Brooke buffed her against the side of the head. “Missed my point, dumbass.”
“Gee, thanks.” Charlie rubbed her head with a scowl.
“Ever think Owen has a thing for you and not Gina?”
“What’s wrong with Gina? I want her to find someone, and he’s is perfect for her. He’s great with kids, he’s sweet, he’s kind, has a killer ass, and is sexy as hell.”
“Are those Gina’s qualifications in a guy or yours?”
“Everyone’s. What’s not to love?”
“I knew it.” Brooke folded her arms across her chest with a smug. “You’re in love with him.”
Charlie choked out a cough. “Love? Me? No. You’re barking up the wrong tree. It’s all the married sex you’ve been having.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. We’ll see how the double date goes. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. You sure you’re okay with the two of them going out together?”
“Sure. I mean, I pushed them together at the bowling alley, and then for ice cream. I don’t see either one of them complaining.”
Brooke scratched her chin and studied her before raising her all-knowing brow again. “Fine. But I’m keeping a close eye on this situation.”
“Yes, mother.”
“YOU SURE YOU’RE ALL right?” Drew asked him for what felt like the hundredth time of the night.
“Sure. Tired, I guess. I start my mornings early and have been staying up late working on a few projects around the house.” Owen needed something to keep his mind occupied.
For the first time since he cared about anything other than himself, he wasn’t worrying about Olivia. He knew she was safe at Camp Illumination and was having the time of her life. And it wasn’t like he wasn’t used to being alone at home. She only stayed at his house on the weekends during the school year, and four or five nights a week during the summer and school breaks.
Still, those nights he was alone, he worried about her at their mother’s and spent his time making business calls, ordering supplies, writing up estimates.
“I’d offer to help but I’m not exactly handy around the house.”
“You can say that again,” Brooke laughed from across the table and elbowed Drew.
Gina sat to his left and he’d all but ignored her the entire evening—not intentionally—talking to Drew instead. She and Brooke chatted nonstop, so it wasn’t like he’d completely abandoned her. It was another awkward situation Charlie had put him into.
He could avoid another one by having a conversation with her, or with Gina, but avoiding an uncomfortable discussion was more his style. Especially when he didn’t want anything other than a casual relationship.
No. Relationship was the exact wrong word to use. Fling. Fun. Casual date. All things that weren’t Gina. She was the relationship kind. She had a sweet side of her any man who was looking to settle down would be a damn fool to pass up.
“The camp wouldn’t be up and running this summer if it wasn’t for Owen. The jack of all trades, he is. No offense, honey. You’re better in other departments, I’m sure.” She patted Drew’s arm.
Drew squared his shoulders. “I can cook better than Owen. You’d starve if you were stuck with him.”
“At least she’d be warm and would have a roof over her head.” His argument was lame since Drew lived in a beautiful well-maintained house and Owen’s place was barely suitable for an occupancy permit.
“Gina can cook,” Drew offered, his lip twitching in amusement. “You wouldn’t go hungry if she got stuck at your place.”
It was a knee-jerk reaction to look to his left to see her reaction. Even behind the glass of water she held to her lips he could see her reddening cheeks. “What’s, ah, your specialty?” He resisted the temptation to kick Drew in the shins.
“Oh, nothing really. I can’t cook anything like Charlie.”
Using the same tactic Gina had, he picked up his glass of soda and sipped from the straw. Manners would have him redirecting the conversation back to Gina. The four fell into awkward silence as the waiter approached, delivering their meals.
Gina, as polite as a southern belle, asked him about the current house he was working on and made polite conversation about the town, and told stories about Olivia’s camping adventure. She steered away from asking him anything too personal, which he appreciated.
When they’d eaten their fill of burgers and fries, Drew took out his wallet, as did Owen.
“Dinner is on me.”
“Nah,” Drew waved him away. “Forget about it. I got this one.”
