Page 50 of Seal the Deal

A soft knock at the door pulls me from my spiral. For a moment, I think it’s one of the neighbors, but no one ever comes by unannounced. When I open the door, my heart stumbles in my chest.

“Charlie?” I blink, trying to process that she’s standing here in my hallway, casual in a sweater and jeans, but looking like a godsend.

“Hey,” she says, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “I took the afternoon off.”

I’m caught off guard, surprise morphing into relief as I take in the sight of her. “What are you doing here?”I’m so glad you came.

“You’ve been kinda MIA, and I was starting to worry,” she replies casually. “Plus, I sent you some seriously ridiculous texts, and you didn’t even reply. So, here I am.”

I can’t help but smile at that, despite the dark cloud hanging over me.

She smiles back, her eyes scanning mine. “I thought you might need to talk it out. Or, you know, not talk at all. Whatever you need.”

This girl.Her words, her thoughtfulness. The fact that she’s here, that she took the time to check on me. It's something I’m not used to, someone caring like this.

A part of me wants to tell her I’m fine, to shrug it off like I always do. But another part of me, one I’m not used to acknowledging, is relieved she’s here.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I say, but my voice lacks conviction.

She shrugs, glancing around the condo. “I wanted to,” she says simply. “And I’m kinda pissed you didn’t reply to my amazing texts.”

I grin despite myself. “Sorry about that.”

“You should be. I put a lot of effort into those, you know.”

Her light tone, the way she’s trying to bring humor into the situation, makes something inside me unclench. I step back to fully let her in, feeling the tension ease from my shoulders. “Well, I appreciate the effort.”

She nods, venturing into the living room, her eyes roaming the space. “So, this is the famous condo,” she says lightly.

“It’s nothing special. Just a place to crash between games.” I follow her as she moves around the room.

“You don’t really let yourself settle, do you?”

Her words catch me off guard, and I’m not sure how to respond. So instead, I just watch as she walks over to the windows, looking out at the city.

“This place is incredible,” she says, her voice softer now.

I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “Yeah… I don’t know. Doesn’t really feel like home.”

She turns back to me, eyes searching mine. “Whatdoesfeel like home?”

I stare back at her, the question hanging in the air. I’ve never thought about it before, but suddenly it’s clear as day.You. You feel like home.

“I don’t know,” I lie.

She holds my gaze for a beat, then glances toward the kitchen. “Why don’t you sit down?” she suggests, heading toward the counter. “I’ll make us some tea.”

Tea. The simplicity of it almost makes me laugh, but there’s comfort in it too. I sit on the couch, watching her move around my kitchen. Her presence is like a balm to the rawness I’ve been feeling since the game.

She doesn’t push me to talk, doesn’t press for answers I’m not ready to give. She’s just here without fuss or fanfare, and somehow that’s exactly what I need.

As she potters around, she comments on little things she notices—the artwork on the walls, the view from the window. She makes a joke about my perfectly organized kitchen, and I can’t help but laugh, the tension in my chest easing a little more.

“I didn’t mean to worry you,” I say, my voice rougher than intended. I watch as she pours hot water into mugs, the steam curling up in lazy spirals.

The gray light filters through the windows, casting soft shadows across the room, matching the overcast mood inside me. But watching her move around, so calm and sure, it’s like she’s bringing a bit of warmth into the space—and into me.

She glances over her shoulder. “Don’t apologize. Just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

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