Page 30 of Wild Child
While Charlie gets her face on, I head out to find us coffee.
There’s a pastry shop across the road, and they’re just putting out the first batch of warm donuts.
But as I bring the offering back to Charlie, I’m pretty sure even her favorite donut isn’t going to mend things.
We barely speak as we set up the truck. I get us breakfast again and Charlie gives me a half smile, but the warmth has gone from her eyes.
She perks up as soon as the gates open and customers arrive. She’s a natural at this, and I admire her ability to talk to anyone. Her confidence hasn’t been diminished by me being an asshole this morning. She smiles and chats with everyone who visits our stall, speaking confidently about our product and upselling like a pro.
She’s wasted working as a waitress in the restaurant. When we get back, I’ll speak to Travis about offering her a job in sales with the brewery. She’s got the personality and confidence for it, and her look fits the brand.
Her mood towards me softens as the day goes on. And I’m even granted a smile when I come back with a chicken burger for her lunch.
By the time I head off for my afternoon meetings, the tension between us has eased and we’re talking together like before.
My afternoon meetings are a mixed bag. I sign on another distributor, and a couple of minor pub chains take preliminary orders.
But my mind’s on Charlie. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her in the shower. How eager she was, how Imade her dance on my palm. Then discovering she was a virgin. She’s not the wild child she makes herself out to be.
I don’t know if I did the right thing by pushing her away. I weighed the facts and made a split second decision that I’m sure is the right one for her. But it feels so darn wrong.
Perhaps when we get back we can spend some time together to see if this attraction is still between us. Maybe it will be different back on the mountain. Maybe I can take her out properly, spend time with her and get Raiden used to the idea. Or maybe she’ll realize I’m too much of an old man for her.
When I get back from my meetings, Charlie is subdued and thoughtful. It’s the last few hours of the festival, and the customers are dwindling. People are heading home, and some stalls are already packing up.
I catch Charlie leaning on the counter, chewing on the end of her nail as she stares out across the field.
“What you thinking about?”
She startles at my voice and shakes her head quickly. “Nothing.” She grabs the last remaining bottles on the counter. “Can we pack up? There aren’t many people left.”
We work in silence, clearing the counter and tidying away supplies. We’ve completely sold out of the award-winning beer and only have a few bottles left of the others.
It’s been a success all around and I should feel elated, but I only feel heavy as we pack up.
We drive in silence back to the hotel. I slide out of the van and head up the steps to the inn, but when I get to the door I realize Charlie isn’t behind me.
She’s standing by the truck holding her oversized purse in front of her. She carries the darn thing around with her everywhere.
“What time you want to eat? I’ll book us a table.”
She kicks at the gravel with her boot and doesn’t respond. An uneasy feeling creeps into my gut, and I backtrack down the steps to get back to her.
“What is it?”
She looks up at me with a sad expression. “I’m not coming back with you, Quentin.”
I frown at her, not understanding what she’s saying. “What do you mean? For dinner?”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m not coming back to Wild Heart Mountain.”
The heaviness in my stomach is so sudden it’s like a punch to the gut. I reach out to steady myself on the side of the truck.
“You’re not coming back to the mountain?” As if saying it again will make it any less true.
She bites her bottom lip. “No.”
“But why not?”
