Page 14 of A Sublime Casualt
My head ticks back with the thought. “Hell yes, she is. Gabby nailed it. But I highly doubt she had anything to do with this. They were like sisters. In fact, my youngest sister Nikki used to get jealous. It was an insane period of my life. The only part I would want back is Lizzy.”
“Okay.” She closes her eyes a moment, and I’m mesmerized by the gold shadow on her lids as it glimmers in the candlelight. “She went missing then, seemingly into thin air. What about her ex-husband? Ex-husbands are classic prime suspects. Any ongoing discord there?”
“Thomas is a saint.” There are no truer words. “He married Lizzy after all. According to both parties, she was the reason for the split. Prior to it, they were hot and cold. And believe me, both extremes had something to do with my sister.”
“Lizzy sounds like a spitfire.” She grins as she takes in a forkful of mac and cheese.
“She was,is. Lizzy loved Thomas. If either of them were to be accused of a crime of passion, it would be Lizzy. Trust me on that one. I’ll introduce you to Thomas if you want. He’s a good guy. I miss seeing him at the holiday table. Speaking of which.” I saw through my steak a moment, unsure if she’s ready for this. “Do you have any plans for Thanksgiving? I’ve got Thursday and Friday off, so I’m pretty psyched about all the turkey and football I can handle. Best combination.”
Her mouth opens and closes. “Gabby always invites me to tag along with her, but the Foxworthys are in another Ivy League, so I kindly bow out.” She saysIvyin air quotes. “And I’m right there with you about the turkey and football. I usually make a giant turkey and gravy sandwich and curl up under the covers while watching TV. It’s nice. The Hideaway is closed, so there’s nothing to do but relax.”
“How about we do it together? Come out to my mother’s with me. I’ve got a big, obnoxious Greek family. You’ll love them, I promise. My sister Nikki would love to meet you. So would my mom.”
“Mom,” she echoes, her eyes wide with wonder. “It melts me to hear you say that word. Is that silly?”
“Nope. It’s adorable to hearyousaythat.” I pin a quick grin.
She grimaces as if unsure. “IsI’ll think about ita good enough answer?”
Charlie Neville is a tough nut to crack, but I like the challenge. “For now.” We finish up our meals and claw through a piece of chocolate double lava cake together. It feels intimate sharing a plate with her, special. The check comes, and I drop a few bills onto the table before taking off. I lead her out the front and head for the street.
“Hey, the truck is that way.” She giggles, running just a bit to catch up with me, and I take her by the hand.
“But the store is this way. I’m getting you a phone.”
“What?” She lights up the night with her laugh. “No way. Gabby called it. I’m a cord cutter.”
“That has nothing to do with having something in your pocket that can help you at all times.”
Charlie wraps her arms around my waist and pulls me around to an abrupt stop. Her body bounces over mine, warm, and the scent of her sugary perfume makes me want to dive a kiss down over her lips. The navy sky expands above us, sparkling with a million stars like crushed diamonds. The moon has washed all of Wakefield an ice blue, and Charlie glows like an angel, like another worldly being.
“I can’t let you do this,” she whispers as if fighting back tears and, sure enough, they’re already glinting in her eyes.
“You can’t stop me either. Look, I know there might be a financial reason that you’re not interested, but I’m due for a new phone myself. And they’re having a sale. Buy one, gift one to a friend. I choose you, Charlie. You, my friend, are getting a phone. I’ll put you on my account. I’ve got space for three people. You can call New York. You can call the moon. I don’t care. I just want to be able to talk to you at all hours of the day if I feel like it. Feel free to block me if you want. I might care, but that’s not the point. My grandmother has a smart phone. It’s only fair someone as smart as you has one, too.”
She struggles with a smile, but it wins out in the end. “You put up a good fight, you know that?”
“Am I winning?” I brush the loose hair off her forehead and fight like hell the urge to kiss her. The kiss is coming I can feel it. Unstoppable as the sun rising in the morning.
“Just this once.” She shakes her head. “But I want all the information on getting my own plan. I can do this.” She winces. “Just not today.”
“I promise I don’t mind.” The air thickens around us, electrifying like a downed wire bouncing dangerously over an ocean of water. Kiss her, you damn fool. I try to will myself to do it, but I’d hate for the night to end in rejection. Phone first.
We head into the cellular store, and Charlie and I each get a brand-new phone right out of the box, fresh as a daisy. I get a new wallet case for mine, leather, and Charlie opts for a clear hard shell to show off her rose gold finish. I ante up, and we take off for the truck. I drive her back to the condo, parking a good few meters from the gate, so naturally I get out and walk her over. Here it is, do or die. And God, I’m going to die if I don’t taste that smile of hers.
“Thank you for a good time.” She dips her hands into her coat pockets. No holding hands. First dismal sign of the night. But it’s cold, and I’m still holding out hope. “Dinner was great. I really appreciate you sharing those things about your sister.” Her affect sobers up. “I think we should go back and speak to Thomas and Miles. Hey, is Neil friends with them? I mean, did he know them before her disappearance?”
“He knew Thomas. Neil is a good friend of the family. As for Miles—” I blow out a quick breath, and a plume of white fog eats the expanse between us. “I think he mentioned something about having a few run-ins with him beforehand. Miles is what we like to call aneasygoing troublemaker. Stoner, mellow most of the time. Stupid all the time.”
“Got it. I just thought maybe his opinions of them might be tainted. It might be time to go back and see if their stories are still the same.”
“It’s called an alibi.” Great. Correct her. Women love to be corrected. Nothing turns their engine faster than a reprimand.
She gives a light laugh and slaps me lightly over the cheek. “Oh, honey. I know all about those. In fact, I think I can teach you a lesson or two.” She offers a quick peck to my cheek before bolting through the gate and saying goodnight.
“Goodnight!” I shout back, grinning like a loon. My hand rises to my cheek, and I hold it there. She kissed me. We might not have busted through a ream of condoms tonight, but at least I got to first base. Okay, so I walked—but hell, we arrived.
I’m still not sure if we’re stuck in the friend zone. A part of me wants to say I wouldn’t mind—but my head, both of them, and my heart say I would.