Page 9 of Love Me Tender, Love Me Brew
Without meeting his gaze, Charlotte says the first thing that pops into her head. “I had to go back and get my sweater and I didn’t make it in time to catch the bus. Reba wasn’t out of class yet, and I didn’t feel like asking anyone else for a ride. It’s all good.”
“If you ever get into a bind, I can always get my dad to swing by and pick you up.”
“Okay. I’ll remember that next time. Although I hope I don’t run off and forget my sweater again. Not with the cooler weather that we’re having. I’m not sure I’m ready for winter.”
“You haven’t experienced cold until it gets below freezing,” he chuckles.
She feels bad for being dishonest about the shuttle, but once he’s had his audition, she’ll confess why she did it.
Two days go by and Edwin has yet to say anything about getting a phone call. She double and triple checked that all of his information was filled out correctly, so why hasn’t anyone reached out to him? Did he not pass the initial screening?
Rather than worry herself sick about it, she tries to keep busy with work. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done.
At a quarter til five, she notices Edwin looking at his phone. Leaning over to tell Niecy something, he walks from behind the counter and heads to the back, his phone still clutched in his hand. Charlotte doesn’t want to make it obviousthat she’s eavesdropping, but she’s dying to know if it’s the talent show. Time is running out and surely he made the cut.
“Hey, I’m going to the back for a minute,” she calls out to Niecy. “I’ll be right back.”
With his back towards her, she quietly walks up behind Edwin and waits for him to turn around.
“But I didn’t…okay…are you sure you don’t have me mixed up…” he says to the person on the other end of the phone. “Yes, that’s my address.”
Charlotte bites down on her bottom lip. Her hands begin to sweat profusely while her heart pounds heavy in her chest.
“I’ll have to check my schedule…”
Edwin, you have to do this. Tell them you’ll be there.
“Ten o’clock is good…”
Sliding his phone into his pocket, he jumps when he turns around to see Charlotte standing a few feet away. “That was weird.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Someone submitted an application with all of my information for the Tahoe’s Got Talent show. They wanted to set up a time for me to audition.”
“Edwin, that’s wonderful!” she exclaims, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Chapter
Eight
“I’m confused, though.” Folding his arms across his chest when he pulls away, he wrinkles his forehead. “How did they…I can’t believe my mom would do such…”
Charlotte stares down at the floor as tears begin to pool in the corners of her eyes. When she’d walked out of the casino a few days away, she’d felt confident that she was doing the right thing. Now, not so much. If anything, seeing the expression on Edwin’s face, confirms she made a terrible mistake.
“She’s talked about it non-stop ever since she found out they were coming here. She’s got this crazy obsession with Kevin Conrad, the dude that hosts the show. I love to perform, just not…” his voice trails off.
“I’m sorry, Edwin. I’m so sorry.”
“I have a good mind to call her right now and—” Pulling his phone back out, he angrily swipes his finger over the screen and begins to scroll through his saved numbers.
“Edwin, no!” Charlotte exclaims, placing her arm on top of his. “You can’t do that!”
“This has nothing to do with you. I’ll feel better once I speak to her and get it off of my chest.”
Realizing the situation is about to get a whole lot worse, Charlotte knows she has to say something. “It was me. I’m the one who signed you up.”
Embarrassed and ashamed, she removes her apron and rushes from the back room. Feeling the stares as she heads towards the entrance, she doesn’t stop until she’s at the end of the sidewalk, waiting for the signal to cross. She bends over, resting her hands on the tops of her legs while she struggles to catch her breath.
