Page 63 of When You Smile

“I don’t think that there’s better than this, than you, than us, anywhere in the world, but what if we made it a goal? We don’t have to talk in absolutes.”

“Goals are healthy, right?” Taryn said, hovering just shy of Charlie’s lips before closing the distance, angling her head, and kissing Charlie long and deep. The kiss carried the happiness that moved through every inch of her. Their night had been amazing, they were making actual plans for the future, and Taryn couldn’t come up with a complaint in the world—other than the fact that she was heading home in two days and would have to say good-bye to Charlie.

“I think this means you definitely need to spend Christmas with me.”

“Tonight was the definitive sign?”

“Tonight was everything.”

Charlie snuggled her face against Taryn’s neck and let out a deep satisfying breath. “It really was.”

Chapter Fourteen

Sleep came easily that night. And though Charlie had always been a solo sleeper, preferring her space, sleeping with Taryn was different. They’d drifted off tangled up in each other, and at several points in the night Charlie woke to find them in different positions—Charlie’s head on Taryn’s shoulder or Charlie as the big spoon behind Taryn’s back—but always touching in some way. In fact, Charlie couldn’t imagine them not. It had led to one of the most perfect night’s rest she could remember. If this was any indication of what their future might be like, Charlie was eager, excited, and full of an immense amount of gratitude. This felt right in every sense of the word.

She hadn’t set an alarm that next morning because she didn’t have anywhere to be until her final critique session with her short fiction class at eleven a.m. They’d be evaluating each others’ resubmissions before hanging up their boxing gloves until the spring semester. Plus, she was in no rush to start her day when she had Taryn next to her in bed. That’s why it was so jarring to hear the sound of her apartment door opening. She raised her head and blinked, attempting to orient herself. Sunlight was streaming in through the window, and Taryn, still asleep, was naked and pressed against her side, warm and wonderful.

Then who was in her apartment?

She quickly snuck out of bed, grabbed a long T-shirt, and made her way into the living room. There in the kitchen stood Monica, writing a note at her kitchen counter. She looked up when Charlie entered.

“Were you asleep? I’m so sorry for busting in on you.” She placed a hand over her heart. “I had these books of your mom’s to drop off, and they’re so precious that I didn’t want to leave them on the doorstep in case someone took them, so Danny let me use his key. Please forgive me.”

That’s right. Danny still had a key. She took a deep breath and forced a smile, attempting to bury her terror. Taryn was on the other side of that door, and this was not the moment for Monica to find out about them. “Oh, right. Danny mentioned that you had brought the books with you on your visit.”

“And here I am.” Monica held her arms open and Charlie dutifully moved into them, surprised and terrified. “So good to see you, sweetheart. Do you want to grab lunch a little later?”

“I wish I could. I have a critique session at eleven.”

“That’s right, Danny said that he—”

“Hey, where’d you go? Are you coming back to bed?” Taryn called in the pouty voice that Charlie would have loved in any other instance. She went still, unsure what move to make. Monica looked to her in question, brows drawn. Before either of them could say another word, Taryn emerged wearing Charlie’s robe. “Charlie? Oh.” Taryn paused. “I’m sorry. I’ll just—” And she quickly slipped back into the bedroom.

“I bought you that robe for Christmas,” Monica said, as if piecing together a puzzle. Her features changed in the next moment, and she stood a little straighter. The bottom dropped out from Charlie’s stomach, and she felt like she was plummeting down a mine shaft into darkness. Her heart hammered and her brain raced, her logic not yet back online. But she knew one thing, this was not ideal. Monica eyed her. “I see that I’ve come at a bad time.” Her voice was clipped and devoid of warmth.

“Just unexpected is all.” Suddenly, Charlie was acutely aware of her own lack of clothing. “If you’ll excuse me for just one moment.”

“Of course,” Monica said. “I’ll make a pot of coffee…for us all.”

“What just happened?” Taryn asked, arms crossed in front of her when Charlie entered.

She attempted to keep her voice measured and calm. A tall order. “Monica had a collection of books that belonged to my mother and is here to drop them off.”

“And I just ruined everything, didn’t I?” Taryn asked, looking horrified.

The panic had not subsided yet, but Charlie did what she could to slow down her breathing. “Definitely not an ideal morning,” were the only words she could manage.

“I’m sure this is not how you wanted her to find out. Maybe she’ll think I’m just a friend sleeping over.”

Charlie closed her eyes, rejecting the notion. “She’s Monica. Too smart for that. From the look on her face, I can tell you she knows exactly what we are to each other.”

“Right. Okay.” Taryn looked around like the solution might be sitting somewhere in the room. She was just as out of sorts as Charlie. “What would you like me to do?”

“Stay here.” She took a beat. “And maybe get dressed.”

Charlie hated having to say those words and the lack of warmth beneath them.

This was their first wake-up together. It didn’t seem right or fair that after such a wonderful night, their sweet morning after had been snatched away. Instead of focusing on Taryn and making sure she was okay, happy, and taken care of, Charlie’s objective was damage control. And Monica certainly hadn’t seemed too happy about what she’d walked into.

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