Page 18 of Take Two

My heart starts to beat fast after her statement, and I wonder if Charlie would be coming with them. I don’t give myself time to think. I slip out and go up to my apartment to shower.

The place is back in order. Before Charlie left this morning he insisted on cleaning up even though he cooked. I let him help before kissing him thoroughly and sending him on his way.

After showering and washing my hair, I add some gel and let it curl. I put on a pair of white yoga pants, a matching sports bra, and throw on a green open-back sleeveless tank. I grab a new pair of white sneakers, put them on, and return to the gym. I’mthere barely a minute before Victoria emerges from the locker room, looking beautiful in a short, yellow sundress.

“You can leave that in my office,” I tell her, gesturing at her backpack. “I’ll bring it to you at our next session, or you can come pick it up.” I buzz my office door open and watch as she drops the bag in the corner. She comes back to the lobby at the same time that I see her husband and kids outside. I buzz them in, and my heart sinks when I don’t see Charlie.

But a few seconds later, he catches the door before it closes. He’s in another pair of shorts and a plain black T-shirt that drapes across his broad chest. He looks around the gym until his eyes land on mine. I smile at him, and he winks. If I wasn’t in a room full of people, I’d swoon. I make sure no one is watching, and I blow him a kiss. He grins, and so do I.

“Mama!” the baby says, pointing at his mother. He reaches for her, and she takes him from Colt. He’s dressed in the same baseball uniform as his brother, even though he’s way too young to play. Vickie kisses him and bends down to kiss Evan.

“We gotta go,” Evan says. “Come on.” I wave at everyone as they walk toward the door. I follow them only to get closer to Charlie, and His fingers trail down my arm as he walks out. A few seconds later, my phone buzzes.

Charlie: 6ish?

Me: Perfect.

“Mmhmm,” he says as soon as he walks through my front door hours later. “I’ve been wantin’ to do this all day.” He deepens the kiss and I open my mouth for him. He wraps his arms around me, and his large hands rest on my ass.

“Oh,” I yelp when he squeezes my ass hard. I surprise him and jump into his arms. He catches me without so much as a flinch. When I wrap my legs around him, I bend down and take him in a deeper kiss. He’s just as hungry for me as I am for him. He only stops after my stomach growls.

“I was going to cook for you for a change, but I fell asleep after I got home. I’ll take you out to dinner instead,” I offer. He puts me down on my feet, cups my cheeks, and gives me a chaste kiss. It’s this kiss that makes me blush.

“I can make us some—”

“Nope,” I say before he can finish. “I’m feeding you for once. No arguments. There’s this restaurant I think you’ll like just a couple of blocks away. Then we can come back here.” I wiggle my brows at him.

He takes my hand, kisses it, and leads me out the front door. We hold hands like two lovers would while we take the short walk to the restaurant.

It’s a beautiful summer evening, and we are seated outside. After turning down the cocktail menu, we’re served two waters. We laugh and talk over appetizers of conch fritters and virgin piña coladas. At one point, he puts a hand on my lap and squeezes my knee. When he does that, I lean over and we share a greasy kiss.

“There’s somethin’ I want to talk to you about,” he says. I look up and wait for him to continue. “My brother and Vickie have been on me to tell them who I was with last night. Since we didn’t talk about it, I didn’t give them your name.”

I’m given a reprieve from responding right away when our server delivers our entrees. Despite eating the appetizers, my stomach growls at the smell and sight of the shrimp and scallop pasta dishes placed before us.

After the server adds shaved parmesan, she smiles at us and leaves.

“Do you not want them to know about us?” I ask. My stomach sinks a little at the thought. This was never meant to be a secret, but his sister-in-law is my client, so maybe I crossed a line I shouldn’t have.

“Of course, I want them to know. This isn’t a secret. At least not for me,” he says, and I let out a breath of relief. “I don’t do anything in secret, Violet. That implies shame, and I could never be ashamed of you.” He lifts his hand from my lap and strokes my cheek.

“I don’t want this to be a secret either. I like you, Charlie,” I admit.

He takes a deep breath. “I’m not interested in seein’ anyone else. I deleted the dating app,” he confesses. “I never really wanted to do it, and I’m glad things didn’t work out with Tiffany.”

“Oh,” I say, shocked by that confession. “Um, I’m not interested in anyone else either, but there’s the matter of you living in another state. I don’t even know how long you’ll be in New York.”

“Well, I’m here until the third week of August, so about another month. We’re two adults. We can figure out a way to be together. It’s only a three-hour flight, and we can take turns.” I do a mental calculation of what that would look like. I own a business, and although I don’t work as much on the weekends, I still work. He owns a business as well, and despite his summer off, I can’t imagine he’ll be able to take off every other weekend to visit me here.

“Be together?” I ask. “As in—”

“As in I don’t want to be with anyone else. I like you, and I think we have a connection.” He runs his hand over his face. “I haven’t done this since high school,” he laughs. “I want to be in a relationship with you.”

“Like be my boyfriend?” I tease when I see the blush creeping up his neck and face.

“Yes.” He takes both my hands. “I’m definitely getting the better end of the deal since you’re so pretty and sweet.” Now it’s my turn to blush. “All you’re getting is a recovering alc—”

I pull my hand away and put my finger to his lips. “I’m getting someone handsome, kind, and sweet. Don’t talk shit about my boyfriend, Charlie. I’ll fight you.” I make a fist at him. He wraps his big hand around my wrist and kisses my fist.