Page 60 of Unburdening His Heart

Charlie

My heart is still pounding when I get in the driver’s seat. He has feelings for me, too. I didn’t know what to expect coming over here, but it wasn’t for Andrew to actually open up to me.

Andrea insisted I needed to hear him out. I fought her on coming but finally relented. I’ve suspected he feels the same way, but I needed to hear it, and she knew it.

He’s always so shut-off and stubborn, but I think showing him a vulnerable side of myself helped him open up just a smidge.

Checking my mirrors, I put my car in reverse and back out of the driveway. My tires squeal when I hit the pavement a little too sharply. My mind already races with what this morning meant.

I head back to the café to finish my shift. I still have so many questions about things outside of our feelings for one another. The things he keeps a secret from everyone, so he can carry the weight of those burdens alone in true Andrew style.

I park behind the café and hurry inside. Even though Andrea wanted me to go talk to Andrew, I still feel a pang of guilt for leaving her and Irene to run the café without me here.

Andrea is in the kitchen, prepping lunch items. Thankfully, we’re between the breakfast and lunch rush. I poke my head in Irene’s office to let her know I’m back. She gives me a half grin and a wave.

I wash my hands and go to help Andrea. I’m unusually nervous to hear her thoughts.

“Well?” she asks without looking up from slicing tomatoes for sandwiches.

I grab a head of lettuce and pull leaves off to wash and use for salads and sandwiches. Andrea has always been easy for me to talk to, except when it comes to her brother. I feel like I’m telling her something she already knows, anyway. Although Andrew and I have kept our sexual relationship private, the connection we have is obvious when we’re around each other.

“Well, your brother is a tough nut to crack.” We both giggle, then I sigh. “We’ve admitted we have feelings for each other.” I stop what I’m doing to gauge her reaction.

She stops, too, placing the knife on the counter as she turns to look at me. “That’s it? Just, ‘you two have feelings for each other?’” She waits for me to answer, but I’m unsure what she wants me to say. She seems disappointed.

For Andrew, that’s a major admission. In Andrea’s defense, she also doesn’t know how long Andrew and I have been seeing each other.

I’m a little surprised by her reaction. “That’s a pretty big deal to me,” I say, looking at her quizzically.

She starts to work again, putting the sliced tomatoes in the storage container. She grabs a towel and cleans up the mess left behind. When she finishes, she turns to face me.

“I know it is for both of you, but I could have told you that you two have feelings for each other. Hell, Jack and Irene could have told you that. Addy, too, and she barely knows you compared to all of us!” She chuckles.

I know she isn’t making light of my happiness, but I also don’t understand what she expected.

I shrug. “That will have to be enough for now.” Part of me is settled just from hearing him say it, but the other part? The other part is dying for more. However, it’s obvious he isn’t ready. “And I’m sorry I didn’t say anything.” I look over, worried my best friend will be mad at me.

“Don’t be. A blind man could have seen this coming a mile away.” She smiles gently. “I want you two to be happy, and if that means being with each other, then that’s just icing on the cake.”

Relief floods me at her words. I didn’t know I needed her blessing until just now as a huge weight lifts from my shoulders.

“Now, I am a little disappointed we won’t be able to talk about boys anymore, though.”

I bark out a loud belly laugh. “No talking about my sexcapades with your brother?”

“Absolutely not! And if you do, so help me, Charlie!”

“You’ll what?” I’m kind of tickled at how red she’s turning.

“I’ll put laxative in your coffee!”

That’s it. That does it. I wheeze from how hard I laugh. Full-belly, can’t catch your breath laughing.

“What the hell is going on back here? Charlie, are you having a seizure?” Irene pops around the corner. She’s clearly not actually concerned because I can see a little twinkle of mischief in her eyes.

“Ohhh, my. I can’t… Oh.” I can’t even talk because I’m still doubled over laughing.

Andrea has her hands on her hips, trying to look stern, but the smirk about to break through on her face says otherwise.

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