Page 31 of When You Smile

“No? I would think this would be your time to go kid-in-a-candy-store. Shall I fix you up?” Charlie asked with an arched brow.

“Yes. I’m taking any and all recommendations.” So maybe they weren’t flirting. Taryn didn’t confess that the dynamic of her crush setting her up with someone else might feel like a letdown, but she was also determined to keep her mind open. Especially since Charlie was off the table.

“Tell me your type.”

You. “Oh, um, can’t. I don’t have a type.”

“Try.”

“I like people who don’t take themselves too seriously.” She eased a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m into kindness when it’s not mandated. They should probably understand the importance of a good binge-watching session on long weekends, and maybe visit the zoo on occasion for peace and because they love animals.”

“Specific.” Charlie nodded sagely. “What else?”

Taryn went up on her knees, energized, enjoying the game. “They don’t like surprise parties and never loiter.”

“Everyone hates pesky loiterers.” Charlie nodded as if taking mental notes.

“They likely once played an instrument but don’t have to anymore. Sleeping in the nude is always a plus.”

“Now we’re getting scandalous.”

“Did I go too far?” Taryn asked.

“Not at all. Let me find you a binge-watching flute player who sleeps naked and visits the zoo without loitering there. Shouldn’t be hard. I’ll go through my phone and construct an extensive list.”

Taryn laughed and placed a hand over her heart. “Please tell me you know that I’m joking.”

“If you say so. I’m gonna binge-watch something mindless until I get sleepy. Hey, that’s one of your qualifications. You in?”

“You’ve come to the right person,” Taryn said, liking the extension of their time together. “My first class isn’t until ten a.m. tomorrow.”

Charlie’s mouth fell open in outrage. “I miss undergrad life. I want you to revel in rolling out of bed in joggers and racing to class midmorning.”

“It’s a pretty nice life.”

Charlie flipped on a medical drama Taryn was mildly familiar with. Within twenty minutes, she was hooked and snuggled up on the couch one cushion away from Charlie.

“Why is everyone acting like that doctor isn’t ridiculously hot?” Taryn asked.

“Because in the medical field on television, everyone is either hot or on their way to being hot. See that woman? She’ll be hot next season. They take turns.”

“So intriguing.”

The next thing Taryn knew, she was blinking sleepily into a dimly lit room. A strange room. Where in the world was she? Light slanted in through a window to her right, and it appeared she was on a couch covered in a wonderfully soft purple blanket. Who’d covered her with a blanket and was making coffee nearby? The aroma was from heaven. She stretched her limbs, feeling rested and satisfied.

“Sorry. I hope I didn’t wake you. I’m teaching this morning and have to get out of here.” Charlie. She was behind Taryn in the kitchen, packing up a black leather laptop bag. A turquoise thermos of coffee sat on the table.

“Did I fall asleep on your couch?” If Taryn wasn’t so ridiculously comfortable, she would have had the decency to be mortified. “I really like it here. This is a good couch, Charlie.”

“Thank you.” Charlie walked over. “We both fell asleep, so I covered you up and snuck off to bed. You smiled and nodded when I told you what I was doing, so I figured you were okay with the crashing.”

“Crashing? What are you talking about. I live here now.” She offered a sleepy smile.

“I see you’re playful even in the morning. Good to know. Would you like a black coffee?”

“Yes, please. But I’ll get it.” She pushed herself fully into a sitting position.

Charlie waved her off and poured the hot liquid into an oversized orange mug and presented it to her on the couch. “Cereal’s in that cabinet, and milk is in the fridge. Help yourself and just press the lock when you leave. I gotta run.” She placed a kiss on Taryn’s head. “I like the bedhead. Adorable.”

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