Page 20 of Seeking Happily Ever After

Apparently humor had won out.

It was the right choice. Nick burst into laughter and gave a shake of his head before ushering her inside. “I guess you’re right,” he said as she walked into the small space.

And it really was small.

Well, in comparison to her childhood bedroom that she was currently staying in, it was spacious. But for two people and a baby, especially when those two people weren’t really a couple, it might as well have been one of those tiny homes that were all the rage.

A tiny home crammed with baby equipment of all kinds. Char spotted a play pen, a swing, a play mat, one of those bouncer things, a high chair, and more stuffed animals and plastic toys than she could count.

“It looks like a toy store blew up in here.”

“How was your meeting with Steph?”

Char turned around and open-mouthed stared at him. “Seriously? You want to talk about that right now?”

He pulled his glasses off and pinched the bridge of his nose. It was a surprisingly endearing action and Char felt a twinge of guilt for her sarcasm.

“Yes,” he said after a moment as he put his glasses back on his face. “And also, no. I mean, we have a lot to talk about, don’t we?”

“Sure do.” She tugged the strap of her tote bag up onto her shoulder a little higher, suddenly uncomfortable in the space. “Look, Nick. I’m really sorry—”

“I want to thank you for—”

They spoke at the same time, tripping over each other’s words.

“Sorry,” Char said with a smile.

“No. You go first.” Nick waved toward the couch and gestured for her to sit, but Char moved instead closer to the swing where baby Amelia rocked gently, sound asleep.

“She’s so sweet,” she said more to herself before taking a deep breath. “I really do need to apologize, Nick.” She turned around and her breath hitched in her throat. She wished she didn’t have such a physical reaction to him every time she saw him. But it didn’t seem to matter what he was doing or saying; it always seemed to catch her off guard a little.

“I shouldn’t have jumped in like that at the coffee shop. It just…she asked who…well, it was presumptuous and risky and I’m really sorry if I’ve messed everything up. I know how important Amelia is to you, and I know I don’t know the situation, and it’s none of my business either. But I shouldn’t have done what I did and I’m really sorry.” Tears pricked at her eyes as for the very first time, Charlotte realized just how reckless and damaging her behavior might have been.

She’d been selfish and stupid, and if she’d done anything to put Nick’s custody arrangement in jeopardy, she’d never forgive herself. She wouldn’t blame him if he was angry. No. Pissed off. Furious.

Char blinked hard and looked down at her feet, unable to make eye contact with him.

“Are you finished?” he said after a moment, a trace of humor in his question.

She nodded without looking up.

“Good,” he said. “Please sit, Char. We have a lot to talk about, and I need to thank you properly.”

Her head shot up. “Thank me?”

Nick nodded. “Of course. I mean, you could have given me some warning, sure. But I needed a fiancée, and you stepped up without even a second thought. That’s a pretty freaking big deal. Thank you.”

It was a big deal. Bigger than she’d originally thought, but…

“But honestly, I thought you were kidding about needing a wife. The other day…when I ran into you…”

He shrugged. “I wasn’t really kidding.”

“I guess not.” But it still didn’t make sense. Nick didn’t seem like the type of guy to go into such an important meeting without a plan. She turned and paced toward the window. When she spun around again, he was standing directly behind her, and she almost smacked right into him. “What were you going to do? I mean, before I butted in?”

“I wish I could say I had some great plan, but there was nothing I could do. I filed as a single man, and I was hoping my sparkling personality would win her over.”

“So, I—”

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