“You guys did me a favor by taking Liv these past few days, and with Charlie watching her tonight...” he scratched the back of his neck. “Should we bring something back for her? As a thank you for babysitting?”
Brooke and Drew wore matching grins.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea. How about a piece of cheesecake? She loves cheesecake,” Gina suggested. “Chocolate peanut butter if they have it.”
“Um, sure.” He picked up the laminated dessert menu from behind the ketchup and read through the list. “No chocolate peanut butter. What’s turtle cheesecake?”
“Oh, she’ll love you forever if you bring her dessert.” Gina squeezed his forearm, not in a sensual way, but more so in excitement.
Excitement for Charlie. Gina wasn’t interested in him. She couldn’t be to show so much enthusiasm for him bringing Charlie a treat.
“Now that we have it all figured out,” Drew waved the waiter over, “You can put dinner on my card, but he’s buying dessert.”
Since no one else was ordering any dessert, he asked for Charlie’s cheesecake in a to-go box.”
“Thanks for dinner. Next one’s on me.”
“Then we’re going to do it up right and go for steak and lobster.”
The casual restaurant they’d decided on wasn’t too far out of the way and had an outside eating area. It was perfect for a night out with friends.
Friends. He liked the sound of that. After Owen paid for the cheesecake they piled into Drew’s jeep. Gina slid in the back next to him and placed her hand on his forearm again. “This was nice. Thanks for coming out with us. Next time Charlie will have to come. I feel bad leaving her behind.”
“Sure. I’m pretty easy to please. I don’t get out much, so it doesn’t matter to me.”
“Ouch,” Drew said from the driver’s seat. “You gotta work on your people skills. That one hurt a little bit.” He rubbed his chest in mock pain.
“Oh, please.” Brooke smacked him in jest. “You’re the least people person I know. Owen’s in perfect company with you.”
“Ouch. I guess I had that one coming.”
They all laughed as Drew and Brooke continued with the playful banter all the way back to the camp. The sun had set, and the jeep’s high beams illuminated the lodge as it came to a stop.
“I had a great time.” Gina reached across the seat and gave him a one-arm hug. “I’ll see you around.” She hopped out of the car and disappeared into the dark night.
Brooke and Drew turned in their seats, still wearing those matching grins. “Have a good night, stud muffin,” this from Drew.
“I see why you’re limited in the friend’s department.” To Brooke, he said, “Call me up anytime you need a break from him.”
“Will do. Give us a holler if she gets to be too much for you.”
He had one leg out the door and craned his neck back in the car. “Liv?”
“Yeah. Sure,” they laughed in unison. As soon as he closed the door, Drew peeled out, tapping on the horn as he sped down the dirt road.
The lodge was dark as was the night. A faint light came on in the director’s cabin where Gina had headed.
Laughter echoed from the pond and Drew followed it to the water’s edge, passing the smoldering embers in the firepit. Not far from shore he made out Charlie and Liv’s silhouettes sitting in a canoe. They had those glow in the dark things around their necks and were twirling them around th
eir fingers.
“Hi Owen!” Liv yelled from the quiet pond.
Charlie’s laughter died down as she picked up her oar and paddled them to the dock. He held the canoe steady as Liv hopped out and offered his hand to Charlie.
“I’m good.” She climbed out on her own and then crouched as she dragged the canoe down the side of the dock and up onto the shore. “I had fun with you, girl. Go get some beauty sleep now. I’m sure you’re wiped.” She hugged Liv and headed up the embankment.
“We roasted hot dogs over the campfire and then made s’mores and went for a canoe ride.”
“Sounds like fun.” He took her hand and jogged after Charlie. “Charlie. Wait.”
She stopped at the foot of the steps to the lodge, her back still to them.
“I have to pee,” Liv said. “Can I go say goodnight to Gina? She and Charlie let me go inside their cabin, but the other camps aren’t allowed to.”
“Um, sure. Turn on the flashlight on your phone.”
