Page 51 of Stay With Me

An hour later, Charlie and I have unloaded our stash and are seated in a booth at Enzo’s, waiting on the pizza we just ordered.

“Have you noticed anything off with Trina lately,” I ask. “I’m worried about her. She’s been acting skittish lately?”

“Skittish? Trina?” Charlie tilts his head at me, frowning. “I’m pretty sure I’veneverseen her behaving in a way I’d describe like that.” Charlie chuckles.

“That’s because you didn’t know her when she was a teenager, when our parents constantly made her question every decision she made. She was always nervous then. I can’t give you specifics, it’s just she’s acting in a way that reminds me of those times. And I know she probably lets you see things she hides from me, trying to protect me.”

Charlie’s forehead wrinkles and he scratches at his beard. “She’s been a little edgier at work, but she’s always very serious there. I’ll tell you what, I’m working out with her Friday before we pick you up for the shindig at Jack and Annie’s, I’ll see if I notice anything then. Okay?”

“Yeah, okay. Thanks.”

Trina’s taken care of me for as long as I can remember, bearing most of the brunt of our parents’ emotional mind games. I know she protected me from it as much as possible. She’s the strongest woman I know, but I haven’t forgotten the glimpses of strain on her face, or the times I’d see her crying when she didn’t know I was watching. Being regimented and in control is how she learned to cope. But something is off with her now, and I’m concerned about her.

I’m distracted from my thoughts when our server brings our plate of cheesy bread and places it on our table. It looks scrumptious.

“Ooh,” I say. I rub my hands together like a scheming villain.

Charlie picks up a fork and one of the bread plates and scoops a few slices onto it, then slides the plate over to me. He’s so damn thoughtful. I watch him as he plates a few pieces for himself and wonder how no woman has snatched him up and married his ass yet. He’s a catch, for sure. An ugly feeling rises up in me at the thought of Charlie with another woman. I don’t like it. At all.

When the warm cheese and Italian herbs from the bread hits my taste buds, I’m unable to hold back a moan. “So, delicious.”

Charlie’s mouth lifts at one corner, and he chews his food without making embarrassing sex-like moans.

I don’t even care. This bread is better than sex. Okay, maybe I’m only thinking that because it’s been almost nine months since I’ve had any action. Teddy and I were last together late July of last year. Jesus, how could I have been so blind? What newlyweds in their mid-twenties aren’t still having regular sex by the third month of their marriage? I should have known something was wrong.

As if he can sense my mind has drifted to a place that doesn’t benefit me, Charlie clears his throat.

“So, since you’re going to have to be house hunting soon, tell me about your dream house. If you could have any house at all, what would it be like?”

I smile at him. I like this game. “Well, first it would have your kitchen. Iloveyour kitchen.”

“Yeah, but I’m sure you’d change something about it,” he says. He takes another bite of his cheesy bread.

“Nope. It’s literally my dream kitchen. And that’s saying a lot because you know how much I love to cook. I guess the only thing I’d add—because it’s my dream, after all—is a pizza oven out on the deck off your kitchen. Then I could make homemade pizza and try to replicate this cheesy bread.” I take another big bite of my bread.

“Okay. What else?”

“Hmmm. Well, I’d love an amazing bathroom. I saw a bathroom on a home remodel show with a gorgeous, enormous copper soaking tub. It was beautiful. I’d get one of those put in for when I needed to soak after a hard day at work or in the garden—because I’m gonna have a huge garden and grow a bunch of my own veggies and herbs for cooking.”

“Mhmm. That sounds relaxing. You’d get a nice patina on the copper over time, too.”

“Yeah.” I sigh imagining soaking in it. “Like today, after all this lifting we did to move the flooring, it would be so nice to soak in a bubble bath.” I pause and sigh. “Oh, and then my shower. You should see it, Charlie.”

Charlie lets out a throaty laugh. “Tell me about it.”

“Well, it would be nice and big—for two people— and it would be one of those showers with two rainfall shower heads, across from each other.”

Charlie coughs on the bite of food in his mouth and his face turns red.

“Oh, Charlie,” I tease, “don’t be such a prude. Couples shower together, you know.” I’m sure I’ve never seen him truly embarrassed until now, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Okay, okay,” he manages to get out. “I think I’ve heard enough.”

I smirk, impressed with myself for shocking him. Just when I’m about to say more, our server arrives with our pizza and I’m certain it’s relief I see spreading across Charlie’s handsome face.

* * *

CHARLIE

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