Page 112 of The Charm of You

Without removing her gaze from me, Caroline says, “I’m here now. Will she be here too, so I can meet her?”

On the other side of me, Addie rolls her eyes. She’s clearly given up on trying to insert herself into the conversation with Weathers and Owen, who have returned to their seemingly juvenile exchange.

“Birdie is our mascot, silly,” Addie says.

Caroline uses her finger to toy with her bottom lip like she and I are playing a game. It’s at this moment that I realize I’m smiling.

She drops her finger and stares blankly at Addie. “What?”

Addie snorts. “Could you two be any cuter?”

“We are not.” I grimace.

“You’re adorable as hell, but even so, you will both pay for keeping me in the dark about your new whatever this is.”

“Have I told you lately that you’re nosy?” I say, and she sticks her tongue out.

More people file into the lobby, and the extra noise bounces off the walls.

Addie turns to Caroline and explains, “Birdie is a cat. We obviously can’t have a real lion at the school, so when I started teaching here, I lobbied for a cat. She was caught in the rain last night, which you would’ve known had you shown up.”

“I was… occupied with…”

“Me,” I say to help her out. I’m a good fucking helper.

“I’d barf, but I love you both too much.” Addie squeezes both of our arms.

Caroline’s cheeks redden, and pride swells in my chest.

I put that blush there.

She put her mark on my shoulder.

We left the concession stand last night and went straight to my place, where she left her sweet smell on my pillows.

She returned to her house around two in the morning, even though I wanted her to stay. I would’ve asked her to, but my throat had constricted. As she winked over her shoulder and walked out of my door, I’d basically forgotten words.

Besides, it’s a good thing she didn’t sleep in my bed. I don’t think I would’ve survived waking up next to her today and saying goodbye to her tomorrow.

Another Sapphire Creek High School alum enters the lobby, and his presence gathers all eyes on him.

“Nate?” Addie lifts a brow as Owen rushes up to his old buddy.

“I didn’t think you were going to make it, man.” Owen shakes his hand like he’s the damn president.

Nathan McAllister shoots him a grin, then nods to everyone else. “I moved some things around, and here I am.”

Owen adjusts the hat on his head and says, “You know who else is here? Wake.”

“Wakeford ‘Tattletale’ Burke? No way.” Laughter booms out of him like the thunder last night.

“The whole gang together again.” Owen spreads his arms.

Next to me, Addie mutters, “Get a room.”

Speak of the Devil—Wake walks through the door, and the nauseating celebration commences all over again.

“Now that is cute,” Caroline mumbles to Addie.

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