“I’m not a baby. I know what to do.” She fumbled with her phone until the bright light shone. “See?” She pointed it into Owen’s face, and he held up his hands to shield his eyes.
“At the ground, Liv.”
“Sorry,” she giggled, not the least bit sorry, and ran off toward the latrine.
“Thanks for hanging out with Liv tonight.”
“Sure.” Charlie turned around and tapped her foot, then rotated her ankle around so her flip flop tapped against her foot. “I had fun. I’m sure you all had a great time too.”
“It was nice to hang out with adults.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call them adults. You should see Brooke when she has a few glasses of wine in her.”
“I imagine she’d say the same thing about you,” he teased.
“Maybe.” She sobered. “Not Gina though. She’s a good girl. Good influence. Good morals.”
“I gathered.”
“She likes you.”
“I like her. She’s a nice person.”
“Yup.” Charlie clicked her tongue. “So, I gotta go. Lots to do in the morning to get ready for this weekend’s troop. And then a five-day camp next week.”
“When’s your next day off?”
“The following Saturday. A rare weekend free.”
“Wanna do something?”
“What?” Charlie stepped back, almost stumbling by the rocks near the firepit.
Owen reached out with his free hand to steady her. “Next weekend. You said you’re free.”
She broke free from his grasp and shook her head. “Um no. Well, yes. I can hang out with Olivia while you and Gina go out. Sure. Yeah.” She nodded now, taking more steps away from him.
“Wait.” He took one step toward her. “I, uh.” He lifted the container in his hand. “I brought you cheesecake. It’s a turtle or something.”
“A turtle?” A tiny spark shone in her eyes.
“I don’t know. It has caramel. Gina said you liked chocolate and peanut butter, but they didn’t have any.”
“Oh. Yeah.” And the spark was gone. “Thanks.” She swiped the container from his hand and jogged up the steps to the lodge.
He followed her inside, surprising her on the other side of the refrigerator door when she shut it.
“Oh,” she said again, avoiding eye contact. “Like I said. Gotta go.”
“Wait.” This time when he grabbed ahold of her wrist he didn’t let go. “I don’t need you to watch Liv next weekend.” He didn’t know what he’d do with her, but he had nine days to figure it out.
“That’s cool. Gina adores here. I’m sure the three of you will have a good time doing about anything.”
“True. We would. But I was kinda thinking maybe you and I could go out instead.”
Charlie bit her lip and lowered her gaze to her feet. She shook her head. “I can’t.”
“Can’t or don’t want to.” When she tried to pull away, he tugged her closer. “Tell me now if you’re not interested.”
“Gina...”
“Is a wonderful person.”
“And you...”
“I’m not the greatest of people but I think you already knew that.”
“I can’t do this to her.”
“Actually, I think you’d be doing her a favor.” When she glanced up at him with a scrunched-up face, he lifted his hand to try to flatten the lines above her brow. “I don’t think she likes you constantly trying to throw us together.”
“She said she likes you.”
“And I like her. She’s a nice person. But I’m not interested in her and I’m pretty sure she’s not interested in me.”
She licked her lips again and there was no stopping him this time. Tugging her close until there was nothing but a wisp of air between them, he lowered his mouth to hers.
Sweet, just as he’d expected. She tasted of chocolate and kindness and promises of fun. He kept the kiss simple, not pushing too far, sipping on her lips until he heard Liv stomp up the lodge’s steps.
“I’ll see you next weekend.” He kissed her one more time before releasing her and slipping away into the warm night.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Regina Fisher,” Charlie called as the screen door slapped behind her. “What the hell happened at dinner tonight?”
Gina set her book aside and sat up on her sleeping bag so she was crisscross style. “What do you mean?”
“Did you tell Owen you weren’t interested in him?” She jabbed her finger in the air at Gina.
“I... no.”
“Then why does he think you’re not?” Charlie loomed over her pinning her to her place with a harsh stare.
