Page 26 of Fake Out

Somehow, my rational voice comes to the forefront. It reminds me what’s really at stake here. If I make things complicated with Charlie, I’ll be risking it all.

“More coffee?” I pop to standing and grab both our mugs.

Is that disappointment on his face? I can’t tell, and I don’t want to know. If I’ve just missed an opportunity at something wildly passionate, then I’m okay with ignorance.

“It’s kind of late,” he says.

“And we still have hours of work ahead of us.” I make my way to the coffee pot. “We haven’t even gotten to the serious stuff yet.”

“Sure. Thank you.” He stretches his arms above his head. “What’s next?”

“Family history.” I start a fresh pot and turn around to face him.

He makes a face. “Okay.”

“I know,” I say sarcastically. “Super fun stuff.”

“What should I know about you?”

“Let’s start with the basics.” I take a deep breath. “My parents are still married, living in Lake Forest. They met in college and have been together ever since.”

Charlie remains silent, listening intently. The tension in his shoulders betrays his unease about this topic. But we must continue.

“I also have an older sister named Jenna,” I continue. “She’s a lawyer, married with two kids. We’re close, even though she lives halfway across the country. I try to visit as often as I can.” My voice trails off, leaving an opening for Charlie to chime in with his own story.

He hesitates, running a hand through his hair before looking down at his lap. His reluctance is understandable, but if we want to pull off this ruse, we need to know each other inside out.

“Charlie,” I coax gently. “We need to do this right. I won’t judge you, I promise.”

He looks up at me, his eyes filled with a vulnerability I haven’t seen before. After a brief pause, he finally starts talking. “You’re right. We need to do this properly.”

“Thank you.”

“Growing up, my family was… complicated.” His voice wavers slightly. “It wasn’t always easy, but we managed.”

“Tell me more,” I encourage, wanting to understand the man beneath the tough exterior.

“My mom was a nurse,” he says, staring off into the distance. “She worked long hours, but she always tried her best to be there for me. I appreciate that now, even if I didn’t back then.”

“Sounds like a strong woman,” I comment, imagining the sacrifices she must have made.

“Yeah, she is,” he agrees, a hint of pride in his voice. “But it wasn’t easy on her, especially after… well, things changed.”

“Changed?” I prompt, curious about the story hidden behind his words.

“Let’s just say my family dynamics shifted when I was younger, and it wasn’t for the better,” he admits, his voice barely audible.

My heart aches for him as I see the pain etched across his face. He’s clearly struggled with this part of his life for years, and I feel privileged that he’s chosen to share it with me.

“Okay.” I nod, not wanting to push him.

I do need to know this, though. We’re supposed to be in love. I’m supposed to know him more intimately than anyone else.

He releases a long breath, and his eyes appear glassy for a moment, but he blinks it away quickly. “My parents had a loveless marriage,” he begins, his voice low and strained. “For ten years of my life, they were together, but not really. Just… existing. And then one day, my dad walked out and never came back. I haven’t seen him since.”

I’m shocked by this revelation, my heart aching for the young boy who had to endure such pain. A lump forms in my throat as I try to process the information, knowing I must’ve judged him too harshly before.

“Charlie, I’m so sorry,” I say softly. “That must have been incredibly hard for you.”

---