand to give us both kisses on the cheek before Jack heads off to get us drinks.

I scan the bar looking for my sister, she’s supposed to be here. When I don’t spot her, I turn to Charlie.

---