Page 50 of For All It's Worth
Chapter Twenty One
Charlie
BeforeIrealizedit,I was standing in front of Farmer’s Fitness. The blocks I’d walked to get here hadn’t even registered, my thoughts still tied up in Max, our kisses, and the fact that in less than twenty-four hours we would be going on our first date.
When I had monumental news like this before I would turn to Max, but now I wasn’t sure who I should talk to.
I paused outside and sent Will and Andy a text in the group that I’d set up the previous week. Sometimes I felt awkward talking to Andy without Will, so it was easier to have Will included so he could see there was nothing underhanded going on. I knew that he trusted Andy implicitly, but me, not so much. And that was okay. We were a work in progress and with every uncomfortable family dinner we endured, we got a little bit further down the road to making it work for real.
Alex was a different situation, but I’d work on that once everything just slowed down a bit. I didn’t have the spoons for his drama.
Charlie: I have a date tomorrow! Freaking out
Andy: Max? Please say Max.
Will: Better be Max *angry emoji*
I let out a snort at their replies but realized with a start that they already knew about my feelings for Max.
Charlie: Yes Max. How?
Waiting for their replies, I paced outside for a minute and caught a glimpse of Henry watching me as I moved back and forth in front of the automatic door.
“Knock that shit off, Charlie!” he bellowed at me and several people inside were startled. One woman let out a yelp and then laughed at herself.
I stopped and gestured that I’d just be a minute as my phone vibrated in my hand. I’d taken to putting it on silent, or at least vibrate since Mom had kept blowing up my phone while I was working and hadn’t changed it back.
Andy: About freaking time!
Will: You’ve been into him forever. He’s just as bad.
Andy: He really is from what I’ve heard.
I laughed at our transparent behavior. I hadn’t realized I’d been so obvious.
Charlie: Well I’m freaking out about it. What do I do? Where can I take him?
Another few minutes passed as the little dots showed that both my brother and Andy were typing and I smiled at the thought that they were probably sitting on their couch together, sniping at each other's suggestions and blurting out ideas.
Andy: Lunch, walk in the park or go to an art gallery or something Max is interested in. Movie. Early dinner.
I thought that through. The plan was decent. I could take Max to the Botanical Gardens and then maybe he could help me find something for Andy’s birthday, which was soon.
Charlie: Sounds good. Low key. Thanks.
Stowing my phone in my pocket, I turned to head inside when it vibrated again. Opening the message from Will, I was met with a picture of Andy sitting on a blue couch with a glossy black cat in his arms. The cat was resting its head on Andy’s shoulder and I could hear the contented purr through the image. Its eyes were closed in a blissful expression.
Will: Lucifer joined the family today.
I choked on air. Who the fuck called their cat Lucifer?
Charlie: Seriously????
Will: Unfortunate name but he’s a great cat. He loves Andy and the feeling is mutual.
Looking at the photo again, I noted Andy’s serene expression and decided that a name was irrelevant when the cat was capable of making Andy that happy.
Charlie: Yeah I see that. The cat is cute.
