Page 35 of For All It's Worth
I’d have loved to have a proper staff room since there were so many employees now but there just wasn’t space. The lease didn’t cover the attached outbuildings in the back of the building. As far as I knew, the landlord used them for the storage of furniture from the two apartments upstairs, which was also not a part of my lease.
When Charlie came out of the office, I took pity on Denver and sent him to the bookstore, taking over his role at the counter so I could chat with Charlie in between serving customers.
“Evan is thinking I can drop to one session a week starting next week.” Charlie sounded over the moon. His eyes were lit with genuine happiness.
“Really? That’s great news!”
“It is, but I don’t think Mom is going to go for it with me moving out, too. She’s going to say that it’s too soon with such a big change happening.”
“What did Evan say?”
“He has no concerns about the move since it’s with someone I know.”
“Even though you haven’t known him long?” The petty jealousy was out in force.
“Will’s known him for about a year, Andy a bit longer, I think. Mom has met Henry, at the engagement party, remember?” He reminded me and my stomach swooped. If that feeling of being left out ate at me, I couldn’t begin to imagine how Charlie felt.
“I wasn’t there, Charlie.”
His face fell when he realized his mistake and he moved to wrap me in a hug, his instinct to soothe me, one that I was getting used to. I’d never relied on him like this before and I both loved it and hated it.
Pressed against the firm muscles of his chest, I could tell that the gym was really working for him. I took a breath of Charlie’s smell. Laundry detergent, his shower gel, and that warm skin smell all mixed together with that hint of something that was just him.
“Shit, sorry. I hate thinking of the stuff we both missed out on because of my fucked up life,” he said into my hair.
I patted his back. “It’s okay.” I tried to joke with him to lighten the mood. “I’m just worried you’re going to try and replace me with Henry.”
“Not a chance.” His words were firm and there was so much affection in his gaze as he pulled back from the hug. Also a dash of something else, maybe a reluctance to pull away? Likely I was projecting my own need onto him and seeing things that weren’t there.
The bell going again had us pulling further apart but not far enough that I didn’t feel Charlie going rigid next to me. I flicked a glance at him, noticed his worried look, and glanced at who had walked in.
“Hey, Dr. Cross.”
I saw Charlie jerk out of the corner of my eye, having moved forward to greet Dr. Cross.
A look passed between the doctor and my best friend which was loaded.
“Hey Evan, didn’t know you came here,” Charlie finally said to Dr. Cross, who had stayed silent.
“Hey Charlie, yeah, I’m in here pretty much daily, except this last couple of weeks which have been busy and had me missing a few days here and there. Must have been why I never put two and two together.”
My mouth must have been almost on the counter. “Dr. Cross is Evan?” I squeaked out.
Evan laughed, “Back to Dr. Cross, am I?”
God, if you’re there, make me invisible right now!
Charlie looked at me, confused, and I knew I’d have to say something so he didn’t ask Dr. Cross, no, Evan, what the hell he meant.
“Long story, tell ya later.”
Obviously not mollified, but unwilling to push it after the look I gave him, Charlie turned to Evan to take his order.
Evan’s light blue eyes were filled with mirth as he observed us.
“How did I not realize the Max that runs this place is your Max?” Dr. Cross mused aloud, delight sparking in those light blue eyes.
“Owns,” Charlie corrected firmly at the same time I repeated, “Your Max?”
