Page 126 of The Charm of You

Ma fidgets with the ends of her hair again like she’s nervous. Is she blushing too?

“This is Karl Evans. With a K.” Her earlier frown gives way to a giggly grin I’ve never seen her wear.

What is happening?

“Good to meet you, young man.” When Karl steps forward, he stretches out his hand, which no longer keeps his shirt closed, and he’s exposed once again. This fucker is far too comfortable here.

An unsettling idea whacks me like a baseball bat—how many times has he been in this house? How long have they been sneaking around behind my back?

I don’t offer my hand in return. Instead, I pin him under a murderous stare, and he clearly takes the hint.

He inches back and closes his shirt again. “Your mother’s told me a lot about you while I’ve been in town.”

“Hold on.” I squint in his direction. Evans. Evans, Evans, Evans. “Are you Old Gus’s kin?”

“He’s my older brother.” Karl nods and places his arm over my mother’s shoulder.

I zero in on the spot, and my nostrils flare. He must take this next hint and immediately drops his hand. The asshole is smart, at least.

“I moved in with Gus a little over a month ago to keep an eye on him. He’s had quite a few health scares this year.”

“You haven’t been doing a very good job.” I scowl. “Old Gus has terrorized every woman at the gym for weeks.”

“I’ve heard about the trouble he’s been causing, but he doesn’t realize what he’s doing,” he says hesitantly.

“Which is where you apparently come in, but instead of doing what you’re here to do and helping him, you’re sneaking around with my mother right under my nose,” I snap, the harsh bite in my tone worsening the longer I talk.

“Austin. What has gotten into you?” Ma says my name with a heavy warning. It’s how I imagine she might’ve said my name if she ever would’ve reprimanded me as a teenager.

“What? I’m just trying to get to know our new guest,” I say sarcastically.

“You’re being rude.” She narrows her eyes at me, then does something that rubs my nerves together until fire rages inside me.

She apologizes to him on my behalf like I’m embarrassing her.

She’s the one who’s lied to me for God knows how long, running around behind my back with this Karl like a lovesick, out-of-control teenager, and she’s embarrassed of me.

“This is unbelievable.” Scoffing again, I spin on my heel and storm toward the door. Instead of leaving to cool down like I should, especially after the night I’ve had, I slam the door closed again and seethe, “Do you have any idea the lengths I’ve gone to in order to make sure you’re okay? To honor my promise to you and take care of you? Do you know how much I’ve sacrificed? And you’re laughing in my face with some random guy you don’t even know. You didn’t even have the decency to tell me the truth.”

“I think I better give you two some privacy.” Karl inches out of the kitchen like any sudden movements will set me off, and to be honest, he’s not wrong.

Admittedly, he’s very fucking smart.

Once he’s gone, my mother rounds the counter, arms crossed over her chest. “How dare you,” she scolds. “You are my child. Not the other way around. You have no right to stomp in here and disrespect me like this, especially in front of Karl.”

With both hands on my head, I spin in circles, and a humorless laugh bellows out of me. This is not happening. How is this possible? I can’t believe what a shitstorm this night has turned into.

“Besides, I don’t need your permission to date,” she asserts.

The laugh dies on my lips. “Then why didn’t you tell me about him? Why the secrecy, Ma?”

Her confidence visibly falters as she takes a step back.

“It’s been well over ten years since Dad passed, and you haven’t dated ever since. Why now? And why hide it?” I demand.

“I knew you’d be upset.” Her shoulders slump. “And I know I was wrong to hide this. I should’ve told you.”

Some of the tension in my stance loosens.

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