Page 51 of Must Love Bees
Charlie nodded his thanks and stood aside while the girls said their goodbyes. All the hugging seemed a little unnecessary but no one was hugging him so he let it go. With any luck, he’d get out of there without any further incident.
No such luck.
“I’m sorry about your shirt.” Astrid stood, waiting for him. “It was an accident.”
“That’s a relief.” He wished she wouldn’t smile at him like that. No, that wasn’t true. He liked her smile. He especially liked it when she was smiling at him.Dammit.
“It will be clean when you come to dinner tomorrow.” She pulled her hair over one shoulder, drawing him in.
Had he agreed to that? Coming back? Putting himself in the same predicament all over again? “I’m coming to dinner?”
“I hope so.” It was a whisper.
The strangest sensation rose up inside. Not pain. More like warmth. Not the smothering panic-attack clammy warmth he was all too familiar with. This was different. Almost buoyant. He was warm—all of him. Because of her.
“Good night, Charlie.” Her words ran together.
“Night.” He cleared his throat. “Good night, Astrid. Thank you.” Just when he thought her smile couldn’t get any brighter, he was wrong.
He didn’t say a word on the drive home. While he gave Nova her bath, he let her chatter on about her day and how they needed a dog and the Hills were wonderful. He was trying to make sense of the evening. Magnolia had said Astrid wanted to keep him. It had been a strange thing to say. What did it mean, exactly? Even when he was lying on his makeshift bed in the dining room, with Nova and Halley snoring soundly on their mattresses, the words taunted him. Eventually, the steady whir of the small window air-conditioning unit lulled him into a restless, Astrid-filled dream.
CHAPTER NINE
ASTRIDKNOCKED.It was almost nine but there were no noises coming from inside the house. “I hope we’re not waking them up.” Which wasn’t likely. Knowing Charlie, he’d been working for hours.
Oatmeal wagged his tail.
She adjusted the basket on her arm and waited.
Oatmeal whimpered.
“I think we should wait a minute longer before we knock—”
“Astrid.” Halley opened the door, all smiles. “Come in. Ooh, what’s in the basket?”
“Breakfast and lunch for Charlie. Aunt Camellia is making pancake batter right now.” After the girls had gone on about the yummy pancakes at Delaney’s, Aunt Camellia was determined to show them whatrealhomemade pancakes were like. Food was definitely Aunt Camellia’s love language.
“She is?” Halley stepped back. “I’m dressed. Nova’s getting ready now.”
Astrid followed Halley across the stifling entry hall to the closed doors of the dining room. “How’s your morning going?”
“Pretty good.” Halley opened the door.
The room was a mess. Blankets, sheets and pillows were in piles. Several stuffed animals and books scattered around. And Charlie—sound asleep on his makeshift bed on the floor.
“Charlie. Astrid is here.” Nova knelt beside him on his bed, shaking his arm. “Charlie, wake up.”
Poor Charlie. “Maybe we should let him sleep?” she whispered.
“His phone’s been pinging all morning.” Halley shook her head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He never—ever—sleeps this late.”
“I normally don’t have a tiny ninja in bed with me, either.” His eyes slowly opened and he ran a hand over his face. “Morning.”
“Is that me? Am I the tiny ninja?” Nova smiled down at him. “You were sleeping loud, Charlie.” She imitated what sounded like a bear growling. “Like that. Over and over.”
Astrid giggled.
Charlie sat up and stretched. “I’m not sure I was really sleeping.”