“What’s going on, Charlie? Why are you so upset?”
“I did everything I could for you two.” She dropped her hand and paced the small cabin. “You’re finally doing better and getting back to your normal self and Owen needs a nice woman to help him with Olivia and whatever other demons he’s battling. I gave him to you and you... you tossed him back? I don’t understand. I thought you wanted to be happy.”
Gina got up and crossed over to her. “I am happy.”
“With Owen.”
“No. I’m happy with life. Or at least, I’m getting there, like you said.”
“What’s wrong with Owen?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why does he think you’re not interested in him?”
Gina now pierced her with a stare. “Why are you so intent that I be interested in him?”
“Because.” She threw up her hands in the air and paced again. It made sense in her head but if she said it out loud Gina would have her committed.
The more she got to know Owen, the more she saw him with his sister, the more tenderness she saw behind his sad eyes, the more she wanted to comfort him. And Charlotte Kellar was the last person on earth who should be comforting anyone.
She wasn’t good enough for him. When it came time for her to settle down, it would be with someone more rough, more tumbled than him. Someone she couldn’t hurt or embarrass like she’d done to the rest of her family.
“Because is a weak argument.”
“Because you’re the better person for him.”
“Don’t you think he and I should be the ones to decide if I’m interested in him?”
“Why don’t you like him then?” She dared Gina to find a singular fault with him.
“I like him a lot. He’s nice, and he’s funny. He and Drew teased each other a lot during dinner. It was nice to see Drew find a friend as well.”
“Your argument is as lame as my ‘Because’. What’s not to like?”
“We don’t click.”
“Click?” Charlie crossed her arms and gave her head a shake. “He clicks with everyone. I saw you guys at the bowling alley, and then this afternoon when he was picking up Olivia. It was...” she swallowed the lump forming in her throat, “cute. You two were laughing. You had your hand on his forearm. You never touch anyone but us sisters and
kids.”
“I hadn’t thought about that.”
“See?” Charlie put her hand on Gina’s arm as she had done to Owen. “It came naturally. Owen has helped you be more comfortable around people.”
“No.” Gina covered Charlie’s hand with her own. “It’s not because of anything... sexual. There’s no chemistry between us. I like him as a friend.”
“Maybe it’s because you see him with Liv. You’re relaxed around him.”
“Wrong again.” Gina clasped Charlie’s hands in hers. “It’s because I don’t see any potential with us. Not when he’s so obviously smitten with someone else.”
“Smitten? Who says that?”
“Anyone who can see the way he looks at you, or how his eyes light up when your name is mentioned. If I thought he was interested in me in the slightest I’d be on edge around him. The fact that I felt completely at ease tonight proves you are the best fit for him.”
“You think so?”
“I’m know so. He does seem hesitant to let anyone too close to him, so you may have to be the one to make the first move.”
Charlie gnawed at her lower lip trying to keep her grin at bay. She failed. Big time. “Too late.”
“For what?”
“For me to make the first move. He kissed me tonight.” She went back to chewing on her lip in an attempt not to show too much excitement.
“Shut up.” Gina gave her a gentle shove. “You’ve been playing me all along, you sneaky brat.”
“No. Really I haven’t.” Her tone grew more somber. “After he left, I felt guilty. Like I cheated on you with him.”
“You mean like he cheated on me with you?”
“No. You come first. Sisters before anyone else.”
“Charlotte Kellar,” Gina swiped at her eyes and put her arms around Charlie. “You are growing soft on us.”
They stood in the middle of the cabin in a sisterly embrace.
“He kinda scares me a little,” she admitted.
“How so?” Gina kept her head rested against Charlie’s.
“When we first met, we joked around and flirted. It was fun. And then... and then something changed between us. There was this spark and then... and then I was afraid to... he needs someone to settle down with and I’m not the right person for him. You are.”
A Thousand Sunsets (Band of Sisters) Page 12
